By The Rev. Bob Davidson, Bridge Priest
As we begin our journey through the season of Lent, our first Sunday takes us back to a familiar story from the Old Testament about Noah and the Ark. For this Sunday’s sermon we will be exploring God’s Covenant:
“This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
We will be learning a great deal about the word Covenant not only from the story of Noah. In addition, St. Paul’s has a wonderful opportunity to engage in a small group devotional study during Lent. The Baptismal Covenant will be our focus there with a small group of parishioners gathered either Sunday or Wednesday mornings. In our Baptism we covenant (promise) to do certain things as we become a Child of God: pray, worship, forgive, love others, seek justice.
We find God binding Godself with the people of the Old Testament such as with Abraham. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” Likewise with Moses and David we see God promising, like a contract, to accomplish certain divine acts for the benefit of God’s people.
During Lent we are invited to examine our own follow-through with the promises we have made with God. Is our covenant with God solid, mutually beneficial and drawing us closer to God?