Jeremiah 31:27-34
God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to Judah and its neighbors during the turbulent times of its history both politically and religiously. Jeremiah comes as a prophet of comfort. Through Jeremiah God assures the people of Israel that after exile will come restoration. God will establish a new covenant. Unlike the old covenant on stone tablets, God promises a new covenant “in their minds and … on their hearts.” God will not pass the sins of one generation on to the next or punish one group of people for the sins of another.
As I reflect on this passage , I am disturbed by the recent attitude of some so-called Christians or “religious” people who blame folks of a particular region for causing the recent natural catastrophes in Southeast Asia and in some parts of the United States because of these people’s sins.
God of the new covenant reminds us that we all assume responsibility for the consequences of our actions and sins; God will not pass punishment on innocent people . In order to guide and help us in our faith journeys, God will place the law in our minds and write it on our hearts. We need simply apply the law of God in our day-to-day dealings . People will know God through us or in spite of us. Our actions bear witness to the new covenant that others may see.
PRAYER:
Creator God, help me, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to demonstrate your laws through my daily living. Hear my prayer, in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
