1ST READING
Abraham’s
commitment to God has ongoing ramifications because it is a covenant in
perpetuity. Let us realize that we are a part of that covenant as
Abraham is our father in faith. This means that true faith will always
follow the model of Abraham’s faith, where he believed in the impossible
and trusted that God would bring life out of death (a son from the
barren womb of Sarah). This is the power of faith in God.
Genesis 17:3-9
3 When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: 4 “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. 5 No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. 6 I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. 7 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. 8 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.” 9 God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”
P S A L M
Psalm 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
4 Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. 5 Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R)
8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)
GOSPEL
The
Jews just do not get it. They take everything that Jesus says literally
and then use their limited understanding of the truth as the benchmark.
They are destined to unbelief if they persist (and they do persist) in
such ways of thinking. Many ways of thinking in the world are not
helpful when it comes to faith. Therefore, let us avoid them and treat
them as the temptations they are — dangers to our faith.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
John 8:51-59
51 Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” 52 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.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 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.’ 55 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.
56 Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
think:
True faith will always follow the model of Abraham’s faith, where he
believed in the impossible and trusted that God would bring life out of
death.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 22-24
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