Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 17:3-9
When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. 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.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (R. 8a)
R. The Lord remembers His covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in His strength;
seek to serve Him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that He has wrought,
His portents, and the judgments He has uttered. R.
You descendants of Abraham, His servants,
sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth His judgments prevail. R.
He remembers forever His covenant
which He made binding for a thousand generations –
Which He entered into with Abraham
and by His oath to Isaac. R.
Gospel – Jn 8:51-59
Jesus said to the Jews: “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 nothing; but 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 day; he 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 Him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
Featured Saints
St. Zosimus, bishop (†600). He carried out a humble function in the Monastery of St. Lucy in Syracuse, Italy, until, upon the abbot’s death, the Bishop named him as the successor. He governed the monastery with such wisdom and virtue that he was later elected bishop of Syracuse.
St. Peter Regalado of Valladolid, priest (†1456). Spanish Franciscan religious, disciple of Peter of Villacreces, he promoted strict observance of the rule in the convents of the Order.
St. Leonard Murialdo, priest (†1900). Founded the Pious Society of St. Joseph in Turin, Italy.
St. Julio Alvarez, priest and martyr (†1927). Parish priest in Mechoacanejo, Mexico, he was shot to death for being a priest during the religious persecution in the country.
St. John Climacus, abbot (†649). Author of the famous book The Ladder of Divine Ascent, written in the monastery of Mount Sinai, in which he depicts spiritual progress as a ladder of thirty rungs to reach God.
Blessed Louis of Casoria, priest (†1885). Franciscan religious who dedicated himself to the ransom and education of young Africans slaves. He founded the Congregations of the Brothers of Charity and the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth.
Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy (†1472). In the governance of his dukedom, he promoted peace, and was a zealous defender of the cause of those who are needy in any way.
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