Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 21 March 2024
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Genesis 17:3-9. John 8:51-59
Your father Abraham
The conflict between Jesus and the Jews continues rigorously.
The Jews – in the Gospel of John, this expression refers to those who don’t believe in Jesus – mount accusations against Jesus: ‘you are possessed,’ ‘are you greater than our father Abraham?’ ‘you are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?’ They like to stone Jesus to death. That was the punishment for blasphemy. Jesus quietly leaves the place.
Their hearts were stone like the stones they had in their hands.
In the first reading, God makes a covenant with the people of Israel. He gives them land, progeny, and blessings. He wants his descendants to adhere to the commandments.
The Jews took pride in saying that they descended from Abraham. They could not tolerate Jesus when he equated himself to Abraham. They were not able to recognise the pre-existence of Jesus.
Abraham, through his eyes of faith, was able to see his children’s faith. This type of faith was among the Jews. They were able to see in Jesus a Galilean, not God.
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The result of hard-heartedness is incredulity. (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 59)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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