Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
In today’s readings there are several references to God’s covenant. Although this term is used frequently in the Bible, I believe that it has lost some of its richness in today’s culture. The definition of covenant is “an agreement or promise between two people or groups to do (or not do) something specified.” The covenants that are made in our scripture have even greater purpose and meaning, since God is involved. Although covenants were made many years ago, these promises still impact us, and we are called to remember what purpose and meaning they bring for us and our lives.
In the first reading, God makes a covenant with Abram and promises that he will make Him the “father of a host of nations.” God promises to “be your God and the God of your descendants after you,” and in response Abraham is called to promise that he and his descendants will keep God’s covenant always. As the story of God’s people unfolds, God continues to reveal the steadfast mercy, protection and commitment that was promised in this covenant despite the people’s frequent turning away and rejection of what they said they would do. Much of scripture recounts that “The Lord remembers his covenant forever” as proclaimed in the Responsorial Psalm today.
The gospel reading reveals how God continues to keep this covenant in the person of Jesus. Jesus tells His listeners that He knows the Father, and He keeps the Father’s word. Even more than that, Jesus relates that He is the “I AM” that has been part of the covenant made many years ago with Abraham. Jesus claims His relationship with the Father and asserts that through His Incarnation, death and resurrection He creates a new covenant that is greater and more inclusive than the covenant made many years before. This covenant includes all people for all times and is a reminder that God’s love and mercy is everlasting.
This talk of covenant is difficult for us to identify with, since this concept is not common in our world. Except for the covenant of marriage, there are few other areas where we use this language. Contracts, agreements, commitments are other words that we use, but they do not hold the same gravity. How is the covenant of the LORD part of our life? Do we recognize God’s love, mercy and commitment to us in our daily living? Do we in return respond with our lives of love for God and others? Unfortunately, when a covenant is made our memories will often fade, and we forget what we promised. Like the stories in the Bible, God calls us to look back and remember the many times that God’s love has provided us protection, blessing and mercy despite our repeated turning away. God invites us back to this covenant of love and the promise of God’s presence with us always.
As we prepare for Holy Week and the celebration of Easter, take some time today to stop and reflect on God’s covenant and what this means for your life. Spend time remembering the many ways that God has been a part of your life, and choose to return again to God with all of your heart, soul, mind and body as you pledge your love and devotion to the great “I AM.”
—Marylynn Herchline