The idea of covenant is an important one throughout both Old Testament and New. Through covenants God works for our salvation by establishing these new relationships with the human race. God makes promises of grace and protection and revelation. He promises to help us be holy as he is holy.
At the Last Supper, the Blessed Lord speaks of the new and everlasting covenant to be established through his blood: through Him, all peoples of all races and all times can enter into covenant with God and be saved and become adopted sons and daughters of Him and heirs to the kingdom of heaven.
The gift of salvation is free, and yet, it also carries responsibility on our part. The Catechism says, “The free gift of adoption requires on our part continual conversion and new life.” Continual conversion means desiring to become like God. St. Cyprian says, that “We must remember . . . and know that when we call God "our Father" we ought to behave as sons of God.”
The Lord Jesus often teaches us to become his father. “Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.” He says in the Gospel today, “Be merciful, just as your father is merciful”. As children of God we are to value the things of God, to strive to be holy as God is holy in our actions, behaviors, attitudes, and works.
The season of Lent is so important because during this season we recognize how short we have fallen of our divine vocation. We like Daniel, acknowledge, “We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets”
Penance is part of our continued conversion. By penance, we acknowledge our sinfulness, our failure to live up to that dignity of being called children of God, and endeavor to do better. The call to penance is part of the Good News: change is possible, transformation is possible, new life is possible.
But that involves stopping and examining, where I have I failed to be merciful as God is merciful, where have I failed to be generous as God is generous, pure of heart, humble, forgiving, and steadfast as Jesus?
May we take seriously the Lenten call to conversion, the call to penance, the call to new life, for the Glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring to all people purification of sin and selfishness.
For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
For the Holy Spirit to guide the appointment of our next Bishop—that he may be a man of true faith and courage.
That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence. And for all victims of the coronavirus and their families. And for the Church in China and all places where the Gospel is silenced.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.
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