Relationship with Jesus in the New Covenant gives us Eternal life - Homily, 5th Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

 

 In Today’s first reading the prophet Jeremiah tells the people of Israel of a New Covenant.  They had been suffering for many years away from their homes exiled to Babylon. Their misfortune was due to breaking the covenant that God had made with them through the Law of the Ten Commandments given to Moses.

What is a covenant?   A covenant is a relationship entered into between persons who make a promise to each other.   It’s not like a contract where two parties make commitments in exchange for goods and services.  A marriage between a husband and wife is an example of a lifelong covenant to each other.

The covenant God made with the Jewish people was kept by God, but not by them. They did not understand the Law of the Ten Commandments as a relationship with God, but only a set of rules to be followed.

The New Covenant the Lord prophecies through Jeremiah is: “I will place my law within them and write it in their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people. All, from the least to the greatest, shall now me, say the Lord, for I will forgive their evil doing and remember their sin no more”. This was a prophecy of God’s mercy they had longed for.

How does this New Covenant come about? Through person of Jesus! Today’s Gospel tells us the time for New Covenant has come.Some of the Greeks had come to seek out Jesus having heard of the miraculous healings he had done.

Jesus tells them: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” The hour Jesus spoke of means that that now is the time for the New Covenant. He uses a familiar farming analogy of how this will come about: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit”. This is a sign predicting his death. The New Covenant will come about by Jesus loving self-sacrifice of dying for us to conquer sin and resurrection to new life, so we may have eternal life.       

Was this a struggle for Jesus? It was, as he tells us, “I am troubled now.” Jesus in his human nature had the same struggles we do in fearing death. He sympathizes with own struggle with death. But in his divinity, he is obedient to the Father and made perfect by his dying and rising, so we can live eternally if we believe in him and obey him.

How do we enter into this New Covenant where the law will be written in our own hearts? By being in relationship with the person of Jesus, believing in him, and living our life as his disciple loving God and neighbor. We participate in this New Covenant each time we come to Mass and hear the priest speak the words of Jesus.

 

“TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,  THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME”

 

Jesus gave us the New Covenant, to conquer death cause by sin so we could live eternally. When we receive the Eucharist, Jesus becomes part of us.  His Body and Blood nourishes us to grow in faith and virtue. By growing in virtue, we can overcome sin. The one who is God and gave use the law, now writes it in our hearts when we receive him.   In receiving Jesus, we enter into a deep relationship with him that helps us to live as his disciple being obedient to love God and neighbor.

How do we live as a disciple of Jesus? By spending time each day with Jesus in prayer talking and listening to him. By the sacrifices we make as parents, working to provide food and homes for our children, and educating them in the faith of our Lord. By giving of our time caring for family, friends, and neighbors who are lonely, ill, or of old age. By denying ourselves of favorite foods or activities so we can donate our resources to the Harvest Food Pantry, Johnson County Senior services,  and Catholic Relief Services. 

As we enter these last few weeks of Lent, lets us ask the Lord for the grace to live our lives as his disciple in gratitude for Christ’s New Covenant. These Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving help us to be in relationship with Jesus, so his law is written in our hearts. If it’s been a struggle keeping your Lenten promises don’t give up.    I’ve struggled myself. It’s hard to do it all on our own. Ask Jesus for help in prayer, calling on the Holy Spirit to give you a steadfast and willing spirit. Make the time each week to receive the Eucharist and go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Both will help us grow in virtue so we can be of humble service to each other.

            Dear Jesus, please help us accompany you on your journey to the Cross by writing your law in our hearts, so we can conquer sin and live lives of service as your disciples.