Homily: Sixth Wednesday of Ordinary Time
Sixth Wednesday of Ordinary Time (Genesis 8:6-13,20-22)
We often reflect on the theological idea of covenants. God made a covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel became God’s chosen people. God also made a covenant with Moses and the Israelites received the law as God’s gift to them.
We forget that before there were these covenants there was the covenant with Noah. This was the first covenant. Noah came out of the ark, and he made a sacrifice to God in thanksgiving for surviving the terrible catastrophic flood.
In response God laid down his bow in the clouds. The bow and arrow were a weapon of war. God set it down saying that he would never flood the world again. Whenever we see a rainbow, we are reminded of this moment in salvation history.
God does not make war on humanity. God wants only what is best for us. This should be a comforting message for us. We have had many wars that have happened in the history of the world, but God has not started these wars. Different nations have made war on each other.
We have become more proficient at killing. Some have called what is happening in the wars since the 19th century as industrialized killing. The horror of what is going on in Ukraine right now should shock us and we may respond like Paul VI when he addressed the United Nations fifty years ago and said, “No more war, war never again.”
God’s covenant with Noah can be a symbol of the peace treaties that could be made throughout the world. Modern warfare could destroy. The thing we can remember is that God wants the world to be at peace.
After Noah, we cannot ever say that God desires destruction of the world. God wants to redeem the world. And that is why Jesus came.
Reflection Questions:
1. Did I know that the rainbow was a symbol of the peace treaty between God and humanity? What is my reaction to that?
2. Are there are winners in modern warfare? What can I do to stop conflicts throughout the world?
Dear Parishioners,
Lent is coming soon. One of the activities that we are bringing back is study groups. The small groups will be discussing Holy Moments which was written by Matthew Kelly. There will be an opportunity to sign up this Sunday, Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent.
The book is a very short read. This is an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the Eucharist in our lives. Can you spare about an hour four times this Lent in order that you might deepen your faith? If so, sign up in the next two weeks.
May Our Lady pray for peace in our troubled world.
Fr. Mark