The words of Jesus give us life (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF LENT

Homily for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent. 

Genesis 17:3-9. Psalm 105:4-5,6-7,8-9. John 8:51-59.

In the first reading, God made a covenant with Abram. This is the third time God is making a covenant with someone in the Scripture. He made a covenant with Adam and Noah in the past. In this covenant with Abram, his name is changed from Abram to Abraham. Abraham means the father of many nations. God was faithful to this covenant with Abraham. Abraham, as we know, is the founding father of Israel as a nation. God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you, and your descendants after you throughout your generations" (Gen.17:9).

Our knowledge of God will be shallow if we do not, like Abraham, have a good relationship with God. When we do God's will, He will continue to reveal his plans for us.

Jesus, in today's Gospel, made a categorical statement concerning his divinity once again. He said, "If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death" (John 8:51). He was not speaking of physical death. He was speaking of eternal death. What is so important about keeping the word of Jesus that it actually prevents death?

The words of Jesus give us life. We are dead in sin. It is with the spirit of faith and the aid of the Holy Spirit that we can understand and keep the words of Jesus.

Our world today is rife with the spirit of materialism. It looks to material things and values to solve everything, but it is failing us on regular basis. The more our material wealth grows, the emptier we become inside, and the more we become shallow spiritually. We need to keep the words of Jesus just like Abraham, who remained faithful to God, and his word will keep us alive and active in him spiritually.

May God's word keep us alive and active in him through Christ our Lord. Amen.