The reading today from Genesis is an opportunity for us to recall the sacred covenant made between God and Abram. Under this covenant, Abram would receive a new name (Abraham), and become father to a multitude of nations, and the first in a line of kings, receiving also the land of Canaan. This covenant also points to the depth of the binding relationship between God and His people.

In time, this covenant found its fulfilment in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. Indeed, before the appointed moment, the Jews could not understand it when Jesus said he had seen Abraham and that Abraham would rejoice at His Day. The ability to see and understand the significance of this Day when Jesus would rise again in defiance of sin and death calls for faith. And this faith is one we can learn from Father Abraham whose first "Yes" to God paved the way for all of us.

The Jews in Jesus' days did not believe, and thus they questioned him. And when he stated clearly and loudly that "before Abraham ever was, I Am," they picked up stones to throw at him. This means they understood that Jesus, by declaring "I Am," he is saying he is divine — he existed before Abraham. May we have the faith to believe that Jesus is God and He saves.