Fifth Sunday of Lent B March 29, 2009

Jeremiah 31:31-34  Psalm: 51:  Hebrews 5:7-9 John 12:20-33

Theme: Covenantal relationships.

Today our papers scream out: Bankruptcies. We are so used to that with the present financial fiascos at the banks, that we are not shocked anymore. Bankruptcy means a contract ha fallen through, because one of the parties could not come up with the money. Their assets are seized, sold and a percentage of what is owed is paid to creditors.

In the Old Testament, this contract or covenant was made between God and the people. God would always be faithful, it would be the people who would fail in the covenant.

During the last few Sundays we have been listening to various covenants. I wonder how many caught our attention? First it was Noah and the destruction of the world through the flood. God made a covenant with the Rainbow in the sky as a sign. Then there was a covenant with Moses. This covenant was written on tablets of stone. We know them better as the 10 commandments. Even these were broken and are still broken in 2009.

And so God makes a New Covenant through Jeremiah. This is the first time we hear the words: “new Covenant”. These words will the cornerstone of the mission and sacrifice of Jesus. A New Covenant would not be a Rainbow in the Sky, nor would it be written on tablets of stone. It would be written on our hearts and so they could neither be wiped out nor be forgotten. This new covenant in the New Testament would be ratified and confirmed by Jesus by the pouring out of his blood.

The Book of Hebrews will tell us that Jesus would offer a sacrifice through his obedience. Jesus would offer this sacrifice as a priest. However, he was of the Tribe of Benjamin, and not of the priestly tribe of Levi. These priests, were chosen by the leaders of the tribe. They had strict rules and regulations in offering sacrifices. They had to bathe, refrain from marital relationships, stay away from the “dead and those with open wounds or blood. This priesthood only lasted until it was replaced by the priesthood and sacrifice of the New Testament. Jesus was a priest according to a much older order. He was a priest according to the order of Melchisedech. He would be a priest forever. It would be a sacrifice not of the blood of lambs or goats. The priest, Jesus would be both the Priest and the offering, reminding us of Isaac and he obedience of his father, Abraham. We heard that story on the Second Sunday of Lent. He would the one who would be the second partner, the second person in the covenant with God. There would be no bankruptcy.

But this causes an immediate problem. The covenant is made with us. We are sinners and we continue in our sinfulness. So what is the use of this covenant. But this is precisely the mystery of our salvation. It is the very admission, the very acknowledgment that we are sinners, which is the condition for entering this New Covenant. It will be confirmed and ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is also the admission of our sinfulness that is a condition of the Eucharistic Celebration. We do this all through the Mass. We admit we are sinners

• In the open penitential rite: I confess to almighty God… that I have sinned.
• In the prayers of the faithful, we are in need of healing.
• In the Lord’s prayer: forgive us our sins, forgive us our trespasses.
• In the prayer for peace: Look not on our sins, but on the faith.
• In the prayer before Communion: Lamb of God who takes away the sins.
• In the personal prayer of the priest before communion: Let it not be a source of condemnation.

All these admissions that we are sinners, is not an obstacle to God’s amazing grace.  It also makes the exclusion of certain people from the Eucharist rather contradictory. They more than any one are “worthy – i.e. Deserve healing grace”, they are in need of healing and as Jesus said, I have come for the sinner not those who are justified. And so we make our acclamation of faith: “You have set us free, you are the Saviour of the World.”

This does not take away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We as a people, should individually and as a community acknowledge our sins and be forgiven. And we do this through Reconciliation or as we knew it as Confession. However, just as we have breakfast, lunch and supper – and sometimes snacks in between we need to be acknowledge our sinfulness not once by seven times daily as we do during the Sacrifice of the Mass, offered by Jesus who is a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.

We are very serious about the settings at Mass. We want the correct readings, the proper vestment colours, the incense, candles and bells. We want the pulpit for the Word of God, and the proper hymns. This is all well and good, but it still of the Order of Levi.

The very heart of the Eucharist – is not “this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN.”

And so we come into the final run of our Lenten Season, with it climax at Easter and the renewal of our Covenantal promises, our Baptismal Promises. Once again we reject Satan and all his empty works and promises. Once again however, we know we will have to confess, “I have sinned” because we take seriously our sinfulness and God’s forgiveness in a Covenant Relationship.

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