Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 26 March 2026
Fifth Week of Lent, Thursday
Gen 17:3–9. Jn 8:51–59
Abraham and Jesus
The tensions between Jesus and His opponents in the Gospel often arise from religious belief. When Jesus says, “I AM,” He places Himself in continuity with the God of the Old Testament—YHWH. This becomes a stumbling block for His contemporaries. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about His relationship with Abraham, and this becomes the center of the conflict.
Matthew begins his Gospel by calling Jesus “the son of Abraham.” In one sense, this points to His human lineage—Jesus comes from the line of Abraham. But in another, deeper sense, Jesus is not only after Abraham; He is also before Abraham. In His humanity, He belongs to history; in His divinity, He transcends it.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks from His divine identity. But His listeners see only His human side. They reduce Him to what they can understand. They accuse Him, even saying He is possessed, and they take up stones to throw at Him. Unable to accept who He truly is, they reject Him.
There is also a deeper biblical connection. Abraham’s son Isaac and Jesus share striking similarities. Isaac carries the wood up Mount Moriah; Jesus carries the cross up Calvary. Isaac obeys his father Abraham; Jesus obeys His heavenly Father. According to some traditions, Isaac offers himself in sacrifice; Jesus truly offers Himself on the cross. In this way, Jesus is the fulfilment of what Isaac foreshadows.
Only later will people fully understand that Jesus stands in continuity with Abraham—not just as his descendant, but as the one who brings his faith to completion.
The first reading tells us about the transformation of Abram into Abraham and the covenant God makes with him. It is an unconditional covenant—initiated by God, sustained by God, and lasting forever. Abraham becomes pleasing to God because of his faith.
Yet there is a paradox. Those who call themselves “children of Abraham,” especially the Pharisees, are not ready to accept Jesus, the true son of Abraham. This is the tension in the Gospel.
They look at Jesus and say, “You are not yet fifty years old.” They judge Him according to their limited understanding. They try to fit Him into their categories. They want Him to be like them. But they cannot accept His greatness, His mystery.
A hardened heart pushes God away.
They also believe that their identity—being “children of Abraham”—is enough for salvation. But it is not identity alone that saves. It is the acceptance of Jesus.
Jesus is struck by their hardness of heart. As long as we remain closed, indifferent, or resistant, we distance ourselves from God.
Today’s Word invites us to move from identity to relationship, from pride to faith. Like Abraham, we are called to trust. Like Jesus, we are called to surrender.
Only then can we truly belong—not just to Abraham, but to God Himself.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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