Word to the Wise
Thursday, April 6, 2017 - 5th Week of Lent - Thurs
[Gen 17:3-9 and John 8:51-59,880]THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017. THURSDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT [Genesis 17:3-9 and John 8:51-59. When one is on the road, it is easy to get dates confused. Yesterday's gospel was from John 8:31-49. I am quoting from it for today. Both days concern Jesus and Abraham. Sorry about the confusion.] "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you wil know the truth and the truth will set you free." [John 8:31-32] The "truth" is Jesus! And the further this discourse goes, the more "truth" is revealed until the end when Jesus says, "Before Abraham came to be, I AM!" The audience countered Jesus' statement with the statement, "We are descendants of Abraham." This is reflected in the first scripture for today from Genesis in which God establishes a covenant with Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore! That theological confidence made it very difficult for the Jewish audience to accept the possibility that Jesus might have had a role in the covenant! Jesus states that Abraham knew of him! So, his challenge to the audience is that they do not truly understand the word of God about Abraham. "Whoever belongs to God hears the word of God; for this reason you do not listen, because you do not belong to God." [John8:47]. This sets the stage for the statement that I reflected on (too early) yesterday, about Jesus and Abraham which caused the audience to pick up stones! We are time-bound people. Jesus is calling our attention to eternity when he says, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." [John 8:58]. History is important for human beings, but God is not bound by history. Jesus knew Abraham because Jesus is part of the Trinity that has existed from "the beginning" [John 1:1]. For this reason, Jesus tells us that if we believe in him, we are already experiencing eternal life. This perspective may be difficult to keep in mind during all the drama of Holy Week. Eternity comes to human history and takes part. AMEN