Good morning, good people! May the Lord give you peace, health, and happiness in the Holy Spirit during this year of Jubilee.
It is 10th April 2025. We reflect on Genesis 17:3–9 and John 8:51–59.
How deep is our faith? Pope Benedict XVI describes, “Faith is above all a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus, it is having an experience of his closeness, his friendship and his love.”
The readings today reveal the greatness of Jesus Christ as Lord and God—even before our ancestors were brought into existence. In the first reading, God makes a solemn covenant with Abraham, promising abundant blessings in exchange for faithfulness and obedience:
“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.” (Genesis 17:6–7)
This divine promise reveals God’s desire for a lasting relationship with His people, grounded in love and fidelity. The responsorial psalm beautifully affirms this: “The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.” (Psalm 105:8)
Yet, faith must go beyond mere ancestral ties or religious tradition. If our worship is rooted only in lineage or human personalities, it limits the depth of our relationship with God. Jesus breaks through this limitation by declaring His eternal presence: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)
A woman once shared how, after losing her job and struggling to provide for her children, she cried out in despair: “God, where are You?” That night, a neighbor unexpectedly knocked on her door with bags of groceries and said, “I don’t know why, but I felt God telling me to come.” She wept. In that moment, she realized: “Jesus is with me. He is the ‘I AM’—right here in my need.” This bold declaration not only identifies Jesus with the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus but also proclaims His timeless and divine nature.
The phrase “I AM” is not merely a title—it reveals the unchanging, ever-present, life-giving nature of God. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus uses this divine expression in seven powerful “I AM” statements:
– I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
– I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)
– I AM the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7)
– I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
– I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
– I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)
– I AM the True Vine (John 15:1)
Each metaphor opens our eyes to a different aspect of Jesus’ divine mission and identity. Jesus was, is, and always will be—the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. He is not only the Messiah but also God Himself, who lived among us with humility to heal our rebellion and draw us into worship that is grounded in truth and love. Recognizing Jesus as the eternal “I AM” demands deep faith and unwavering loyalty to His Word. The experience of everlasting life begins when we place our trust in Him fully.
May this day be filled with the assurance of God’s eternal love and presence. God bless you