Homily for March 22, 2018.
“You are
not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly,
truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’” John 8:57-58.
If someone
were to advertise a certain lotion to you saying that this is the lotion of
life and that if you apply it on your body, you will never die again, I am sure
you will be more than happy to buy it regardless of the price.
That
lotion is available; it is the word of God. Jesus tells us today that “if
anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” John 8:51. In this way, Jesus
re-echoes what he earlier said: “I am the living bread which came down from
heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever.” John 6:51.
Of course,
in both instances, the Jews did not believe him and we cannot blame them too
much because they had nothing to prove the Divinity of Jesus. However for us
who have the privilege of living in this age and time who have come to know
that Jesus is truly God, we would have ourselves to blame seriously if we also
do not believe.
In the
course of his interaction with the Jews, Jesus said: “Before Abraham was, I
am.” Just as God revealed himself to Moses as “I Am” in Exodus 3:14, Jesus was
simply telling them: “I am God.” By saying “I am” instead of “I was” Jesus
meant to say He always is and will be forever.
The Jews who
had not seen the resurrection just couldn’t take it; they picked up stones to
throw at him. The reaction
of the Jews is a reflection of how we sometimes react to the truth. Instead of
embracing it, we try very hard to fight it.
Abraham did not react this way when God entered into a covenant with
him. Even though he did not see God face to face, he accepted God’s word as
truth. He believed everything God said to him. Even without having a child yet,
he accepted the change of name from Abram (which means ‘exalted father’) to
Abraham (which means ‘father of multitude’).
Unlike the Jews, Abraham believed the impossible and did the unthinkable.
No wonder Jesus said Abraham is not their father.
Dear friends, the questions for us today are: Do I really believe Jesus
is God or is it the case that I am still doubting like the Jews? Do I believe
that by keeping the words of Jesus, I will live forever?” And since I desire to
live forever, what stops me from keeping the words of Jesus? Why am I
constantly disobeying the word of God by committing sin?
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, bless me with the kind of faith Abraham had.
Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent. Bible Study: Genesis
17:3-9 and John 8:51-59).*
Fr. Abu.
No comments:
Post a Comment