Daily Readings - Thu Apr 02 2020
Genesis
3Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,4"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.5No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.6I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.7I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.8The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."9Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
John
51I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."52At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s promises and our relationship with Him. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of Abram, whom God renames Abraham, promising to make him the father of many nations. This passage is a pivotal moment in the story of salvation, marking the establishment of the covenant between God and Abraham. God’s promise to Abraham is not just about land or descendants but about a perpetual covenant that will extend to his offspring and shape the course of human history. This covenant is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His desire to be in relationship with His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages in a contentious dialogue with the Jews, who question His claim that keeping His word leads to eternal life. They challenge Him, referencing the patriarch Abraham and the prophets who have died, implying that Jesus’ claims surpass even their legacy. Jesus responds by asserting His divine identity, stating that He existed before Abraham and that Abraham rejoiced to see His day. This exchange underscores Jesus’ role as the fulfillment of God’s promises, including those made to Abraham. Jesus is not just a prophet or a teacher but the very source of eternal life, and His words carry the weight of divine authority.
These readings remind us that God’s promises are not limited by time or circumstance. Abraham’s faith in God’s covenant and Jesus’ assertion of His divine identity both point to the enduring nature of God’s love and truth. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible or when we face doubt or opposition. Like Abraham, we are invited to walk in faith, believing that God’s plan for us is greater than we can imagine. And like the Jews in the Gospel, we are challenged to recognize Jesus as the source of eternal life and to keep His word. May we, like Abraham, rejoice in the day of the Lord and may we, like Jesus, remain steadfast in our commitment to the Father’s will.