The New Covenant

In the Old Testament, the word covenant is used to express the special relationship between God and the people of Israel. Covenant relationships are rooted in mutual and freely made promises. The laws and worship practices in the Old Testament were signs of the special relationship. But during the Last Supper, Jesus establishes a New Covenant, one sealed with His blood, His very life.

Through the paschal mystery – Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection – the New Covenant is established and the Old Covenant is fulfilled. We enter into this new and eternal Covenant through our Baptism. We keep the Covenant by remaining faithful to Christ. The Holy Spirit, God’s loving presence in our life, gives us power to live the New Covenant.

In the Eucharist, as we share in the consecrated bread and wine, it is the New Covenant that we celebrate and renew. So the next time you respond “Amen” at a Eucharistic Celebration, know that you are saying “Yes!” to a special and life-giving relationship with God.

Today is Maundy Thursday, an ancient name for Holy Thursday that comes from Jesus’ words that day and a former antiphon of the day: in Latin, Mandatum novum da nobis (“I give you a new commandment…” John 13:34). That phrase began the ancient foot-washing ceremony. Another name for Holy Thursday, Shear Thursday, came about because of an ancient practice of trimming hair and beard that day as a sign of spiritual preparation for Easter. The content of the Holy Thursday liturgy is so rich. This is the great day of the institution of Holy Eucharist, heaven’s gift to mankind; the day of the institution of the Priesthood, another divine gift that brings the Sacrifice of Calvary into all times and places, really and truly present, so that we can make its fruits our own.

The Gospels relate that Jesus, at the Last Supper, took bread and wine and told his disciples to eat and drink, for these were his body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). These words are the foundation for our belief in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist; the command “do this” establishes the ministry by which Jesus’ command will be carried out over time. Likewise, when St. John tells us Jesus washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, he adds Jesus’ remark, “I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes Thomas Aquinas, who observed, “It is … Christ Jesus, whose sacred person his minister truly represents” (No. 1548). We may find no objective institution of priesthood, but it must be understood from Jesus’ command that his presence touches future ages. Today is a good moment to pray for the Pope, for bishops, and for priests, and to ask for many vocations throughout the world. We’ll pray better the closer we are to Jesus who instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood.