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5th Sunday of Lent, Year B – 2024

God has made himself known to us, human beings, little by little.
Our minds and hearts needed to understand what kind of a God our God is, but this had to happen gradually.
The texts of the Bible show us how this has taken place over centuries.
It is through events and situations, and the people involved in them, that God revealed himself.

The 1st reading of today’s celebration is a very important text in terms of revelation (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God makes himself known as a God of covenant and promises.
It gives us a message that is astonishing:

“I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah…
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people…
I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

A covenant is a term that is not used frequently in our daily conversations –
we think more in terms of an agreement, or a plan of cooperation.
Between them, heads of states will come to a deal, or an understanding of mutual assistance.
As for promises, they are indeed part of our daily life, for better or for worse, some may say…

As far as God is concerned, it is as if he could not speak… otherwise than promising good things to people!
He knows that in terms of covenant… our own record is not glorious…
And the same can be said about our way of keeping our promises to him…

Yet, again and again, he will renew his plan of a relationship with us –
a relationship that is ongoing, through thick and thin.
God will not abandon us no matter if we go away from him.
He keeps on trying to reach us – wherever we are – to win our friendship.

For that, he is ready to say, to repeat, to promise:
“I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Our response can be that of the Psalmist:

“I have treasured your promises in my heart, I have no wish to sin against you.”
“This has been my comfort in my suffering: that your promise gives me life.”
“Direct my steps as you have promised, let evil win no power over me.”
I rejoice in your promise, like someone on finding a vast treasure.” (Psalm 119:11,50,133,162)

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/5-e-dimanche-du-careme-annee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images

1st Sunday of Lent, Year B – 2024

Among us, human beings, relationships are of many kinds – family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc.
Somehow, we find it normal that there be special ties between ourselves and other people who are part of our lives.

The amazing thing is that… God feels the same!
From all times, God has wanted to establish a special relationship with human beings.
This is what the 1st reading of today’s celebration is about (Genesis 9:8-15).

This text reveals to us that God wants us to be united to him in a special way.
He has called human being to enter a covenant with him.

Throughout history, people have made covenants:
kings, emperors, monarchs, have concluded specific agreements with one another.
These alliances were promises of mutual help, exchange of goods, respect of borders, support against common enemies, etc.

God has done something similar with us, and for us.
He has made a promise of giving us his special help and ongoing protection.

“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
“I now establish my covenant with you. 
and with your descendants after you, 
and with every living creature on earth…
I establish my covenant with you”.

And, as if God was aware that we need signs, he gave us a clear sign of his commitment: the rainbow.
He, himself, said:

“This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you,
and every living creature with you,
 a covenant for all generations to come:
I have set my rainbow in the clouds,
and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth”. 

We know with certainty that God cannot fail to fulfil his promise.
We can rest assured that we SHALL receive – at all times and in all situations – his protection and assistance,
whatever our needs may be.

Can HE rest assured that we will also be faithful to the covenant we have accepted to have with him?
Next time we see a rainbow in the sky, we could ask ourselves again?…
And, of course, thank him for his faithfulness!

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/1er-dimanche-du-careme-annee-b-2024/

 

Source: Image: pexels.com (James Wheeler)