Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent

• First Reading – Genesis 17:3-9: God appears to Abram and makes a covenant with him, promising to greatly increase his descendants and establish an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants. In exchange, God asks Abram and his descendants to be faithful and keep the covenant.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 105: Seek strength from the Lord and remember His deeds. He, the God of Abraham and Jacob, upholds justice globally. His covenant, promised to generations, remains a testament to His enduring faithfulness.
• Gospel – John 8:51-59: Jesus claimed adherence to His teachings prevents death, prompting disbelief among the Jews who cited the mortality of Abraham and prophets. Jesus emphasized His unique knowledge of God and His precedence over Abraham, using the divine name “I AM” for Himself, which led to an attempt on His life, from which He escaped.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.

John 8:51

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent calls us to reflect on God’s covenant and the eternal life Jesus offers. The readings show God’s faithfulness to his promises and the unique relationship between Jesus and the Father.

• God’s Covenant with Abraham: In the first reading, God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising to make him the father of many nations. This reminds us that God keeps his promises and invites us into a relationship with him.
• Faithful Response to God: Abraham’s acceptance of God’s covenant shows his willingness to trust and obey. His faith encourages us to say yes to God’s call in our own lives.
• Jesus’ Promise of Eternal Life: In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of eternal life for those who keep his word. This highlights the gift of eternal life that comes through faith and following Jesus.
• Jesus’ Unity with the Father: Jesus declares his relationship with the Father, showing that he is sent by God and shares in his eternal nature. This reminds us of the deep connection between Jesus’ mission and God’s plan of salvation.
• Faith Beyond Understanding: The people struggle to understand Jesus’ words about his identity and mission. This shows the importance of faith, even when we do not fully comprehend God’s ways.
• God’s Faithfulness Through Generations: From Abraham to Jesus, God remains faithful to his promises and continues to guide his people. This reminds us that God’s care spans all time and reaches into our own lives.

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent encourages us to reflect on God’s promises and how we respond in faith. The readings invite us to trust in God’s faithfulness and follow Jesus, who offers the gift of eternal life.

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent invites us to reflect on God’s faithfulness, the unity of Jesus with the Father, and the call to faith and obedience. The readings show the deep connection between God’s promises to Abraham and their fulfillment in Jesus. They remind us to trust in God’s care and to live out our faith with action.

God’s Faithfulness Through All Generations

The first reading for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent reminds us of God’s covenant with Abraham. God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to guide his descendants. Through this covenant, we see God’s unwavering faithfulness, which extends from Abraham’s time to the coming of Jesus.

Jesus fulfills the promises made to Abraham, showing that God’s plan unfolds across generations. The connection between Abraham and Jesus reminds us that God’s care is constant and never changes. His promises reach us today, offering guidance and hope in every moment of our lives.

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent encourages us to trust in God’s faithfulness. Just as he cared for Abraham and brought salvation through Jesus, God continues to work in our lives. His care spans all time, reminding us that we are part of his loving plan.

Jesus’ Unity with the Father

In the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent, Jesus speaks about his relationship with the Father. He shows that he was sent by the Father and shares in his eternal nature. Jesus’ words reveal the close unity between his mission and God’s plan for salvation.

This unity gives meaning to everything Jesus says and does. Through him, we see the Father’s love and care for his people. Jesus’ role in God’s plan reminds us that following him is the way to know and live in the truth of God’s love.

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent invites us to reflect on this connection between Jesus and the Father. By trusting in Jesus, we place ourselves in the heart of God’s plan. His mission leads us to eternal life and helps us understand the depth of God’s care for us.

Faith and Obedience

Both readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent highlight the importance of faith and obedience. Abraham trusted God and followed his call, even when he did not know how God’s promises would unfold. In the Gospel, Jesus calls for faith in his words, offering eternal life to those who follow him.

Faith requires action. Abraham’s trust in God was shown by his willingness to obey, and Jesus teaches that keeping his word is essential for eternal life. These examples remind us that faith is not passive but calls for commitment and trust in God’s plan.

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent challenges us to live with faith and obedience. By following God’s call, like Abraham, and trusting in Jesus’ words, we show our belief in God’s promises. This trust leads us to a deeper relationship with God and to the life he desires for us.

---

The reflections for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent encourage us to see God’s faithfulness across all time. By trusting in Jesus and following his word, we take part in God’s plan of salvation. May we grow in faith and obedience, knowing that God always keeps his promises.

Prayer

Lord, you are always faithful to your promises. Help us to trust in your care and follow your word. Teach us to live with faith and obedience, like Abraham and Jesus. May we grow closer to you and walk in your truth each day. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How does God’s faithfulness to Abraham inspire your own faith?
• What does Jesus’ unity with the Father teach you about his mission?
• When have you found it hard to trust in God’s plan?
• How can you live out faith and obedience in your daily life?

Word on Fire: With or Against Jesus

In today’s Gospel reflection for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent, Bishop Robert Barron emphasizes Jesus’s divine nature, highlighted by His declaration “before Abraham came to be, I AM.” Barron critiques the tendency to see Jesus merely as an inspiring spiritual teacher, arguing that Jesus is much more, as evidenced by His urging of faith in Himself alongside faith in God.

This unique claim, unparalleled by other religious founders, forces a decisive choice about Jesus’s identity. Understanding this paradox is crucial to grasping the essence of Christian faith, illustrating the profound impact of recognizing Jesus’s divinity on our relationship with Him.

What date is Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent?

The next date is Thursday April 10, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent?

The Mass readings for Thursday April 10, 2025 are:
First Reading – Genesis 17:3-9: God’s Covenant with Abram
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 105: God’s Faithfulness to His People
Gospel – John 8:51-59: Jesus Claims to be God 

Why did God make a covenant with Abraham in the first reading for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent?

God chose Abraham to lead his people and promised to make him the father of many nations. The covenant showed God’s faithfulness and his plan to guide his people through Abraham’s descendants.

What does the covenant with Abraham teach us about faith?

Abraham trusted God and accepted the covenant, even though he could not see the full plan. This shows the importance of believing in God’s promises and following his call.

What does the first reading for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent teach us about God’s promises?

It shows that God keeps his promises through all generations. His faithfulness to Abraham reminds us that we can trust his care in our own lives.

How can we respond to God’s call like Abraham did?

We can listen to God’s word, trust his promises, and obey his guidance. Abraham’s example reminds us to follow God, even when the path is unclear.

Why does Jesus speak of eternal life in the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent?

Jesus offers eternal life to those who keep his word and follow him. He teaches that faith in him leads to a lasting relationship with God.

Why did the people have trouble understanding Jesus?

The people struggled to believe that Jesus was sent by God and shared a special relationship with the Father. Their doubts remind us of the challenge of faith when we do not fully understand.

How is Jesus connected to Abraham in the readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent?

Jesus shows that he is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham. Through Jesus, God’s plan of salvation reaches all people.

How can the readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent help us grow in faith?

The readings encourage us to trust in God’s promises and follow Jesus. They remind us to believe in God’s plan, even when we do not fully understand it.

What is the significance of Jesus’ unity with the Father in the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent?

Jesus reveals his close relationship with the Father and his role in God’s plan. This helps us see that Jesus is the way to eternal life and our connection to God.

What is the main message of Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent?

The readings teach us to trust in God’s promises and follow Jesus, who leads us to eternal life. They call us to respond in faith and live according to God’s word.