Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/17:3 GN 17:3-9 When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to himand My covenant with you is thisandyou are to become the father of a host of nations.No longer shall you be called Abramyour name shall be Abraham,for I am making you the father of a host of nations.I will render you exceedingly fertileI will make nations of youkings shall stem from you.I will maintain my covenant with youand your descendants after youthroughout the ages as an everlasting pact,to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.I will give to youand to your descendants after youthe land in which you are now staying,the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possessionand I will be their God.”God also said to Abrahamand On your part, you and your descendants after youmust keep my covenant throughout the ages.” Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105:4 PS 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8a)The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. Look to the LORD in his strengthseek to serve him constantly.Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. R.The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. You descendants of Abraham, his servants,sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!He, the LORD, is our Godthroughout the earth his judgments prevail. R.The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. He remembers forever his covenantwhich he made binding for a thousand generations –Which he entered into with Abrahamand by his oath to Isaac. R.The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. Verse Before TheGospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/95and8 PS 95and8 If today you hear his voice,harden not your hearts. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/john/8:51 JN 8:51-59 Jesus said to the Jewsand Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever keeps my word will never see death.”So the Jews said to him, Now we are sure that you are possessed.Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?Or the prophets, who died?Who do you make yourself out to be?”Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothingbut it is my Father who glorifies me,of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’You do not know him, but I know him.And if I should say that I do not know him,I would be like you a liar.But I do know him and I keep his word.Abraham your father rejoiced to see my dayhe saw it and was glad.”So the Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”Jesus said to them, Amen, amen, I say to you,before Abraham came to be, I AM.”So they picked up stones to throw at himbut Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.