THE LORD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT FOREVER(Exodus 3:13-20/Psalm 105:1,5,8-9,24-27/Matthew 11:28-30)

THE LORD REMEMEBERS HIS COVENANT FOR EVER

(Thursday, July 18, 2019)

Today’s readings begin by recounting Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. Even though our own encounters and journeys with God are probably less dramatic, surely we have all felt a little like Moses. We have all asked for confirmation and reassurance, particularly as we seek to act outside our comfort zones. And we all have questions for God. Moses did not get much of an answer to his question about the name of God – but God did tell him about what he was going to do.

Today’s gospel provides the rest of the answer that God was not yet able to share with Moses. Moses did not have the witness of the Incarnation, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, who was yet to come. Jesus invites us – those who are worn out trying to find our way, trying to do what is right -- to come to Him to receive deliverance.

These are tender and comforting words, indeed. We may not fully understand Jesus, but that is alright. We can learn. There is real hope here. Only through putting on a new yoke, we cast off the old one binding us to our sin and death. By putting on Jesus Christ through our baptism and learning to walk with Him, we experience freedom in life, even though we may not be extracted from all its troubles. But this is the gift we are offered, the life to which we are called.

The Psalmist today reminds us that “The Lord remembers his covenant forever.” But do we remember our part of the covenant? A covenant is a two-sided bargain, an agreement, a contract. The psalmist today tells us that the Lord does not forget the bargain. That is why in Exodus the Lord asks Moses to intercede with the Pharaoh to release the people, and if they are not released, promises to smite the Egyptians. Most often, we forget our bargain with God whenever it is too hard to live up to it. We forget our responsibilities when we fail to act as God calls us to do.

We do not remember the covenant when we put ourselves first, instead of what God’s seeks from us and for us. We labour, and we fail. We are burdened with the heaviness of being, living in a world of temptation, attraction, selfishness, greed, and pride. The situation in our society has made it that we can do it alone. We always need to hang and look unto God and place all our trust in Him and this exactly the invitation of Christ in the gospel of today. Jesus reminds us that this struggle need not be so difficult. He calls us to join with Him in a new covenant by taking up His burden and being yoked with Him. He calls us to learn from Him – to learn to be like Him, meek and humble of heart. And Jesus promises to be with us as we make our way through life, for we are journeying with Him.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the grace to hold unto you firmly and to cast my burdens on you so that you will take care of me. Amen.