The Lord remembers his covenant for ever
October 21, 2023 - Saturday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
In the history of salvation, we usually speak of five covenants: four in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament. The four in the Old Testament were: the covenant between God and Noah representing the entire humanity (see Gen 9:8-17); the covenant between God and Abraham (see Gen 15:18); the covenant between God and Israel at Mount Sinai (see Ex 24:1-11), and the covenant between God and David (see 2 Sam 7:1-16). The one in the New Testament is the one established in Jesus’ blood: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:28). It is a new, everlasting and definitive covenant.
Psalm 105 proclaims God’s deeds by retelling for us the story that began in Genesis 12 and ended in the Book of Joshua. God called Abraham from his native land, then he fulfilled for him a promise of numerous descendants whom he freed from the oppressive slavery in Egypt and brought to the Promised Land. What surprises the scholars in this psalm is the fact that although Moses is mentioned the covenant between God and His people on Mount Sinai is not. One reason for this omission could be the fact that the covenant of Mount Sinai was contingent upon the obedience of Israel to God’s commands (see Ex 20-24). But, the psalmist was aware that the people failed to keep that covenant and their disobedience led to the loss of the Promised Land.
Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians highlights the priority of God’s covenant with Abraham over the one established “430 years afterwards” on Mount Sinai in the time of Moses (see Gal 3:17). Moreover, he interprets the promise given to Abraham about his offspring as referring to Christ (see Gal 3:15). The fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham that in his “offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Gen 22:18) is realised in Jesus Christ (Gal 3:14). The numerous descendants of Abraham are now those who believe in Jesus Christ and the Promised Land is a new heaven and earth with the heavenly Jerusalem at its centre (see Rev 21-22).
The psalmist helps us to map our journey of faith with the one of Israel. Like Abraham, we need to leave behind the world of false and empty gods and put our trust in true and living God. Our exodus takes place at the moment of our baptism. This sacrament liberates us from slavery to sin and turns us into adopted children of God. We begin a journey of faith. This journey is filled with trials and challenges but the Lord remains faithful. He remembers the new and everlasting covenant established during the Last Supper and ratified on the Cross. Our destination is God’s new promised land and the Lord journeys with us. We look to Him for strength and constantly seek His presence because we know that we can make it to the end only with his grace.