Day 36 - Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent | SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FROM LENT TOWARDS EASTER

In a reading from the Book of Genesis (Gn 17: 3-9), the Lord promises Abraham that he will be the "father of a host of nations." The Lord also assures Abraham that from his offspring shall stem kings of the nations and the Promise Land they shall possess. Furthermore, God will maintain His covenant with Abraham and his descendants forever. But Abraham and his people and descendants must keep the covenant throughout the ages in return. In this connection, Fr. Budge gives his take on the reading of the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 8: 51-59) when Jesus Christ reveals before the Pharisees His true nature - "before Abraham came to be I AM." This they cannot fathom or understand. The stiff-necked Jews were infuriated by this revelation from Jesus Himself that they almost stoned Him to death. Again, this is not yet His time to give up His life for our redemption.