A time of Lexio Divina for the discerning heart, Thursday of the fifth week in Lent.
As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.
For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of the stay to the Lord.
Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you, you take over.
I am aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John, chapter 8, verses 51 through 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
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 50 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.
A word made this passage come alive for you.
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more, give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you.
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?
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 50 yet, and you have seen Abraham?
Jesus replied, I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I am.
At those they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple.
What did your heart feel as you listened?
Did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more, through Him, with Him, and in Him, listen to the Word.
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?
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
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 50 yet, and you have seen Abraham?
Jesus replied, I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I am.
Like this, they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple.
I touched your heart in this time of prayer.
What did your heart feel as you prayed?
What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?
Let us now close with the prayer to the Father that Jesus gave us.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
and earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
