Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 31:27-34
Romans 11:25 - 36

Hope

Two of the passages prescribed for today speak of hope. Chapter 31 of Jeremiah is such a beautiful passage full of hope and St. Paul, in writing to the Romans, quotes Jeremiah 31:33 - 34, “…and this is my covenant with them … when I take away their sins.” When Father speaks of his covenant, he refers first to the covenant he made with Abraham, the covenant of circumcision, but in the New Testament, Jesus gives us a new covenant in his blood.

The writer to the Hebrews (Hebrews 8:8-12) talks of the New Covenant, referred to in Jeremiah 31:31. What a wonderful promise; God will make a new covenant with his people when he will put his law in their minds, and write it on their hearts. He says he will be their God and they will be his people. People won’t have to teach each other to know the Lord, because God says they will all know him. This becomes clear when Jesus says he will send his Holy Spirit to teach us all things. The Lord God says he will forgive our wickedness and will remember our sins no more.

When the full number of the Gentiles has come in, all of Israel will be saved. Again, what a wonderful promise of hope, not only for the Jewish folk, but for all of us who are Gentiles. The Law of Moses showed us what sin was, and instructed the people to make blood sacrifices to cleanse from sin, but these sacrifices couldn’t take sin away. A more perfect sacrifice was needed. The shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross accomplished this, so all we have to do is accept him. His sacrifice frees us from all bondage to sin.

As Easter approaches, let us concentrate on this realization, so that on Easter Sunday we can all shout, “Hallelujah!” as we celebrate the risen Lord who gives us the gift of eternal life through his death (redemption from sin); his resurrection (pointing the way to our resurrection) and his Ascension (when he promised us his Holy Spirit as an ever-present help.) Praise the Lord for his New Covenant which gives all people hope of eternal life with him!