First Reading - Genesis 17:3-9
Gospel - John 8:51-59
In the first reading, we see God establishing a covenant with Abraham. Abram falls face down before the Lord — a gesture of reverence and surrender. God then speaks, promising to make him the father of a multitude of nations. His name is changed from Abram to Abraham, marking a new identity and a new mission.
This covenant is not temporary; it is described as everlasting. God commits himself to Abraham and to his descendants, promising to be their God. The initiative comes entirely from God. Abraham is invited to trust and to walk in fidelity to this promise, even though its full realization lies beyond what he can immediately see.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks words that are even more challenging. He declares that whoever keeps his word will never see death. The people listening are confused and even offended. They recall that Abraham and the prophets died, so they question how Jesus can make such a claim.
As the conversation intensifies, Jesus leads them to a deeper revelation: “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” With these words, Jesus does not simply place himself before Abraham in time; he identifies himself with the divine name revealed to Moses. He reveals his eternal nature — that he shares in the very being of God.
This is why the people react so strongly. They understand that Jesus is making a claim that goes beyond that of a prophet. He is revealing himself as one with God, the fulfillment of the covenant promise given to Abraham.
The connection between the readings becomes clear. The covenant with Abraham points forward to something greater — a relationship between God and humanity that finds its fulfillment in Christ. Jesus is not only a descendant of Abraham; he is the eternal Son through whom the promise reaches its fullness.
Dear friends, like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s promises even when we do not fully understand them. And like those in the Gospel, we are faced with the question of who Jesus truly is.
To believe in Christ is to recognize in him the presence of God himself — the one who gives life that goes beyond death. His promise is not merely about prolonging earthly life, but about sharing in eternal life with God.
As we continue our Lenten journey, we are invited to deepen our trust and to listen more closely to the word of Christ. For in him, the God who made a covenant with Abraham is still speaking, still inviting, and still leading us into the fullness of life.
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