First Reading (Gn 17,3-9)
Reading from the Book of Genesis.
In those days, Abram fell face down on the ground. And God said to him, “This is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations. Your name will no longer be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.
I will make your descendants grow infinitely. I will raise up nations from you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants forever; an everlasting covenant, that I may be your God and the God of your descendants. To you and to your descendants I will give the land in which you live as a foreigner, the entire country of Canaan, as a possession forever. And I will be the God of your descendants.” God said to Abraham, “Keep my covenant, you and your descendants forever.”
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 8,51-59)
— PROCLAMATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to the Jews: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Then the Jews said, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets, and you say: ‘If anyone keeps my word he will never see death’. Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died, as did the prophets? Who do you want to be?”
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, the one you say is your God. However, you do not know him. But I know him, and if I said I didn’t know him, I would be a liar, like you! But I know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced, to see my day; he saw it, and was glad.” The Jews then said to him: “You are not even fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham!” Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to stone Jesus, but he hid and left the Temple.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I would like to begin our reflection with a question: how many times throughout our lives have we felt lost, aimless, without knowing which path to take? How many times are we faced with challenges and difficulties that seem insurmountable? I’m sure each of us has experienced moments like this. Life is full of ups and downs, uncertainties and tribulations. And it is exactly in these moments that we need to turn to the Word of God, in search of guidance, strength and hope.
Our first reading today brings us the story of Abraham, a man who faced many trials throughout his life. God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to bless him abundantly. But, to do so, Abraham needed to fully trust God and obey his commandments. In our excerpt, we see Abraham prostrate before God, recognizing His greatness and committing to walk in His presence. Abraham received the name “father of many nations” and, through his descendants, God’s promise was fulfilled.
Dear brothers and sisters, just like Abraham, we are also called to trust in God, to prostrate ourselves before Him and to recognize His sovereignty. It’s easy to say we trust God when everything is going well, but what about when we face challenges and trials? It is in these moments that our faith is tested. It is in these moments that we need to remember God’s promises and rely on His Word.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51). These words of Jesus are powerful and invite us to reflect on the importance of keeping his words in our hearts and in our lives. Keeping the word of Jesus does not just mean memorizing it, but living it, putting it into practice in all the circumstances of our lives.
Jesus goes on to say, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). These words are a powerful reminder that Jesus is eternal, that He is God incarnate, the Son of God who came into the world to save us. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and only through Him can we find true life, eternal life with God.
Dear brothers and sisters, how can we apply these biblical passages to our daily lives? How can we keep the word of Jesus and walk in his presence? Allow me to share with you three fundamental principles that will help us on this spiritual journey.
The first principle is trust. Just as Abraham trusted God, we need to fully trust the Lord in all areas of our lives. Trust that He has control, even when circumstances seem unfavorable. Trust that He is faithful to His promises, even when everything seems lost. Trust in God gives us courage to face life’s challenges and fills us with hope.
The second principle is obedience. Abraham not only trusted God, but also obeyed his commandments. In the same way, we need to obey Jesus’ teachings and live according to his words. This means loving our neighbors, forgiving those who offend us, seeking justice and truth in all our actions. Obedience to God brings us peace and brings us closer to his heart.
The third principle is perseverance. The Christian life is not without difficulties, but Jesus encourages us to persevere. He promised to be with us at all times, strengthening and sustaining us. When we face challenges and tribulations, we must not give up on our faith, but persevere, trusting that God is working through our difficulties to shape and transform us.
Dear brothers and sisters, as we apply these principles in our lives, it is important to remember that we are called to be salt and light in this world. Just as salt gives flavor and preserves, and light dispels darkness, we must also be bearers of Jesus’ message of hope and love. In a world filled with despair and negativity, we are called to shine with the light of Christ, to offer words of encouragement, deeds of kindness, and compassion to those around us.
I would like to share a story that illustrates this idea. There once was a young man named Pedro, who lived in a community where people were discouraged and without hope. Pedro decided to make a difference in his community and began visiting the sick, helping those in need, and sharing words of encouragement with everyone he met. He became known as “the bringer of hope” and as his actions spread, more and more people began to be inspired and join him. The community began to be transformed by the action of God’s love through Peter and all those who joined him.
Dear brothers and sisters, just like Peter and all those who rose up to be bearers of hope, we are also called to make a difference in our communities and in the world. May each of us become a living symbol of God’s love and grace, spreading light and hope wherever we are.
In concluding, I want to remind all of us that the central message of these biblical passages is divine grace, love, and hope. God loves us unconditionally and is always ready to forgive us, restore us and guide us in His will. Let us follow Abraham’s example, trusting in God; let us follow Jesus’ teaching, keeping his words; and let us be bearers of hope in a world that needs it so much.
May the Holy Spirit strengthen us and guide us on our journey of faith. May He enable us to live according to the principles of God’s Word and to be instruments of His peace and love. May we be a living church, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and may our testimony touch lives and transform hearts.
May God bless us and accompany us on our spiritual journey. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
