Thursday of the fifth week of lent

Date: Thursday, Mar 30
Contributor: Kathy Hagan
Lectionary Link 

John 8:51–59
Who do you claim to be?”
Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
 
I AM. Simple words holding such incredible, undeniable power. I AM.
 
And yet, with all the power and authority God possesses, he makes and keeps his covenant with us. He provides to us his incredible Grace and promises us eternal life.
 
For me, this is a time to reflect, to listen deeply, to known that my part is to have the discernment and the courage to go forward in what I believe to be his demands.  As stated in the collect, to have no fear in his service.  Jesus spent a lifetime on earth walking through hardship, pain, humiliation, indignity upon indignity.  Through all of his suffering, I am given the promise of his Grace and his love. For this, it is on me to strive to hear, to follow, to be of service to him without fear. I will never be perfect, but each day allows me another opportunity to love. What a wonder. What a blessing.
 

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