A reading from the gospel according to John 8:51-59:
51 Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”
52 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.’
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?”
54 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.’
55 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.
56 Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.”
59 So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
Reflection: Jesus is forever.
Jesus is God the Son. That is the truth that we believe. He was in the beginning, the bible tells us (John 1:1). That is why He claims to exist even before Abraham was born. Yet this was lost among the Jews during His time. They couldn’t believe that the son of a carpenter who is not yet 50 years old have seen Abraham who died many centuries ago. The truth really hurt them so they would rather stone Jesus to death than believe in Him. For us, it is either a privilege to live during His time and experience His physical presence or an embarrassment that a neighbor is claiming to be the Son of God. Perhaps we are one of those who liked to stone Him.
If we are one of those who believe in Jesus, we would endeavor to keep His words and walk in His way. His promise is for us not to taste death. Of course we remain as mortals. Sooner or later, we will leave our physical body but our real self will live forever. Jesus Himself died but He rose again on the third day. Because of our faith in the resurrection, we know that together with the saints and angels, we shall live forever in a boundless sea of love.
