Living the Covenant of Love
(Malachi 1:14 – 2:2, 8-10; Psalm 131; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13; Mt 23:1-12)
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One of the world’s most popular series of cartoons was Charlie Brown by Robert Schultz. Its popularity probably stems from the gift he had of portraying, through comic characters, the foibles of daily ordinary life that we could all identify with. One that fits today’s readings is the one in which Lucy promises not to pull the football away just as Charlie is about to kick it, after having done so umpteen times before. Charlie once again actually trusts that this time she will be true to her word, and of course, despite all her good intentions, just as he kicks at the ball, she cannot stop herself from pulling it away once again, sending Charlie flying through the air, mad at her, and mad at himself for allowing himself to be duped once again.
Today’s readings invite us to let go of being like Lucy, and to truly be faithful to the covenant of loving relationship that God has made with God’s people.
Throughout our salvation history, God has desired a relationship with God’s own people based on intimacy, trust, faithfulness and genuine worship from the heart. There is a fascinating progression in the series of covenants that God made with Israel.
The first covenant was with a couple, Adam and Eve, that someday a child would overcome evil. The next major covenant was with a family – Noah, who was to board the ark with his family and animals. The third major covenant was with a tribe: Abraham was to take his whole tribe and set out into the unknown, trusting that God would reveal the destination along that way. That trust in God makes him our ancestral father in faith.
A fourth covenant was with a nation. Moses took the people from slavery in Egypt to Mt. Sinai, where God gave them a way of life, the Ten Commandments, that would forge this motely group of people into a holy nation, a people set apart.
One dominant theme, however, runs throughout the history of the Chosen people, and that is infidelity. Constantly, similar to Lucie, over and over again, they proved to be unfaithful to the covenant that God had established with them. Instead of trusting in God’s promise as Noah, Abraham and Moses had done, they always fell for the temptations of possessions, prestige and power. It was only with Jesus that the final covenant, this time with the whole world and all the cosmos, truly pleasing to God, is established through the humble obedience and sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross.
The scribes and Pharisees with whom Jesus struggles in today’s gospel are no different than their ancestors. Their hypocrisy, false pride and lack of compassion lead Jesus into warning the people not to do as they do. It also leads him into using Semitic hyperbole regarding titles. He exaggerates to make a point – that he is to be the center of their lives, and not these other temptations. Of course, they refuse to listen even to this strong language. Basically, they also defiled the covenant with God.
In the first reading today, the prophet Malachi joins in the chorus. He scolds dishonest worship and asserts that a curse is put upon infidelity. A covenant was made with the house of Levi, he reminds them, but they have defiled the covenant of the Lord, when fidelity to the covenant is what was asked,
What a contrast to the second reading, where St Paul speaks to his beloved Thessalonians. Their faith is expressed in humble love that is willing to share the lot of the other. This love is just the opposite of the scribes and Pharisees. We are to have gratitude for the gift of faith that is actually God’s grace at work within us. Finally, we have a people, the new people of God, who have kept the covenant with God. No wonder they are so pleasing to St. Paul.
At one time in my ministry, I was asked to give driving lessons to a newly arrived priest from the Philippines. As I taught this new priest things like the importance of stopping at a red light before turning right, or shoulder checking before switching lanes, it seems that I neglected to do those precise things myself. The new priest went for his driver’s exam, and failed it. When I asked him what happened, he told me that he just did what he had observed me do! To my chagrin, I realized that I had been just like the Pharisees, teaching certain driving skills, but not practicing them myself, which led to the failure on the part of this brother Oblate. It was a lesson that I took to heart for my own driving practice – well, to be honest, at least to a greater extent!
The Eucharist is a covenant meal, a participation in that covenant that God established with God’s people through the Body and Blood of God’s own Son.
May our participation in this covenant celebration empower us to truly be the new people of God, faithful to the covenant by trusting completely in God’s promises, and living out the commandment of love that makes up the core of this new covenant.
This is well expressed about living out the covenant of love by trusting God’s promises . I was also looking at Genesis 20 , the Ten Commandments and the covenant in the Bible. I happen to pass by it , I was searching for the liturgy for All Souls Day because some people were questioning about readings being used. You are one of followers of Jesus Christ. Amen
Correction: I meant Exodus 20 , Exodus 24& 25. I also looked at vestments for Priests at Exodus 28 and 39. I wanted to know what clothing does the Deacon wears during Mass.
It’s good you are doing the Poustinia once a month , at least you can fast 24 hrs. I celebrate The sacred Heart of Jesus once a month, the first Friday. Doing adoration of The Holy Eucharist afterwards . I can’t fast 24 hrs without eating anything. Good for you.