Tuesday, 11^th February – Tuesday of week 5 of the year

Reflection: 1 Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30

THE COVENANT KEEPER

From the beginning, God has made covenants with man. In the Old Testament we read about God’s covenants with Adam (Genesis 1:27-30), Noah (Genesis 9:8-17), Abraham (Genesis 17: 1-14; 22: 16-18), Moses (Exodus 19: 5-6) and David (2 Samuel 7: 8-15). All these covenants reached their final fulfillment in the Christ, through His death and resurrection. (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 8: 6-13). While the old covenants were restricted to God’s chosen people, Israel, the new and eternal covenant in Christ Jesus embraces the whole world. (Ephesians 3:6)

Dear friends, we are privileged to be partakers in this new covenant into which we entered at our baptism. “Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…for the promise of God was made to you and your children and to all those from afar whom the Lord our Good chooses to call” (Acts 2:39) More so, we renew this covenant through our participation in the Eucharist, a reenactment of the very sacrifice of Jesus on cavalry. “Every Holy Communion unites me more deeply with Christ, makes me a living member of the Body of Christ, renews the graces that I received in Baptism and Confirmation, and fortifies me for the battle against sin.” (YOUCAT 221).

Through Baptism, we have become children of God and members of His Church and are called to live a new life: a life free from sin and abounding in grace and righteousness. (Romans 6:4,13). What is more? All the promises God has for us in His Word are fulfilled as long as we are faithful to our covenant with Him. As Solomon proclaimed in his prayer in the first reading for today, God keeps His covenant with those who walk before Him wholeheartedly. (cf 1 Kings 8:23). God is ever faithful. We only need to live in holiness before Him and then, we can trust Him to fulfill the many promises He has for us in the Bible.

PRAYER: Thank you Father for Your faithfulness. Please help me to be faithful to my covenant with You by living in righteousness. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 194 – What is Baptism?

Baptism is the way out of the kingdom of death into life, the gateway to the Church, and the beginning of a lasting communion with God.

It is the foundational Sacrament… It unites us with Jesus Christ, incorporates us into his redemptive death on the Cross, thereby freeing us from the power of Original Sin and all personal sins, and causes us to rise with him to a life without end. Since Baptism is a covenant with God, the individual must say Yes to it. In the baptism of children, the parents confess the Faith on behalf of the children.

HIDE A TREASURE: “The ways of the Lord are love and faithfulness for those who keep His covenant and precepts” Psalm 25: 10 CCB

Readings for today: 1 Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30; Psalm 84: 3-5, 10-11; Mark 7: 1-13