Passion Sunday 29 Mar 2009 Sermon

Passion Sunday 29.3.09 New covenant

Those attached to the traditional Latin Mass are often accused of being people who are not able to cope with change. We would reply that change per se is not necessarily good. It may be for the good; it may be for the worse. Each instance of change has to be taken on its merits.

One change which we can guarantee was definitely for the better is referred to in today’s epistle: that Christ has changed the manner of offering sacrifice to God. It used to be bulls and goats; now it is Himself who is offered. This is a change for the better because the new sacrifice (Christ) will be much more pleasing to the Father and much more beneficial to us who offer Him.

In His own flesh He has made a new covenant with us. This is a new beginning, not a new religion, but an upgraded one. It is like moving from horses to cars. It is progress in the truest possible meaning of the word. There is still continuity with the past but now everything has been lifted to a higher level.

It is change we should welcome, and the most diehard traditionalist will get on board with this one.

The Jews generally did not take to the change brought by Christ. They could be excused for being cautious and wanting to test things, but Our Lord proved Himself again and again, by His words, actions, attitude and by fulfilling all the Old Covenant prophecies. The time for doubt had passed and to reject Him came to mean they were rejecting God as well.

Our generation does not care about either old or new covenant, nor religion at all. This is not a failure to endorse change; it is more like despair, a refusal or inability to believe in anything beyond what can be seen or experienced. In that sense our generation rejects change as well, by rejecting the possibility that things can get better than they are.

Two things we have to do and we don’t do either of them:
1) Grasp in our minds the possibility of a change in the human condition. God promised in advance:I will make a new covenant with you. I will put a new spirit within you. You will be so full of My presence that you will be able to keep this covenant by supernatural grace. It sounds difficult initially but you will be able to do it.

2) The second thing is to live by this covenant, to put the word of God into practice, to begin to live differently.

So that living righteously becomes a matter of habit, not just rising to the occasion every now and then, but a way of life, normal behaviour.

Being charitable to everyone around us, forgiving those who offend us, trusting in God at all times, all of the Ten Commandments – is it possible? No, not possible, certain - once we are sustained by His grace.

The death of Christ leads to life: in two ways. Life as in living, in that we will live forever and in glory if we are in union with Him;
and life as in loving, in that we will rise above selfishness etc, truly becoming alive as we were always meant to be.

All this is the result of the new covenant, which is still being implemented insofar as very few people really come to terms with it. It is one change we should welcome and accept with great fervour.