April 6, 2017: Thursday, 5th week, Lent
- 'Scroll' pin: God's covenant with Abraham (1st reading, psalm)
- 'Flags' tie: "I'm making you father of a host of nations" (1st reading)
- 'Crown' tie bar: Kings shall stem from you (1st reading)
- 'Stone' tie pin: They picked up stones to throw at him (gospel)
- Purple shirt and suspenders: Lenten season
Listen to music inspired by today's psalm
- Psalm 105:1-11/ Silver
- The Faithful One/ Schutte: pre-directive Yahweh, the Faithful One recording, original
- His love will ever be/ Fabing, also pre-directive
- Everlasting covenant/ Fabing (1st reading too)
- Gn 17:3-9 God to Abram: “I am making you the father of nations. Kings shall stem from you. I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants forever, to be your God. I will give you the whole land of Canaan. You must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”
- Ps 105:4-9 "The Lord remembers his covenant for ever." Look to and serve the Lord, our God. You, his servants, his chosen, recall his wondrous deeds!
- Jn 8:51-59 Jesus / Jews: “Whoever keeps my word won't see death.” / “You're possessed. Abraham and the prophets died; are you greater?” / “God my Father glorifies me. I know him and keep his word.” / “You've seen Abraham?” / “Before Abraham, I AM.” / They picked up stones to throw at him, but he left.
Reflect
- Creighton: In the 1st reading about God's covenant with Abraham, God promises and asks for faithfulness. The psalm and gospel also recall God’s faithfulness. I sometimes wonder where God is, but he's always with me and initiates my desire to love and be faithful. May I always trust in his love and faithfulness....
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| God's covenant with Abraham, referencing Gn 17:1; God and Abraham link today's readings |
- One Bread, One Body: "A heart-warming Lent": We're often not ready to hear great news from the Lord, as those in Jesus' time weren't and so rejected him, but today let him warm your heart. God gave Abraham great news about his covenant and the future, and Abraham listened. How does the Lord feel when he has great news to share that's not received? How do you feel when you call with great news and keep getting voicemail?
- Passionist: The Lenten Scrutinies are for us too, not just the Elect. God's covenant requires more than following the rules. I need to invite God into my heart and probe the unhealed hurts there, especially whta causes me to act out, hurting others and/or myself. Am I self-righteous? How do I forgive? Whom do I dismiss or judge? How am I prejudiced? How am I controlling in my relationships. How do I appreciate and praise people? Am I really honest? In short, what's in the way of deeper intimacy with God? May I strip away the masks and humbly place my sinful, beloved self at the Lord's feet and surrender. It takes courage, integrity, and commitment. We're created for the covenant, not just rules. May we unlock our hearts and discover the Source of life in newer, deeper ways...
- DailyScripture.net: "Before Abraham was, I AM": "It means nothing less than he saw another death from which he came to free us: the second death, eternal death, hell, the death of the damned, shared with the devil and his angels! This is the real death; the other kind is only a passage" (Augustine, Tractates on the Gospel of John 43.10-11). God offered Abraham an unbreakable covenant" Jesus came to fulfill so we could know God and be united with him now and forever. God made us and gives us faith and understanding so that we may grow knowledge of what he's accomplished for us. Jesus challenged his listeners to accept his word as the revelation of God himself; his claim challenged their belief and understanding of God. He claimed unique knowledge of God as his only Son, and that he was the only way to full knowledge of God. Jesus also claimed unique obedience to the Father. In him alone we see what God wants us to know and be. He claims to be timeless, as only God is....
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