The Forever Covenant

~~~ Genesis 17:3-9 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ John 8:51-59 ~~~

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

God made a covenant with Abraham as 

he was changing his name.

A covenant with God is a binding spiritual contract.

God did not lengthy complicated legal documents.

God did not have his heavenly attorney 

draw up a document for this covenant.

God keeps his word there is no need for legal protection;

no one is needed to enforce the rules of the covenant.

I will maintain my covenant with you

and your descendants after you

throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,

to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

This covenant has now extended 

all the way through the ages to include us.

It boggles the mind to think about just how long ago God 

made this promise which we believe now.

What else would have survived for this many years?

God uses covenants to communicates us, redeems us,

saves us into eternal life with Jesus.

God's promises are never broken.

God's promises are not questioned.

God's promises are completely trustworthy.

The entire Bible is a covenant.

The Latin word for Covenant is Testament.

Thus we have the Bible in two parts...

the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Jesus said to the Jews:

“Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever keeps my word will never see death.” 

We could not have asked for anything more from God

 than to be among his chosen people.

If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

God keeps his part of the covenant

 are you keeping you part?

God is the origin of his covenants;

 we are given the grace to fulfill our part.

His covenants are prefect and true.

~~~Peace~~~

Are You 'Stiff - Necked'

~~~ Exodus 32: 7-14 ~~~ Psalm 106 ~~~ John 5: 31-47 ~~~

Today I am using the ordinary lectionary readings even though

we celebrated a Mass of prayer and thanksgiving for Pope Francis.

The alternate psalm was the Lord is My Shepherd;

certainly appropriate as we pray for the new Holy Father

to be blessed with the Holy Spirit

as he leads the universal Catholic Church.

God complains to Moses that his people are 'stiff necked'.

I am not sure of the exact meaning, but it seems to me the people

had become very stubborn.

God was not living up to their expectations fast enough

to keep them satisfied.

Gee, have you ever had that feeling?

You know the one where you think God is either not listening

or taking too long to answer your prayers.

I must be honest and admit I have been in that state...

in that place where you wonder where God is in your life.

It is amusing that Moses intercedes on behalf of his people before God.

In effect Moses reminds God of all the trouble

he has gone to to lead these same people...

only to destroy them now.

God does indeed listen to Moses and refrains from exercising his wrath.

Moses quoted the actual words spoken earlier by God to defend his people...

rather brilliant on his part.

God keeps his promises to his people.

God keeps his promises even when the people fall short for their part.

That is an amazing fact about God.

Jesus realizes he is not believed by many to be the Messiah.

He calls on those who have come before him...

those who have given testimony on his behalf.

Those, like John the Baptist, who was loved and admired by many.

You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.

If you hear the scriptures and do not follow through on the journey

toward developing a more intimate relationship with Jesus

you are missing the boat.

Out life must also be a living testimony

 validating the person of Jesus

as the Son of God.

I invite you to use the remaining days of Lent

to reflect on how your life

reflects the life of Jesus.

How loving, caring, kind, compassionate,

and forgiving are you?

Lord, show us how to be more like you today.

If we too are 'stiff - necked' soften us with your love.

First You Must Hear

~~~ Galatians 3: 22-29 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ Luke 11: 27-28 ~~~

 

 

The woman in the crowd was chanting praises to Mary the mother of Jesus

 for giving birth to such a man.

But Jesus is calling us to consider something more.

Mary gave Jesus his flesh and blood.

Part of her essence was used to give him his human body.

 

But this was only possible because she, Mary, heard the word of God.

The birth of Jesus was possible because Mary heard and she accepted.

 

"...blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it."

 

Jesus offers each of us the opportunity to hear the word of God and observe it.

We have Mary as a wonderful example of what that might look like.

Certainly we will not ever be the chosen to be the mother of God,

but there are many chances for us to hear and act.

 

Because the Word became flesh to dwell among us we have been given

the gift of faith.

If we hear the word and receive faith

we too share in the promises made to Abraham. 

 

 

Unless we hear the word of God how can we be saved?

In order to live a full life of faith we must immerse

your selves in the word of God.

Where do we find his words?

Of course you know...

in the Bible.

 

"...through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus."

 

Baptism brings you into the shared life with Christ.

As part of this shared life you also share in the promises

and blessings passed down through the ages.

 

Protect and nuture your faith for it is a precious gem.

Ascension...I Go Before You

~~~ Acts 1: 1-11 ~~~ Psalm 47 ~~~ Eph.1: 17-23 ~~~ Mark 16: 15-20 ~~~

Today we celebrate Ascension 'Thursday' Sunday. This feast was a holy day of obligation until it was changed to the Sunday before Pentecost so that more of the faithful could come to appreciate this feast. For many working people coming to Mass on a Thursday proved to be a hardship, that is no longer an issue.

So what is the Ascension about?

The Ascension is about God making good on his promise.

God promised to send the One would save us.

God promised to send the One who would show us the Way.

God promised to send the One was the Truth.

God promised to send the One who would be the Life.

God never makes empty promises. God always honors his promises.

God made a covenant with his chosen people...us, we were called by name.

God promised to prepare a place for us.

In fact he has prepared a place in heaven with many rooms.

After Jesus Ascended into heaven he opened wide the gates so that in time we too could follow him into heaven.

Jesus says, 'I go before you always'...popular lyrics in one of our hymns today.

"Be Not afraid, I go before you always..."

God sent Jesus to be one of us. He is our model in all things.

The Ascension is God drawing back to himself his beloved Son, whom he gave to us.

Jesus is our Savior...our teacher...the light of our world.

He came to show up the way to heaven.

God is love in all ways in all manners.

There is no greater love.

Those gathered to witness the Ascension were blessed with this vision that now becomes part of their legacy of faith for us who have come and will come afterward.

Our faith is built upon the faith of all those who have gone before us.

We therefore will be the ones for whom those who come after us will build their faith upon too. We become part of the family of believers.

Live like you Believe!

Someone is counting on your faith!