This Sermon is prepared by
Rev.Fr.Peter Jayakanthan sss
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
Corpus Christi Catholic Church,
Houston, Texas, US
5th Sunday of the LentCovenant: not giving……..Binding..!Jer31:31-34, Heb5:7-9, Jn12:20-33Dear Sisters, Brothers and Children, I welcome you all to today’s Eucharist on the fifth Sunday of the season of Lent. We are almost close to the Passion Week. From the beginning of Lent, each Sunday we have been placing ourselves with God in a specific place theologically, from the desert, to the mountaintop, the temple and house. Today we are here to look at our communities to discern whether they are a convenient or covenantal one. Let our closing annual journey of forty days with Jesus, lift us from our moments of dying, and bring forth renewal, glory and new life. Eucharist is the fulfillment of God’s Covenant of Body and Blood, in which we shall bind ourselves as a community of covenant.Last Wednesday the attack in Tunisia by Islamic militants belonging to several groups killed at least 25 people and many were wounded. There is violence, abuse, shooting and killing, of friends, between family members, between communities, within the country and between the nations. Why is there no respect for life and the human person? What is lacking? Where do we go wrong? Does any religion teach division? Are we part of it? Yes, we may not be part of this external killing, violence and killing, however, we do experience the culture of division in subtle ways that undermine the bond of love among us. Ways such as: I gave compensation when I broke away from my previous relationship…. I offer financial help and support to my children though I am not with them now….. I arranged for a decent nursing home for my mother that is the best possible thing I can give… I give a regular tithe to my parish though I don’t participate in any parish celebrations…… I donate often to a charity home for children………. I give, I offer, I donate, but this giving is not fulfillment, rather it is a consolation. I make sure to complete my obligation…but I am not a part of it. The readings of this day make us aware that giving is not life, giving is not fullness, giving is not sacrifice. Rather, binding is life and fulfillment, and in the context of any relationship, in particular within family, within community, and between God and me. In the Scripture, this is called a covenant. It is neither contract nor agreement. It is a bond between two people. It is never between two things, it concerns two persons, two groups and it concerns life. The common element of covenant is giving of blood, shedding of blood or sprinkling of blood. The bottom line of salvation history is covenant. St. Irenaeus points to the Scriptural stories of covenant in order to understand the salvation history. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David all have experienced the moments of covenant. There was killing of animals, shedding and sprinkling of blood on the altar and on people. Here Yahweh made this covenant with them from time to time; they represent the community of people. It is a bond and union established between God and His people. It was expected to be practiced the same among them. The covenant at Mount Sinai in receiving the tablets of Ten Commandments, and Moses’ celebrating that covenant with sacrificial blood, are key moment in the salvation history. What is the New Covenant? Why was there a need for the New Covenant? The first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah (650BC-580BC) explains the need for the new covenant in the salvation history. The covenants made earlier were constantly broken, the affirming words of, “I will be your God and your will be my people,” were not fully realized. The People of Israel went after false gods. The sacrificial giving of animals’ blood did not penetrate their hearts and life. Covenant remained in Tablets, in law, in words, in the Temple and in ritual worship. The forty years of ministry of Jeremiah, joining hands with King Josiah, were able to preserve The People of Israel and the Jerusalem Temple from their enemies. It also prevented the cult worship of the Mesopotamian and fertility rites of the Canaanites. But this integrity and faithfulness did not last, as Jehoiakim, who came in after the death of King Josiah, allowed the influence of false gods. People began dispersing. Teachers, priests and kings failed miserably by allowing the false worship, leaving the one community of Israel divided. Because Yahweh was forgotten, faithfulness was lost, although giving of the blood remained without the import of ritual. There was exchange of things, but not exchange of life. Here, Jeramiah proclaimed the new covenant of fulfillment, whose blood would bind all together. St. John explains how the ever binding effect of the New Covenant is going to be. The Greeks who embraced Judaism experienced the feeling of separation and indifference from the Jews, who proudly exclaimed that they were the covenantal chosen People of God. Here when they joined the Jews for the annual Passover visit to Jerusalem, they were eager to meet Jesus whom they had heard about. So, Jesus, comparing the Greeks to the little grain of wheat, called them to die to this situation of rejection and separation, in order to bear fruit in the near future. The depth of giving will offer the richness of being bonded. Here Jesus refers to the hour of glory after the hours of dying, losing and giving of His whole self. He says, the covenant made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David will remain, yet this New Covenant will include everyone. The giving of Jesus the son of God, will embrace every one. My blood is not only for the Jews, the People of Israel, rather to all. They have broken my covenant regularly because it was not written in their hearts; yet? They gave the blood of the animals. There was no bond of oneness and union, because of they formed their own gods. My New Covenant will be made for everyone, as it will be shedding of my blood. So here the Blood of Jesus will create an everlasting bond, cleansing our struggles and weaknesses. Old covenant was in words……New, in the hearts Old covenant with the blood of animals…..New with the blood Jesus Old covenant is broken………….New, eternal…… . Old covenant between God and People of Israel………..New, between God and all Old covenant on the tablets…….New, on the wood of the Cross Old covenant ended…….New, continuous in Eucharist Old covenant was giving….New, binding Old covenant caused division……New, union “This is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many;” these words said during Eucharist, remind us that through the shedding of blood, God and we become blood-brothers, connected with the deepest bond. The words from today’s Gospel: “when I am lifted up I will draw everyone to myself,” my embracing of the cross, passion, death and resurrection will bring us together, demands sacrifice. Only the sacrifice from our hearts will keep us united, one, together and bonded to Jesus, the Church, community and family. We come to take Jesus’ Body and drink His Blood; we allow the covenantal love to enter into our lives. This bond and union should create an element of sacrifice. If this is being practiced, then the violence and killing, abuses and humiliation will be less. St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Eucharist is the fulfillment of the Lord, during the moments of the Eucharist; when the law of the Lord is written in our hearts, then the covenant becomes our blood and our flesh”. Eucharist reminds us of the fulfillment of the covenant of giving and binding, sacrifice of the blood and strong union with the Lord. It also challenges our bond to our human family and community, renewing our bond to, and with, the Church and Our Lord, Jesus-Amen. 
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