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.”

Genesis 17: 7-9

Here are the complete readings for Thursday, April 10, 2025.

(Ottoman miniature of Abraham, 1583)

When I got married, the priest who celebrated the mass preached about the word “covenant.” He spoke of this term in contrast to that of a contract. Unlike a contract, it is highly unlikely that both parties in the relationship are giving of themselves to the marriage equally all the time. Someone is usually giving more of themselves than the other on a given day or in a specific period of time. That is a sign of faith and trust in the relationship, and most importantly, love as action or decision driving the relationship forward. In a spiritual relationship, have we ever felt that our prayer life mainly consists of us asking for positive outcomes to personal requests? Or, have we ever sensed that, despite a disciplined commitment to prayer and reflection, God seems distant and our prayers left unheard? In the Gospel reading for today, Jesus challenged his contemporaries to have hope that their relationship with God was eternal, before their ancestors and surpassing their descendants. Let us consider how we can commit to our part of this eternal flame by making space in our hearts for a God who is always there reaching out to us, even if we cannot see or feel the warmth.

For your part,
God asks you in return
to make the word of God your home.

You have promised
to follow Christ, the poor man,
totally given in love to God
and for all people everywhere,
and whose loving obedience led Him
to death on the cross. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, when you call us, the tasks seems overwhelming. Why do you ask us to be this way, Lord? Thank you for reminding us that in calling us to be disciples, you are just asking us to be exactly who we are, no more and no less. With this knowledge and encouragement, may we share your Gospel and your mission to those close to us and for those we meet in our joyful journey of life.

Amen