Title: Meditation: Thursday, March 21, 2002
The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, March 21, 2002
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 17:3-9
Psalm 105:4-9
John 8:51-59
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
There is theological significance in the phrase that Jesus uses in
today's Gospel describing who He is with regard to Abraham. He did not
say: "Before Abraham came to be, I was", but: "Before Abraham came to
be, I AM."
To those who are not schooled in Holy Scripture, it seems like an
awkward way for Jesus to speak. What are we to make of it? Perhaps the
answer might be, "Nothing." or, "What difference does it make, anyway."
When that kind of an answer comes from my own lips I have begun to learn
that even though I might not understand what is being said, it probably
has some important significance. Jesus, you know, wasn't one to talk
idly. He was a man with a mission and His every action and word were
intricately connected to it.
What then, with this "I AM"? The words are even capitalized in the Roman
Missal giving them, it seems, even more importance?
Perhaps with the Holy Spirit's illuminating gifts, we might find a path
that helps us, when Sacred Scripture raises in our mind questions like
this. Perhaps we might be led to meditate in dark and in quiet faith
about the primacy of God and the love He bore us in the gift of Jesus.
Let us beg Him to reveal even more fully who this Jesus was, and is, and
forever, will be.
For those who are so led, some bible commentaries might give some
scholarly advice about our problem, but I'll venture to guess it will
only confirm what the Holy Spirit speaks to any open, loving, seeking
heart who longs to know who is this Jesus, who says, "I AM."
- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible.
Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/
