< <  

Thursday, April 6, 2006

  > >
Genesis 17:3-9
Psalm 105:4-9
John 8:51-59

View Readings
Similar Reflections

i am who am and who i am

"Whom do You make Yourself out to be?" —John 8:53

Lent is an opportunity to discover who we are in Christ. During the first Lent when Jesus fasted forty days in the desert, He received the revelation that He was God's beloved Son (Lk 3:22). As a human being, Jesus came to understand Who He was.

We also, as a result of this Lent, should be able to answer the question, "Who am I?" First, we must meet I AM WHO AM before we know WHO I AM. That's how Abraham knew he was to be the father of many nations (Gn 17:5). He first met Yahweh, the great I AM (Gn 15:17). Likewise, Moses realized his identity after meeting I AM in the burning bush (Ex 3:14).

Jesus said, "You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM" (Jn 8:24). "When you lift up the Son of Man, you will come to realize that I AM" (Jn 8:28). "I solemnly declare it: before Abraham came to be, I AM" (Jn 8:58).

We can either bow down before the Lord in worship, forget about ourselves, and paradoxically find ourselves; or we can focus on ourselves and lose ourselves (Lk 9:24). WHO I AM is always found in I AM WHO AM.

Prayer:  Lord, may I fall on my knees at this moment to worship You, the great I AM.

Promise:  "I solemnly assure you, if a man is true to My word he shall never see death." —Jn 8:51

Praise:  Robert has found direction to his life by spending time before the Blessed Sacrament.

Reference:  (For more teachings by the great I AM, read the Bible daily. For encouragement, order any or all of these audio or video tapes: Ignorance of Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ, AV 82-1, V-82, How to Pray the Bible on audio AV 82-3 or on video V-82, How to Read the Bible on audio AV 46-3 or on video V-46, Principles of Bible Interpretation, audio AV 79-1, video V-79, Biblical Counseling on audio AV 13A-1, AV 13A-3, AV 13B-1 or video starting with V-13A.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 27, 2005

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.