Wednesday, April 05, 2017
THURSDAY, 5th Week of Lent
April 6, 2017 – THURSDAY, 5th Week of Lent
Violet
Gn 17: 3 - 9 / Jn 8: 51 -59
FROM THE 1ST READING: Gn 17: 3- 4, 7
Abram fell face down and God said to him, "This is my covenant with you: you will be the father of a multitude of nations.... And I will establish a covenant, an everlasting covenant between myself and you and your descendants after you; from now on I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you, for generations to come."
GOSPEL READING: Jn 8: 51 -59
Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death." The Jews replied, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died and the prophets as well, but you say: 'Whoever keeps my word will never experience death.' Who do you claim to be? Do you claim to be greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets also died."
Then Jesus said, "If I were to praise myself, it would count for nothing. But he who gives glory to me is the Father, the very one you claim as your God, although you do not know him. I know him and if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you.
"As for Abraham, your ancestor, he looked forward to the day when I would come; and he rejoiced when he saw it."
The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?" And Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." They then picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.
REFLECTION
Abraham, known for his unwavering faith and subsequent covenant with God, is a key character in both readings today. In the first reading we are told about God's covenant with Abraham: "I will establish a covenant, an everlasting covenant between myself and you and your descendants after you."
In the Gospel reading Jesus told the Jews, "Truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death." The Jews retorted that Jesus' statement could not be true since even Abraham, their father in faith, and the prophets all died.
Jesus boldly told them that "[Abraham] looked forward to the day when I would come; and he rejoiced when he saw it." How could Jesus say that, considering that he was not even fifty years old? Because Jesus claimed to be God, "Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." The Jews clearly understood Jesus' claim and they "picked up stones to throw at him." Before Pilate the Jews said, "We have a Law and, according to the Law this man must die because he made himself Son of God."
Jesus, Incarnate Son of God, have mercy on us.
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
ESTHER NG
LIZANNE CASTILLO
LIZETTE GUEVARRA-PASCUA
MARGA LAPID
NINA ESPANOLA TERESA GRACE
SOCORRO LARA
IN MEMORIAM (†)
MARGARITA SEE GIOK KHIM
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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