THURSDAY 5TH WEEK OF LENT READINGS AND COMMENTARY: “WHOEVER KEEPS MY WORD WILL NEVER SEE DEATH (v. 51)” (Jn 8:51-59).

THURSDAY 5TH WEEK OF LENT READINGS AND COMMENTARY: “WHOEVER KEEPS MY WORD WILL NEVER SEE DEATH (v. 51)” (Jn 8:51-59).

READING I 
Gen 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 
R. 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
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

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 Commentary

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives account of his co-existence with God the Father upon insisting that before Abraham came to be, I am.

• He again applies to Himself God’s name and essence: I AM WHO AM, which He revealed to Moses (Ex 3:14), to reveal that He is God, and that He knows him and keeps His word.
• Are we putting the means to get to know God? Are we beginning again daily to keep His word, without giving into discouragement due to our falls?

Jesus also promises to us that only those who accept His teaching and remain faithful to it will never see death, and thereby eternal life.

• To remain faithful to Our Lord not only demands a constant struggle for love of God against sin which is the death of the soul, of sanctifying grace and of divine life; it also requires fidelity in our union with Him, to His doctrine, and to the Church He founded, the Catholic Church.

Dear brethren in Christ, may we also get to know God the Father by knowing Jesus more for He is the true face of God the Father. We can do this by dealing with Him frequently through daily prayer, meditation of the Gospel, the frequent reception of the sacraments, and putting into practice His teaching.
May we never turn our backs from you, Lord, and grant us the grace to be lovingly faithful to you till death, for your honor and glory, and for the good of our soul.

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