Year of Mercy Reflection

Friday, Jul. 01, 2016

The theme of mercy brings to the fore my thoughts on the Old Testament as modified by the prophets and the New Testament. The thread is of the covenants of God with one man, one family, one tribe and one nation, culminating with the covenant with the world through the Paschal sacrifice.

This pyramid of covenants transitioning from the Old Testament into the New Testament is quite apparent given the opportunity of time and examination of the expanse of information and history.

First, the covenant with man was with Adam. Such was broken with the consumption of the apple. The result was the expulsion from the Garden of Eden and thereby the mortality of man.

Secondly, the covenant was with the family of Jacob. His stewardship of the pharaoh in Egypt led to the covenant with his family.

Thirdly, the covenant with a tribe came to the fore. The covenant was with Abraham, which was breached with its comingling with the pagan families and gods.

Finally, the covenant with a nation was with Israel. Moses successfully intervened in the preservation of God’s people after the golden calf. 

The expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the subjugation of Jacob’s family to Egypt, and the slavery followed by the wandering in the desert all resulted in the ultimate sacrifice of the Son of Man and the Son of God.

The sequence of events illuminates the mercy of God and his love for his creation (man).

These are furthered in the ministries with the likes of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, Mother Teresa of Kolkata, and Pope Benedict XVI, to name but a few shining stars and saints in their respective spheres of endeavor.

Frank M. Wells

 Holy Family Catholic Church