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First Reading for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent

Genesis 17:3-9

Summary: God promises Abram, renaming him Abraham, that he will father many nations, ensuring his offspring will be numerous and include kings. God's everlasting covenant includes the land of Canaan for his descendants, affirming God's eternal dedication to them.

Covenant with Abraham

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.”

God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”

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