It Is My Father Who Glorifies Me

MARCH 30, 2023 THURSDAY

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent (Violet)

CYCLE A - YEAR I

Lectionary: 254

Reading 1

Gn 17:3-9

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him:

"My covenant with you is this:

you are to become the father of a host of nations.

No longer shall you be called Abram;

your name shall be Abraham,

for I am making you the father of a host of nations.

I will render you exceedingly fertile;

I will make nations of you;

kings shall stem from you.

I will maintain my covenant with you

and your descendants after you

throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,

to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

I will give to you

and to your descendants after you

the land in which you are now staying,

the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;

and I will be their God."

God also said to Abraham:

"On your part, you and your descendants after you

must keep my covenant throughout the ages."

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Look to the LORD in his strength;

seek to serve him constantly.

Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,

his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,

sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

He, the LORD, is our God;

throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He remembers forever his covenant

which he made binding for a thousand generations –

Which he entered into with Abraham

and by his oath to Isaac.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Verse Before the Gospel

Ps 95:8

If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

Gospel

Jn 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews:

"Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever keeps my word will never see death."

So the Jews said to him,

"Now we are sure that you are possessed.

Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,

'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?

Or the prophets, who died?

Who do you make yourself out to be?"

Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;

but it is my Father who glorifies me,

of whom you say, 'He is our God.'

You do not know him, but I know him.

And if I should say that I do not know him,

I would be like you a liar.

But I do know him and I keep his word.

Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;

he saw it and was glad."

So the Jews said to him,

"You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,

before Abraham came to be, I AM."

So they picked up stones to throw at him;

but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Whoever keeps God’s word won’t see death – that is will never be destroyed. His hearer’s could not take these words, but did not say that they would like more to be explained to them. They were puzzled and pointed out that even Abraham had died. They hadn’t the openness to learn. They even turned on Jesus, saying “Who do you claim to be?”

PRAYER:

Jesus is saying: ‘If you want to see God, here I am!’ What should be a wonderful moment of revelation becomes horribly negative. Execution by stoning was the punishment for asserting that one is equal to God. Lord, I find you in some safe place and try to comfort you. What more can you do to show people who you are?