COVENANTS: 

WRITTEN  AND  UNWRITTEN

INTRODUCTION

The title of my  for this 12^th Wednesday in Ordinary Time is, “Covenants: Written and Unwritten.”

Today’s first reading ends with the statement, “And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.” [Cf. 2 Kings 23: 3.]

If we had a photograph of that crowd that day - would we be able to read body language, faces, to see if all were enthusiastic with their “Amen!”

The word “covenant” is used four times in today’s first reading - 2 Kings 22: 8-13, 23: 1-3 - and it appears 289 times in this New American Bible translation of the Bible.

So I thought I’d give a few basic  thoughts about the idea of “Covenants: Written and Unwritten.”

FIRST OF ALL - MEANINGS OF THE WORD COVENANT

First of all the word covenant is still used - especially in church.

It has declined in use out there in the marketplace - government - family - and in dealings with one another. At least that’s my perception.

Covenants are agreements, approvals, consents, contracts, endorsements.

Covenants are an “Amen” - giving the green light to - “Yes” vote towards - consensus - co-signing - go along with - dittos - shake hands on - signed or undersigned - sealed the deal - sworn to - good.

If you live in Sherwood Forest, or Heritage Harbor, do you have to sign a covenant?

 RELIGIOUS COVENANTS

In our lifetime, the word “covenant” is regularly used in religious ceremonies - marriages, mass, prayers.

We are people of the covenant: the old and the new covenant.

Marriage is a legal contract - because we’re dealing with property and money and children and rights.

We add the word “covenant” - especially when we have marriages in the context of a religious ceremony.

WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN, CONSCIOUS OR UNCONSCIOUS

Without knowing it at times, we make covenants with each other all the time.

We know there is often an unwritten covenant going on when we get angry - really angry with another.

We assume that everyone has signed on to keep the Golden Rule - and when that is broken uh oh! The other does dirty to us.

We assume the great unwritten rule for all human beings is, “Fair is fair!”

Little kids let us know about this basic human covenant - whenever it comes to cake and cookies.

When driving and we come to a “Men Working” sign, there is an assumption all will honest and not sneak up on others - not allowing others to jump three cars - instead of every other car.

Fair is fair in traffic - while waiting to get into a restaurant - what have you?

Dictators who have not signed the Hague Convention of 1899 and 1907 - with its Declaration of Human Rights - are arrested at times and have to appear for trial at the Hague - for breaking basic human rights.

That’s covenant stuff. That’s Nuremburg Trial stuff.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT COVENANT MATERIAL

We have been plowing through the Sermon on the Mount these 3 weeks

Is Jesus saying that there are unwritten expectations for all people - basic human goodness - like in today’s gospel - not to be a ravenous wolf when the other expects us to be a good sheep. Is Jesus saying, “Hey, guy, hey gal, you’re expected to bear good fruit. That’s a no brainer, dummy. Get it?

TODAY’S FEAST DAY

Besides Saint Paulinus of Nola, today is the feast of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More - who were face to face with keeping church law or Henry VIII’s wishes.  They went with the King of Heaven and they both lost their heads - on this conflict of covenants.

CONCLUSION

We’re here today - and at every Mass to pronounce our Amen to the new and eternal covenant of Jesus.

And at the Great Amen to that covenant, the priest holds up the chalice - as the Father of the Bride does at every his daughter’s wedding and we say, “Amen” and at communion we add, “I’ll drink to that.”