Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
Life is full of tension. As we live in the season of Lent, we still celebrate on Sunday. After all, every Sunday is a remembering of the Easter story. There is tension in this season. Yet we are certain that there is hope.
While growing up, I often gave things up for Lent. Chocolate, soda, candy often topped the list. As I grew up and became more “self-reliant,” it often translated into eating out, fast food, or gossip. Throughout Lent, I knew that Sunday was coming. It was a day I looked forward to because I was certain that I would indulge in whatever I gave up. It was a time of celebration amidst the relinquishing of certain privileges.
We are called to the cross, yet we are certain of the Resurrection. We journey to the cross, but believe in the life everlasting. This finds us living with certain faith in uncertain times. To journey with Christ to the cross is to be certain of death, but certain of life after death. To be on the journey is to be certain of the teaching and hope that Lent brings. The prophet Jeremiah speaks God’s word to us, “No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, form the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more (Jeremiah 31:34).” May we live with that certainty in these uncertain times.
Prayer: God of yesterday and today, hold us close, so we may learn your ways and walk as children of your light. Amen.
