THURday  30  MARCH

SAINT PETER REGULATUS

He was a Franciscan reformer born in Valladolid, Spain into a wealthy family. In his convent he lived a life of prayer and poverty. Thirty-six years after his death his body was found untouched by nature.

Entrance Antiphon: Heb 9: 15

Christ is mediator of a New Covenant, so that by means of his death, those who are called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.

Collect

Be near, O Lord, to those who plead before you, and look kindly on those who place their hope in your mercy, that, cleansed from the stain of their sins, they may persevere in holy living and be made full heirs of your promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading: Genesis 17: 3-9

Abram bowed to the ground and God said this to him, “Here now is my covenant with you: you shall become the father of a multitude of nations. You shall no longer be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I make you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful. I will make you into nations, and your issue shall be kings. I will establish my Covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation, a Covenant in perpetuity, 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 you are living in, the whole land of Canaan, to own in perpetuity, and I will be your God.”

Psalm 104: 4-9

R/The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, the judgements he spoke.

O children of Abraham, his servant, O sons of the Jacob he chose. He, the Lord, is our God: his judgements prevail in all the earth.

He remembers his covenant for ever, his promise for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

Gospel Acclamation: cf. Jn 6: 63, 68

Glory and praise to you, O Christ! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel: John 8: 51-59

Jesus said to the Jews: “I tell you most solemnly, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” The Jews said, “Now we know for certain that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?” Jesus answered: “If I were to seek my own glory that would be no glory at all; my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, ‘He is our God’ although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say: I do not know him, I should be a liar, as you are liars yourselves. But I do know him, and I faithfully keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.” The Jews then said, “You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!” Jesus replied: “I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am.” At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

Prayer over the Offerings

Look with favour, Lord, we pray, on these sacrificial offerings, that they may profit our conversion and the salvation of all the world. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Rm 8: 32

God did not spare his own Son, but handed him over for us all; with him, he has given us all things.

Prayer after Communion

Nourished by your saving gifts, we beseech your mercy, Lord, that by this same Sacrament with which you feed us in the present age, you may make us partakers of life eternal. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the People

Be gracious to your people, Lord, we pray, that, as from day to day they reject what does not please you, they may be filled instead with delight at your commands. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Meditation

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus is not a mere individual in our lives. He is the author of it. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He presides over the destiny of the universe and of human existence. Jesus is God. He is our God. In the Gospel, he reveals himself clearly to us as the one WHO IS. For before Abraham was, he IS. His actions and words are true and testify to this. But despite all that he does and says, we fail to understand because we refuse to open our eyes to see and believe. Like those Jews, we often close ourselves to the truth and say no to God. Jesus, who reveals to us the true identity of his Father, wants to share with us his divine filiation. He wants to put us in direct relationship with his Father. But the reaction of the crowd that wants to stone him clearly shows how we often treat God. Let us not turn away from God. Let us learn not to stone God in our lives.