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" (J...