THE NEW COVENANT IN JESUS CHRIST

V SUNDAY OF LENT - Jeremiah 31:31-34

In the Old Testament, we can find reference to several covenants. There is the covenant made with Noah (Gn 9:8-17) after the flood, a universal covenant in which God commits himself to take care of the whole universe. There is a covenant with Abraham (Gn 15:18-21), by which God seals his promise to Abraham and his descendents. And there is the covenant of Sinai, by which God sets the people of Israel aside and commits himself to be their God. However, time and again, the people broke the covenant, turning against God and giving their allegiance to other gods. All prophets denounced this unfaithfulness and called on people to repent and turn back to God. Jeremiah was fearless in his dennounciation, spelling out the consequences of breaking the covenant: The people would loose their freedom, being carried away into slavery. Sounding like a prophet of doom, he complained to God about this role given to him. In spite of that, Jeremiah became a prophet of hope. God does not go back on his word and his promise will be fulfilled. God’s love for his people is a faithful love. Looking at the people’s unfaithfulness, we may think that God made a mistake in choosing them and putting his trust in them. They turned out to be hopeless and incorrigible. However, God always finds a way where there is no way. And so God promised a New Covenant, in which God will transform people from within:

“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jer 31:33) 

The New Covenant is established in Jesus Christ, and his death on the cross is the sacrifice that seals that Covenant. Jesus himself interpreted his death in that way:

“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Lk 22:20).

That is why the gospel of John presents Jesus’ death on the cross, sheding his blood, as the Hour, the saving hour, that is the hour of glorification, when the Son is glorified by glorifying the Father.

For Christians, united with Jesus Christ, the cross is no more a shameful and ignominious symbol, but a sign of victory and glory, by which God’s love overcomes the power of evil. Dying on the cross, Jesus left us his Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, who guides us and transforms us from within.