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Gospel Reflection for Thursday, April 10, 2025
The Joy of Abraham
The dialogue between Jesus and the Jews is almost like a conversation between deaf individuals (at least on the Jews’ part). From their words, it seems they are discussing the same topic, but the meanings behind the words spoken by Jesus and the Jews are radically different. The death the Jews refer to is biological—the inevitable fate of all humans. Jesus, however, speaks of a different kind of death, the “eternal death,” which means complete separation from God and salvation. This salvation is offered through Jesus’ word. Yet, this leads to another misunderstanding: Jesus’ word is not a philosophy, moral code, or doctrine; it is His very self, the incarnate Word through whom God offers salvation from “eternal death.”
The Jews’ argument about biological death is undeniable: even the great patriarchs and prophets died. Jesus does not dispute this fact—in fact, He is prepared to face it Himself, as the glory He speaks of is none other than the paschal mystery of His death and resurrection (the “eternal life”). Once again, the Jewish interlocutors fail to grasp what glory He is referring to.
Clinging to their venerable traditions and seeing themselves as their guardians, as children of Abraham, they are unable to comprehend that the great promises made to the patriarch are now being fulfilled in Jesus—the joy of Abraham, father not only of Israel but of a multitude of nations.
The misunderstanding and stubbornness of these Jews, who violently oppose Jesus, force Him to leave the temple and Judaism—the original keeper of the promise—so that a multitude of nations might be freed from eternal death and partake in the fruits of Christ’s glorification: eternal life.
We, as believers in Christ Jesus and true children of Abraham, are called to overcome all stubbornness. By keeping Jesus’ word, we continue to spread these fruits among all the peoples of the world.
Warm regards,