Keeping God's Word and Victory over Death

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 5th Week of Lent, April 7th, 2022  
Texts: Genesis 17:3-9; Psalm105:4-5.6-7.8-9; John 8:51-59  
Yesterday Jesus Christ told us that to abide in His word was to know the truth and that the truth would make us free. Today He goes further to tell us that to keep His word is to die no more. In His words: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death.” Keeping the word of Jesus Christ becomes a remedy for death.  But what Jesus Christ could have meant by death? If Jesus Christ means physical death, then His word is far from being true. Hence, we better understand the death to mean the condition of being sinful. In this case to be dead is to be sinful. This is clear in the words of St.  Paul: “You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the Spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient” (Eph. 2:1). He told Timothy thus: “But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives (1Tim. 5:6). Understanding death in this way, we see keeping the word of Jesus Christ as a remedy for sin or sinfulness. When we keep His word we are saved from our sinful condition and become victorious over sins, going to sin no more.  
We also see keeping the word of Jesus Christ as a way of undoing the consequence of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve. St. Paul says, “Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:18-19). Keeping the word of Jesus Christ is therapeutic, for it heals the wound created by sin, both personal and original sins.
God, in today’s first reading, also told Abraham to keep His covenant and that his descendants should do the same, so that He would continue to be their God and they would continue to be His people and heirs to the blessings He promised them. The covenant is kept by keeping the words of God, following His commands and instructions. The participation in the blessings promised to Abraham is dependent on obedience to the word of God. If Abraham is truly our father in faith, we will keep the word of God and be heirs to the blessings promised to him.  
Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading, shows that He is God by placing emphasis on keeping His word. When He was asked, “Who do you claim to be?” He answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God.” Calling God His Father, He made Himself equal to God. By saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”, He also affirmed His Godhead as He ascribed to Himself the name of God, ‘I am’. Jesus Christ is God; His word is God’s. The first reading also reminds us of our covenant in Jesus Christ; it is by keeping His words that we keep the covenant. Just as God established covenant between Himself and Abraham with his descendants, so also covenant is established between us and Jesus Christ.  

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. Amen (Collect).

 
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke