It is 6th April 2017. The readings are from Genesis 17:3-9; and the Gospel from John 8:51-59. The readings bring out the greatness of Jesus as the Lord and God even before our ancestors ever brought forth into the world. God assures Abraham all the blessings in the first reading as long as he is obedient God and loving God. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.” (Gen.17:6,7). God wanted Abraham and all his descendants to be faithful to God. The responsorial Psalm praises, “The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.” (Ps.104:8). If our faith and worship only connect to our ancestors and to the human personalities, we are so limited in our faith. The power and the presence of “I AM” was there right from the beginning. Abraham, the ancestor and the father of our faith even longed to see experience this “I AM” as God. It is the most powerful name expounds the nature of God and it explains the mighty presence of God amidst us. Jesus declares his existence even before the birth of Abraham. Jesus used the same phrase “I AM” in seven declarations about Himself. In all seven expressions of Himself, He combines I AM with tremendous metaphors and symbols. All appear in the book of John. They are I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51); I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12); I AM the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7, 9); I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14); I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25); I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6); and I AM the True Vine (John 15:1, 5). Jesus was and is God, the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, equal to the Father in every way. I AM means God exists and no one ever existed before God. God does not change and God is the source of all energy and life. All of us need to conform to this very nature of God. “Before Abraham was, I AM,” (Jn.8:59). Jesus is not only the messiah but also God himself who lived among us in humility and as a servant to heal our rebellion against God and to worship God in Truth and without fear. The identity Jesus claims needs tremendous faith and faithfulness to Jesus and to His words. The experience of everlasting happiness and life is only possible with Jesus when we recognize and believe in Him as our God. We need to reclaim this powerful divine identity of Jesus to face any challenges in our lives. May you have a good day. May God bless you.