ten days till covenant renewal
"My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations." —Genesis 17:4
A covenant is an agreement to be in a personal relationship with someone. Those in a covenant agree to do certain things which will promote growth in their love for each other. God made a covenant with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc. The people who entered into these covenants with God often broke their covenants. However, the Lord promised a new, unbroken covenant: "The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (Jer 31:31).
We don't break this new covenant for it is written in our hearts (Jer 31:33). The new covenant was written in Jesus' blood when He died for us on Calvary. The details of the covenant are not only within us and written on our hearts (Jer 31:33), but the Covenant-Maker, God, lives inside us. We enter into this new covenant by Baptism. In this way, we receive a new nature by which we are capable of living out the covenant. We become adopted children of God and brothers and sisters of the one-and- a-half billion other people in the covenant. We renew this covenant at Mass on the greatest day of the year, Easter Sunday. We do this by renewing our baptismal promises. In about ten days, we will renew the covenant. Prepare, fast, and pray.
Prayer: Father, may I believe that other Christians are literally my brothers and sisters.
Promise: "I solemnly assure you, if a man is true to My Word he shall never see death." —Jn 8:51
Praise: Antonio gave up a lucrative pension, retired early, sold his home and possessions, and moved out of state so that he and his wife could minister full-time for Habitat for Humanity with a community of believers.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Hearing God on our tape on audio AV 45-1 or video V-45.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 2011
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