Thursday of the Fifth Week in Lent 2020
Dear Friends,
United with each one of you in prayer and love. I have remembered you in my Mass today. The Mass Intention, for Thursday 2nd April is for HR Intentions and Lloyd Muzeja RIP .
Gospel Reading from Saint John 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.
Today’s Gospel clearly states whoever keeps the word of Jesus will not see death. Jesus makes a solemn affirmation; “Truly, I say to you!” And the solemn affirmation is the following: “Whoever keeps My word will not see death!” This same theme appears and reappears many times in the Gospel of John. These are words of a great depth. Notice how the prophets speak on behalf of God, but Jesus speaks in the first person with authority as God!
The reaction of the Jews is immediate: “Now we know that you are out of Your mind. Abraham died and the prophets also died. And you say: “Whoever keeps My word will never see death”. Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Who are you claiming to be?” They did not understand the importance and significance of the affirmation of Jesus. It was a dialogue of the deaf.
I am glorified by My Father and once again Jesus hits on the same key: He is so united to the Father that everything that He says or does is His. Everything is the Father’s. And He says: “The one who glorifies Me is My Father, the one whom you say, ‘He is our God!” and you do not know Him. But I know Him. And if I were to say, ‘I do not know Him’, I should be a liar, as you yourselves are. But I do know Him and I observe His word.
Your father, Abraham, rejoiced to think that he would see My Day; he saw it and was glad”. These words of Jesus must have been like a sword which wounded the self esteem of the Jews. “You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham! They took everything literally, thus showing that they did not understand anything of what Jesus was saying. And Jesus makes another solemn affirmation: “In all truth I tell you: before Abraham ever was, I AM”.
For those who believe in Jesus, here we reach the heart of the mystery of the story. Once again they pick up stones to kill Jesus. But neither this time will they succeed, because His hour has not as yet come. The one who determines the hour is Jesus himself.
In this ‘The Year of the Word – The God who Speaks’ What is Jesus saying to you today in your situation?
Lets stay strong and safe, united in love and prayer with you all.
Fr John