St. Matthew Catholic Church

Weekly Message     

           11. A Covenant of Hope

Dear brothers and sisters,   

     On our Lenten journey of Hope, we are given two important events to deepen our faith as pilgrims of hope – a covenant with Abraham and the transfiguration of Jesus.

     God reassures Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. Abraham believes, and God counts it as righteousness. However, to confirm this promise, a solemn covenant ritual takes place. As Abraham falls into a deep sleep, God alone passes between the sacrificed animals, signifying that the fulfillment of the covenant depends entirely on Him. This moment foreshadows God’s ultimate covenant in Christ.

     Just as Abraham experienced a deep sleep before God's revelation, the disciples, overwhelmed, also struggle to comprehend the moment. The covenant with Abraham involved bloody sacrifice, foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the Cross that was conversed with Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor. God calls us into a covenantal relationship, not based on our strength but on His faithfulness. Just as Abraham trusted God’s promise, we are called to trust in Christ, the fulfillment of all God’s covenants.

    A wedding is a powerful illustration of God’s covenant with humanity. When a man and woman stand before God/priest as witness and vows to love and remain faithful to each other, they enter into a covenant, not just a contract, but a sacred bond based on commitment, love and trust. Our faith journey involves moments of struggle, but God’s glory is revealed through our hope in life.

     May we, like Abraham and the disciples, listen to Christ, knowing that He is “a covenant maker and not a crisis solver” in our Lenten journey of hope.

     Blessings and prayers!

Msgr. Xavier                                        

                                       Please pray for vocations to the priesthood,
                              for the Priests of our Diocese; & for our New Bishop.

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