The Covenant

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Father Joe

“Covenant” is a word somewhat unusual in our every day usage. It is much more than a contract about “things.” A covenant is between “persons” and is the giving of oneself to another as in the sacrament of marriage. It is a solemn promise fortified by an oath. We usually mention the word in reference to a promise by God and his people. A covenant was struck by God in the Old Testament, particularly with the patriarch, Abraham (Genesis 15:1-21). The covenant was sealed with the blood of slaughtered animal(s). The ritual carried out in the remembrance of the covenant symbolized what would happen to the people if they broke their covenant with God. (This ritual included walking through the entrails of the sacrificial animal.) As often as they returned or sought God’s mercy, the covenant was resumed. While various animals were used in covenants like bulls, goats, small birds, etc., both in their enactment and in their renewals or remembrance, Christians often recall the unblemished lambs sacrificed by Jews in the time of Moses so that the angel of death might pass them by and that the Egyptians might set them free (Exodus 12:1-20). Our Lord would use this Passover commemoration as the occasion to institute his new covenant. Of course, Jesus Christ, himself, is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. The word, “covenant,” the new and eternal covenant, occurs in the words of Consecration. First used at the Last Supper, we find it in Mark 14:24 where the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice is referred to as the new covenant. This covenant was sealed in “the blood of Christ.” Since the Eucharist is the re-presentation (not repetition) of that sacrifice, the word is used at Mass. When we go to Communion, we receive the body and blood of Christ. God is always true to his word, faithful to his promise. In a sense, we renew our pledge or promise of ourselves to God. It is as if we were “sprinkled” with the blood of the Lamb at Communion. This covenant is the cause of our hope. We, you and I, belong to God. God will never reject us. His promise, his giving of himself to us, is ever new and eternal. Trusting in him, we cannot be lost. We are never alone. No one will snatch us out of his hand. Each time we hear the word COVENANT at the Consecration and receive Communion, we ought to rejoice and realize to whom we belong. He is faithful to his promises to us. If we are to know that God’s promise is eternal and unfailing then we must surrender completely to our loving God.