Gospel: John 8:51‐59
Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet 50 years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
Reflection
“Who do you think you are?” That is the question that the Jewish leaders asked Jesus in today’s Gospel. In my opinion, when someone asks a person that question they are either threatened or appalled by what the person has said or done. And the Jewish leaders were threatened by Jesus’ words. Jesus was telling the Jews that whoever keeps his word will have eternal life. That is a pretty bold statement. So they asked him, “who do you think you are?”
Has anyone ever asked you that question? If so, how did you answer? When I have been asked that, I have been either humbled or put on the defense. But when Jesus answered, he spoke with truth, authority and love. He answered, “I AM!” Jesus states that he is God and that his father—the God of Abraham, the God of the Jews – sent him and glorifies him. That is the authority by which he speaks. He speaks the truth because he is God!
We must also listen to Jesus’ words. Each one of us must follow Jesus and keep His commands in order to live forever in the kingdom of God.
So the question today is: How will I follow Jesus and keep His word today? Dear Lord, help me to follow you and stay true to your commandments in all I think, do and say today and everyday!