The New and Everlasting Covenant of God's Love(Corpus Christi Sunday, Year B, 2021)

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ reminds us of the new and everlasting covenant sealed with the Blood of Christ. We may have to reflect more on the word, “Covenant”.

 

First, what is a covenant? A covenant can be understood as a solemn agreement, binding on all parties. It can be an agreement between two equal parties (between friends or between husband and wife). It can also be an agreement between unequal parties (between more powerful kingdoms and less powerful kingdoms; between God and His people; and so on). Second, why enter into covenant? Covenant is conceived when suspicions are rife; when trust is lacking; when iniquities abound; when business is meant; and when commitment is needed. When there is mistrust and suspicion in a love relationship, lovers choose to enter into covenant with each other just to demand more commitment from each other.

 

After the fall (cf. Gen. 3), it was necessary that God should enter into a covenant with creation (cf. Covenant with Noah – Gen. 8). It didn’t end there. In different ways and at different times, God continued to seek ways of drawing man close to Himself in a relationship of love. In Exodus 20, God entered into another covenant with His people on Mount Sinai. Exodus 24 gives an account of the conclusion and ratification of that covenant. At the end of it, the people unanimously said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient”. Moses then took the blood of the animals and sprinkled it on the people saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you”. After so many centuries of journeying with His people, there was need for a new and everlasting covenant which would no longer be sealed with the blood of animals but with the Precious Blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish.

 

The establishment of that new covenant became a very decisive moment in the life of God’s people: a difficult teaching and way of life which was not completely understood or accepted. The new covenant was launched and instituted within the context of the ritual meal of Passover. At the Passover during the Last Supper (cf. Mk. 14:12-16.22-26), Jesus offered His Body and Blood as real food and drink, a covenant and testament of His love, which will be fully and most definitively established and demonstrated on the cross. The letter to the Hebrews has it that “when Christ appeared as a high priest, he entered once and for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and bulls, but His own Blood for our own purification. Therefore, He is the mediator of the new covenant” (cf. Heb. 9:11-15).

 

Our participation in the Eucharist is not just a mere act of conformity, but a real communion and participation in a new covenant of God's love. It is a ritual meal in which we receive the real Body and Blood of Christ. In the Eucharist, Jesus takes the forms of Pure Host and Sweet Grape Wine. As often as we receive Him, our lives must spark off purity, excellence and sweetness of virtuous living. We receive Jesus who out of His great love sacrificed His life for us. As often as we receive Him, we must learn to live and offer our lives as utter sacrifice in selfless service to one another. As we consume the love meal of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus, we must allow ourselves to be transformed in love.

 

The Eucharist is the seal of the new covenant. Inasmuch as we partake of the Eucharist, we continually bind ourselves to the terms and demands of the new covenant. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, real food and drink for our soul’s nourishment. In John 6:60ff, many of Jesus’ disciples left Him on account of the Eucharist: “How can He give us His Body to eat and His Blood to drink?”. Turning to His apostles Jesus asked, “What of you, do you want to leave as well? Peter spoke up, ‘To whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life’”. What of you? Do you also want to leave like some of the disciples? The choice is yours!

  

Prayer:

Body of Christ, strengthen me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

O Good Jesus, hear me!


Have a Blessed Sunday!



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