Daily Readings - Thu Apr 07 2022
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation. The first reading from Genesis describes the moment when Abram, a man of deep faith, is renamed Abraham by God. This name change signifies a covenant promise: Abraham will be the father of many nations, and God will be his God and the God of his descendants. The covenant is sealed with a promise of land and perpetual relationship, a bond that transcends generations. This moment is not just a personal promise but a universal one, as Abraham’s faith becomes the foundation of a people and a spiritual heritage that endures to this day.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages in a deeply theological conversation with the Jews, asserting that those who keep His word will never see death. This claim shocks His listeners, who question how someone they perceive as a contemporary could make such a statement, especially when their great ancestors like Abraham and the prophets have all died. Jesus responds by revealing His eternal nature, stating that before Abraham was, He is. This statement is a bold declaration of His divinity and His unity with the Father. For Jesus, the covenant with Abraham is not just a historical event but a living reality that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Himself.
These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of covenant and faith. Abraham trusted in God’s promise without fully understanding its scope, and his faith was reckoned as righteousness. Similarly, Jesus calls us to trust in His word, even when it challenges our limited understanding. The covenant with Abraham is not just a historical event but a spiritual reality that continues in us. As followers of Christ, we are called to live as children of the covenant, trusting in God’s promises and living in a way that reflects our identity as His people. Let us, like Abraham, rejoice in the day of the Lord, knowing that we are part of a story much larger than ourselves.