+ In the gospel passage today Jesus
is trying to make the point that those who keep the covenant and commandments
that his Father made with Abraham (and his descendants) are also obeying him
because he was also present at the time those covenants and commands were given
– and that their reward will be everlasting life. The Jews however are not
convinced of his legitimacy and they mock him saying: You are not yet fifty years old, how could you have seen Abraham and
been with him when God spoke with him?
Jesus, in an exasperating way,
raises his voice and cries out: Listen to
me! before Abraham came to be, I AM. My Father is I AM, and I am I AM. and I am
eternal! I am with God always! I am present in all my Father’s dealings
with the human race. So they picked up
stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid
and went out of the temple area: to await his hour when more than stones
will be thrown at him.
In the first reading we see
the historic covenant made between God and Abram:
it was the cause of the changing of his name to Abraham, and it was the cause of many graces and blessings
on him and his physical and spiritual descendants; but the other end of the
deal must never be overlooked: he would be their God, but they must obey the
commands of the covenant – all of them: and thus they would be eligible for
countless blessings.
And the Law and the Prophets
are based on 2 hinges: loving God, loving neighbor as we love ourselves.
May we the children of Abraham, the children of God be quick to
obey with our spiritual fathers: imitate their example, and win the prize that
they won for us by their obedience: life on high forever, with God, his Son and
the communion of saints!
And on a more practical level,
may our expression of love of God and neighbor as ourselves be seen in living a
mature, insightfully informed, uncompromising in principle, while appropriately
lenient in speed of implementation (where prudent), other-centered way of life:
knowing that, even when
necessary disciplinary measures must be invoked, i.e. when those adult in
years, display thought and deeds of one who has not yet reached or grasped an
ease of use of reason i.e. even a presiding potentate of a world power, the
adults in the room i.e. we, must take matters in hand and demand a stop to
childish behavior for the immediate safety and welfare of the governing power
and his constituents throughout the land!
If
today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts- and
for God’s sake, for the sake of others and your own sake, stand up and do something both Christian and patriotic! be a
peace-broker! as was Abraham and his descendants of whom we are a part!
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