Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Faith In God’s Word, Covenant
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Our communion with God, our salvation, depends on faith. God makes his offer of a covenant; we have to trust the Word of God. Abraham believed in God’s word, and his faith changed his destiny (hence the new name) and his people. Many Jews did not believe and cut themselves off from their ancestors and from God’s new people. God speaks to us through His Word, the person of Jesus Christ. If we believe in him, we become the new people of the new covenant by baptism, and the Promised Land will be ours.
Opening Prayer
Lord God,
In your Son, Jesus Christ,
you have given us a new name,
The name of your Son himself.
May we live the name up to our new destiny,
to be people-for-others
who serve and commit ourselves
together with Jesus,
Your Son and our Lord forever.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Alleluia Verse
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
Prayers of the Faithful
– Jesus, we pray for those who cannot believe in you. Let them be people who follow their conscience, we pray:
– Jesus, give us the grace to believe in your word and also to keep it in our daily living, we pray:
– Jesus, we pray that the Jewish people may come closer to us through their fidelity to the covenant you made with Abraham, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God,
you speak with your living Word in our midst,
your Son, Jesus Christ.
Give us faith, a strong faith,
that we may believe
in his presence among us
and that we may be his presence
in the world of today.
Give us a bit of his Spirit
that people may accept him in us,
For he is our Lord forever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God,
in days when life looks drab
and when we get impatient with ourselves,
we have a hard time to realize
that your Son is present in our midst.
Give us a trusting faith,
that he is here for us and with us,
to lift us above ourselves
and to give us hope in your future.
Make us deeply aware,
that you have bound yourself to us
and share our destiny
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
May we keep the Lord’s Word not only in our minds but also in our deeds, that we may enjoy eternal life, with the blessing of the Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTION:
John 8:51-59
God lives in the hearts of his people.
Whoever keeps my word will never see death.” The Jews couldn't grasp the meaning of "never seeing death" beyond the literal interpretation of words.Today's readings focus on God's promises, including the promise to Father Abraham in the first reading and the promise of a life without death for those who believe in Jesus in the Gospel.
God chose Abraham and promised to make him the father of many nations. Abraham believed in the promises and entered into a covenant with God—a commitment for life.
Today's Gospel presents the debate between Jesus and the Pharisees, where they constantly repeated: “We must follow the law!" Their only concern was fulfilling the laws, and they thought it would please God if they followed them. Their hearts and minds were closed and it is impossible to convince a closed mind.
These days, many people tend to believe that their way of thinking is the only correct way, and it's almost like they have turned it into an idol. We read in the Gospel that they threw stones at him... "Jesus hid himself and left the temple." In the prologue, too, John describes this rejection: "He came to his own, and they did not accept him."
Jesus “ ...left the temple.” “He left the Temple.” Remember the Gospel account: When Jesus died on the cross, the veil that covered the Holy of Holies in the temple split open, so to say, to reveal that God was no longer present in the temple. He had left the temple. And he now dwells in the Temple that he has raised—among his people, the Church, the Body of Christ.
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John 8:51-59
Faithful to the Covenant of God
In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a bold and comforting promise: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” His words provoke outrage among His listeners, who question His authority. Yet, Jesus is revealing the heart of God’s eternal covenant—a promise of life.
As the Psalm reminds us: “The Lord remembers His covenant forever.” God’s fidelity is steadfast. He chose Abraham, made him a promise of fruitfulness, and established a covenant that would extend through all generations. Abraham believed, even when the fulfilment seemed distant.
Christian life follows this same pattern. We have been chosen by God, not by our own doing. Our baptism is more than a certificate—it is a calling. A call to live in covenant with God, to say “yes” daily to his promise, and to remain faithful through life’s trials. This fidelity is the path to true freedom and joy.
Jesus assures us that those who keep His word will never see death. This doesn’t mean we won’t suffer or face hardship. Faith doesn’t protect us from pain; it transforms the way we see it. What once appeared as an end or a loss can become an opportunity for growth and deeper trust in God’s plan. Through faith, our sorrows become stepping stones toward joy.
“I know Him,” Jesus declares. Knowledge of God is essential. We cannot love what we do not know. But knowing God isn’t a one-time discovery—it’s a lifelong journey. As we grow in the knowledge of his love, we also grow in joy.
Abraham rejoiced to see Christ’s day. True joy comes from embracing God’s promises, trusting in His faithfulness, and walking the path of love—even when it’s difficult.