2 April 2020 - whoever keeps my word

Today's Readings

(Audio)

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

The Jews understood how radical this claim was. They knew that even most of the great heroes of their faith still died. Even those who didn't, like Elijah, didn't make claims like this.

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?

Jesus was saying something more than that he himself would not die. He was saying that the word he came to speak was itself the seed of immortality for all who would receive it. Yet he would not prove it in a way that the Jews would readily receive.

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

The Father has to prepare the hearts of those who will receive the word of Christ. Yet most of the Jews and most of us start off not knowing the Father either. It is only by spending time with the Son that we know the Father.

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (see John 14:9).

As we learn to see the Father in Jesus we learn to trust that Jesus is who he says he is and to believe in his word.

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (see Matthew 16:17).

In short, to truly keep the word of Christ requires relationship. The faith, the hope, and the love that cling to this word come only through our contact with Jesus and his Spirit. When we come to him, open to the revelation of the Father we can hear him say, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM." Instead of stoning him we can reply "My Lord and my God!" (see John 20:28)

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.

The covenant is maintained with us, not through something abstract and arbitrary, not first and foremost through the performance of specific rules, but through a person. Only once we know him can we give him first place in our hearts and minds. And only when he has that place can we receive and keep his word.

Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.