The Covenant Between God and Humanity
Main Idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses the importance of the covenants that connect human beings with God, explaining that the Holy Bible, in both its Old and New Testaments, is a book of covenant between God and humanity. He explains that the covenant is based on a mutual relationship: God remains faithful to His promises, while human beings are called to keep His commandments and remain committed to them. He emphasizes that the New Covenant is greater than the Old Covenant because it was established through the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, rather than through the blood of animal sacrifices.
Spiritual Message
The Pope explains that we entered into covenants with God from the time of our Baptism, when we renounced Satan and all his evil works and declared our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His commandments. Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ also renews our remembrance of His death and Resurrection and declares our participation in the work of salvation. He emphasizes that the covenants of Baptism, repentance, faith, and Holy Communion remain active in the believer’s life; therefore, we must never treat them carelessly or forget them.
Educational Lesson
The Pope stresses the importance of seriousness, commitment, and respect in every covenant a person makes with God. He warns against making promises that one cannot fulfill and then withdrawing them after God has answered one’s prayers. He explains that vows are not merely words spoken during times of distress or emotional excitement; rather, they are sacred commitments that must be carefully considered before being made. He also warns against imposing severe punishments upon oneself through vows without considering one’s ability to fulfill them.
Practical Application
The Pope advises us to turn our promises into prayers, asking God to help us accomplish what we desire instead of making promises that we may fail to keep. He invites us to examine our covenants in Baptism, repentance, Holy Communion, and faith, and to reflect on how faithfully we observe them. We should always remember that we are speaking to God, the Creator of heaven and earth; therefore, our words before Him must be accompanied by reverence, respect, and seriousness. The Pope concludes by asking God to grant us the strength and steadfastness to remain faithful to our covenants with Him.
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