Readings: Heb.9:2-3.11-14, Ps.46 , Mark 3:20-21
Rev.
Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
JESUS THE
SEAL OF THE NEW COVENANT
From
the beginning of creation God has always been making covenant with humanity and
this covenants are made in different ways and in different occasions. In the
old testament, this covenants were often made and sealed with the blood of
animals. However, this has to change by the very act of the incarnation of
Christ the Lord. Who in accordance with the plan of God to redeem humanity has
sacrificed his blood completely for the salvation of all. Thereby doing away
with the old covenants sealed with blood of animals.
Little
wonder, in our first reading today we are reminded of the redemptive work of
our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. Where as a high Priest, he has offered
himself as a worthy sacrifice for our sake and for the forgiveness of our sins.
This he did in order to deliver us from death and led us into a new hope and a new
life of love and obedient to God.
By
this redemptive work, Christ has become our high Priest who has taken away the
sins of humanity. This he accomplished by pouring out his most precious blood
on the cross. His blood which is far more precious than the blood of any animal
has replaced the old covenantal seals and has become the new covenantal seal by
this singular act of love on the cross. By this act of love, God calls us to a life of love, obedience, commitment
and sacrifice .
The response
to these acts of love, sacrifice, obedience and commitment to God’s mission is
what we see in the life of St. Agnes whose memorial we celebrate today. For as
a noble young Roman woman, St. Agnes had many suitors and those who were
interested in her, but she rejected them all for she had dedicated and
consecrated her purity and virginity to God, and will not allowing any of those
men to desecrate her virginity and sanctity. So out of pride and jealousy suitors
became very angry at her, and reported her to the authorities as a suspected
Christian, since to be a Christian was a crime punishable by death.
On
account of this, the Roman prefect, named Sempronius condemned her to death and
attempted to kill her by various methods. First, the attempts by several men to
defile her virginity by force, this of course failed, because they were
immediately struck blind before they died. The attempts also to hurt her by
other means such as burning on a stake also failed for the flames refused to
burn the wood. But eventually she was beheaded by being stabbed in the throat
and that’s how Agnes met her end through martyrdom and brought glory to God following
the example of our Lord Jesus.
Dear
friends, in the life of St. Agnes we see one who wished to remain faithful and obedience
to God’s command knowing that in Christ Jesus, God has accomplished his
redemptive work, for there is no need for any other sacrifices. What is needed
is for us to identify ourselves with this covenantal sacrifice especially through
our active participation in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist during the
Holy Mass.
For
during the Holy Mass, the very same Sacrifice of our Lord at Calvary is enacted
by Christ himself through his priest of which he has entrusted to his Church
and his priests, the power and authority to constantly make present to the
people this covenantal sacrifice. Therefore, we are called to embrace this
sacrificial love of Christ and turn away from our ugly and sinful ways of life
in order to embrace this love and mercy with a new heart and be ever more
grateful to God for such an act of kindness and compassion.
LET US
PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for such great act of love which you have
shown to us through Christ your Son who is our eternal high Priest. Grant that
through the intercession of St Agnes we may be ever more faithful in following
and doing your will, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a
blessed and favourable weekend.
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