THURSDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord. PS 94:8

GENESIS 17:3-9 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You, Yourself are the greatest Covenant that God our Father makes with all those who believe in You, hope in You, and are grafted to You. You are the New Covenant replacing every other Covenant for in You alone, my Beloved is our hope of eternal life and eternal joy. We who are members of Your Living Body, the Church, receive from the Holy Spirit Living Water that flows from the Church's Sacraments welling up to life in us.

Every Covenant ever made between God and man since the first one made with Adam is fulfilled perfectly in You. In You O Lord, is our hope of salvation. You stooped low in perfect humility and obedience to the Father's will and You drew the whole human race into the redeeming power of Your love. You are the atoning Sacrifice offered up to the Father in perpetuity on the Altar of the Cross until time shall cease. Thank You, Lord, for the free gift of faith that gives us the privilege of addressing God as Father because You have made us sons and daughters of the Most High and heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. 

PSALM 104(105):4-9 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Thank You for Your wonderful assurance that You remember Your Covenant forever. We have no reason to be afraid, anxious, sad, or hopeless. Even when we forget, Your Word reminds us that You never forget us and there is nowhere we can hide from You. Your love seeks and searches us, finds us, embraces us, heals us, and restores us as children of God.

Every wondrous sign, and every miracle ever performed by You in the past continues to this day. Your love never fails even when ours does.

He remembers his covenant forever,

his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.

JOHN 8:51-59 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

It is easy to doubt the incredible promises You make if we lack faith. But faith is a gift freely given to anyone who desires it, who asks for it, who is prepared to have an open mind, and who is willing to listen. These words that You say to the Jews are hard to understand if we lack faith in You the Eternal Word, the only begotten Son of the Living God.

‘I tell you most solemnly, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’

The Jews who refused to accept the wondrous miracles You performed as signs that You were indeed from God and even God Himself, would certainly accuse You of being deranged or demon-possessed. But even in the face of death threats and persecution, You refused to back down from the Truth that You are indeed who You say You are.

When You said, ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day;

he saw it and was glad,’ the Jews jeered, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ And then there was no mistaking what You meant when You replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am.’

It is not surprising that when they heard what You said they picked up stones to throw at You. You hid Yourself and left the Temple since Your hour had not yet come. Only when that glorious hour of our salvation arrives would You give Yourself over into the hands of sinners in order to become the means by which You would redeem the whole world.