6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you. 

What’s a covenant? If you were reading through the Old Testament, the first time you’d see that word is in the story of Noah, first in Genesis 6:18 and then in today’s passage. In a literal sense, a covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. Common in ancient times, it united the two parties unconditionally.

What sets God’s covenant with Noah apart from all others is that it was not merely a legal arrangement between two tribes or people. It was forged in God’s own heart. He initiated this covenant. He bound himself to his creation and promised that he would be faithful to watch over his people. It was God’s own life-giving promise to protect Noah and his family, to guide them, and to cause them to flourish.

God promised to continue this blessing for generations in an “everlasting covenant” (Genesis 9:16). It was a commitment to Noah’s descendants, and it extends to each one of us in Christ.

God never forgets his oath. He has joined himself to us and committed himself fully to us because he loves us. And in his faithfulness, when just the right time had come, he brought this covenant to perfection in the new covenant through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus.

You are part of this covenant. God has joined himself to you in an everlasting bond of love. His commitment to you began when he formed you and created you (Psalm 139:13-16). It continued when he welcomed you into his family at your baptism. You are now part of the new covenant, ratified by Jesus’ precious blood. And he invites you to reaffirm your covenant with him every time you pray, join in the celebration at Mass, or receive the other sacraments.

Our God has shown an unbelievable commitment to each one of us. Even when we fall short, he still extends his love and protection to us. He will never abandon us. He has even given us the grace we need to turn to him and unite ourselves to him. This is what a faithful covenant relationship looks like!

“Father, thank you for your covenant with Noah that reaches through time and reveals your faithful love!”

Genesis 9:1-13
Psalm 102:16-23, 29
Mark 8:27-33