COVENANT
INRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this First Sunday in Lent [B] is, “Covenant.”
Today’s first reading from Genesis has the word
“covenant” 5 times.
Besides that, when celebrating Mass together, we often hear the word, “covenant” – so I
thought I’d preach a few words about covenant today.
I’d begin by saying, “We already have an understanding of
what a “covenant” is. Then, by thinking about and pulling together what we
already know about covenants – we will have a greater awareness of our
religion and our life.
BASIC MEANING
A covenant is a deal, an agreement, a contract, between
parties.
I’ll do this and you’ll do that. Agree or disagree?
I'll do this, if you'll do that.
WRITTEN OR
UNWRITTEN
Before most people could write, covenants were made by word,
ceremony and gesture. “Raise your right hand and repeat after me.”
Place your hand on the Bible and repeat after me ....
The Bible is also wonderful for helping us understand that
people make deals, agreements, covenants with each other.
It also says we have deals and expectations of God and
God for us.
Hey God, enough with the snow. How about it? But then again, thanks for the water and
thanks for seasons – sometimes. You’re supposed to know, God, when enough, is enough.
Or then do we slip in, “Or are you getting even with
Boston – for possible cheating in that playoff game with the Ravens?”
Human beings don’t change on the basics. Our eyes – our ears -
observing – listening - we could say, “We know all about basic human
understandings. We’re still the same after all these years.”
Have you heard any comments like the following? They are all statements about supposed agreements or covenants. “But I thought we agreed we’d meet at 6:30.” “You
bring the beer; I’ll bring the sandwiches.” “If I shoveled the snow out of that spot in
front of my house, I assume you wouldn’t take that spot.”
Expand that scenario and we have boundaries for large
parts of land in the Ukraine or in the Middle East and all over the world – down
through history.
If you’re married have you ever had a disagreement about
emptying the dishwasher, date night, the TV remote clicker, seat left up, which
side of the bed is yours and which side is mine?
If you have kids, who sits where in the kitchen or in the
car, who goes to bed when, what time you have to be home, who puts out the
garbage. Teenagers who were not part of the making of some covenants fight some of its principles. For example, we go to church in this family,
etc.?
If you have a dog, who walks him or her?
So back when people couldn’t write, there were covenants
about all kinds of things. So too today, there are all kinds of agreements,
covenants, between people - many of which are not written down - but they are assumed.
And when broken, there is trouble in Houston or on Route 50
in Maryland and on West Street in Annapolis or Main Street in some town in Alaska. I don't know about you, but I find myself saying of some drivers at times, "You’re supposed to use
your blinker." or "Stay in the right lane if you’re keeping the speed limit, you idiot!"
Is there an agreed upon covenant, with rules like: Pick up after your dog. No loud outside music at 1 in the
morning – or no loud inside music at 12 o’clock, midnight – if you live in an apartment complex with
thin walls.
Then there are also the million and one written rules and
regulations that are part of society or life with one another.
So we know what covenants are all about.
RELIGIOUS
COVENANTS
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as most
religions we find that there are various covenants.
Here is where we bring God into the picture.
Hey, God, if we do this, this, this, and this, can you
promise us good weather.
There’s strength in numbers. We see this in families. Check out families. We Smith’s, we O’Brian’s,
we Napoli’s, we Jorgensen’s, stick together. We’re family. We’re blood. We're tribe. We're clan.
Read the Bible and see the power of family and clans.
Our blood – our previous DNA – was a sign of family unity.
When large groups of families unite, what do they insist upon to make
group – one?
In primitive people there are blood ceremonies. Blood
from all mixed in one cup. In the Bible we hear about animals from the flocks
of different families being sacrificed We read about blood from the slain animals are
sprinkled on the people, and a gigantic meal follows.
In religious groups there is union by water and wine and
ceremony and a common meal. There is
breaking of bread and sharing that together.
In the Book of Exodus, 24, there is mention of a big
banquet in which Moses, Aaron and their sons – along with 70 elders of the
different tribes - share a common meal together and with God to symbolize their
covenant with each other and with God.
In time tribal and common agreements were written down
and re-read every year on anniversaries, etc.
We know all this. We go to Mass together. We get together
for thanksgiving. We say some prayers.
The family who does all this stays together by doing all this.
We see this when kids start skipping family meals. We see this when families stop talking to
each other. We know this when we see families sitting watching TV with supper
in hand.
Every common 4 day high school retreat I ask the small group I’m, “What is it like in your house at supper time or Sunday when
you’re eating?”
If we are good at anthropology and the human condition,
we know that getting a baby sitter, so we can have having a date night or a weekend escape weekend
helps a marriage. We know that when we stop talking to each other, and the main
voice in a home is on the other side of a cell phone or coming from a TV set.
I am encouraged that on many retreats for young people
around the country there is cell phone collection on the opening night of the
retreat and they are given back on the way home. Someone has picked up, we need to receive
communion, in order to be in communion with each other.
Almost every baptism I’ve done in the last 5 years, I ask
the couple to put their baby or twins on the main altar – put one hand on the
baby – and repeat after me, “This is my body, this is my blood, we’re giving
our life for you.”
That’s covenant with the baby.
I would suggest for Lent, to make sure you have a good
family meal, at least once a week. Meat and agree on that. Then do it. And at
that meal, everyone with one hand pointed to their heart and the other hand
pointed to each other say out loud, “This is my body, this is my blood, I’m
giving my life to you.”
That’s covenant. That’s communion. Do
that and we start to get the Mass. Do
that and we start to get covenant. Do
that and we start to get family.
CONCLUSION
Covenant unites us to each other and to God.
Covenant get us in touch with our expectations of God and
God for us.
And lets close by pointing our index finger to our own heart and the other
finger on our other hand towards the others around us and repeat after me:
“this is my body. This is my blood. I’m giving my life to you.”
