DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

MARCH 21, 2024

THURSDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT

FIRST READING

GENESIS 17:3-9

3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4 "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." 9 And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALMS 104(105):4-9

Response: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Seek the LORD and his strength,
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wonderful works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

O offspring of Abraham his servant,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He is mindful of his covenant for ever,
of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant which he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
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GOSPEL

Before Abraham was, I am

JOHN 8:51-59

51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, `If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God. 55 But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." 57 The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." 59 So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS

Christ died that you might live, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"For you Christ allowed Himself to be crucified, to teach you humility. He was alive, and you were dead. He died that you might live. God vanquished death so that death might not overcome human beings."

(excerpt from Sermon on John 2,4;14,13)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.