Thursday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

The first reading, Genesis 17:3-9, is one of the most seminal in the Old Testament as it recounts God making His covenant with Abraham.  First, God changes the latter’s name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a great multitude).  Changing a person’s name also symbolizes a rebirth – shortly after this passage God changes the name of Abraham’s wife from Sarai (princess) to Sarah (mother of nations).  Interestingly, in the passage, God does not describe the nature of the covenant except to say that He will be the God of Abraham and his descendants.  In the following verses, God describes the covenant of circumcision, but clearly the covenant goes well beyond this – God intends to be the ONLY God.

In the Responsorial Psalm 105:4-4, 6-7, and  8-9, the people are reminded to serve God constantly, and that God will keep His covenant forever.  In the verse before the Gospel, Psalm 95:8, we are reminded to be open to the word of God.

In the Gospel, John 8:51-59, Jesus assures the Jews in the Gospel reading that those who keep His word will never die.   The Jews rebuke Him for apparently making Himself greater than Abraham and the prophets, who all died.  When He replies that it is God who has glorified Him and that Abraham rejoiced at His coming, they again rebuked Him, questioning how He could have seen Abraham.  His reply that He existed before Abraham and  “I AM” echoes God’s words to Moses in Exodus 3:14.  Here, the evangelist John, the most mystical of the four, asserts Christ’s divinity — that like the Father, He exists through all time.

Prayer
Lord, as You have kept Your promise through all ages, help us to keep our covenant with You.

Bill Thompson, Member of the Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 17:3-9
Psalm 105:4-9
Gospel: John 8:51-59

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website