Thursday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

The first reading from Genesis starts, “When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him.” When I read this, the ceremonial prostrating in Holy Orders comes to mind, along with Jesus prostrating Himself through His cross.  Prostrating brought to mind humbling oneself and acknowledging the awesome, loving wonder of God.  Prostrating is a position of prayer, a position of having ones heart open to God.  In the Genesis passage this prostration is the occasion of God making a covenant with Abram. God renames him, Abraham, and makes him the father of a host of nations.  Jesus, too, with His cross forms a covenant for our salvation, giving us the promise of heaven.  This covenant is memorialized in every Mass, and every time we open our hearts to our loving God.  A covenant is Gods promise to us and requires our promise in return to keep our hearts open to our God.

The Psalm verses declare that the Lord remembers His covenant forever, and that we should remember His words and seek to serve Him.

In the Gospel Jesus says that, “…whoever keeps My word will never see death…” This caused an uproar among those listening at that time, who presumed His words to be blasphemy, and they began to pick up stones to kill Jesus.  Jesus hid and left the temple area. What remains is the covenant of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, the great I Am, making Himself known and promising us our eternal joy in heaven. Our part in the promise is to keep His word.

Prayer

Let us pray that we remember God’s covenant with us and keep our hearts always open to God’s love, ever open to sharing that love with all.                 

Stephanie Noakes, ’80, M’09, P’05

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