Homilies

SEE, MAKE A NEW CONVENANT

In the first reading of today, the prophet Jeremiah describes himself as a man of strife and contention. The prophet is sent to announce the Word of Yahweh to a people that have failed to be faithful to the covenant. This is not an enviable task for anyone to undertake. A number of times the prophet Jeremiah has to announce a message of gloom and impending destruction. As often happens when such is the case, people mistake the message (gloom) for the messenger (Jeremiah) and deal with him accordingly. Many times, therefore, Jeremiah is rejected, insulted and thrown into prison.

And yet, even in the midst of this gloomy picture that presents itself, Jeremiah is able to discern a new beginning stirring from among the ruins. Even as pessimistic as Jeremiah was he had to admit that Yahweh is doing something new. This is a testimony to the fact that Yahweh is a God who never lets go. Although a covenant involves two parties, the infidelity of one party does not signify the infidelity of the other party. Since the people have failed to live up to the demands of the first covenant, God is willing to enter into a new relationship with them.

This is a cause for great joy and optimism. You and I know only too well how we have failed to live up to the promises that we have made in the time past. We do not need any prophets to prophesy to us about our failings for they already weigh us down so heavily – our baptism promises, wedding promises, priestly and religious promises, business promises. What we need to hear is this: “See, I make a new covenant.” In other words, God is beginning to do something new and it is our prophetic challenge to be part of this new effort! Truly, God is inviting us to enter into a new relationship and begin anew. This experience is captured by one Bemba proverb that “Apatebeta Lesa, tapafuka cushi,” literally translated as God’s gifts are always free. Therefore, what we need to do as Christian is to respond to this invitation.

We all agree that, Zambia is in the process of constitutional review in order to come up with a Constitution that will “stand the test of time” – to use a common phrase! We all hope that we will be holding this year’s elections under a new Electoral Act, that elections will be free and fair and credible in the eyes of all.  We all believe that as a people, we are more aware of our rights, freedoms and duties as citizens than we were five years ago. We are therefore ready to hold our leaders accountable as to how they have governed this country on our behalf. This is something new in the making, and if you are not on the way with us, then you must surely be in the way!

But, here is a catch! For this newness to come about, there is a test we have to pass. We heard that test in the gospel, “Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.” The newness that God brings about in our midst is one that can only be realized by our willingness to die. Yes, we have to die to our own ambitions, selfish desires and petty dreams of personal advancement at the expense of the majority. How can different political parties agree to work together for the good of Zambia unless people are ready to subject their personal dreams and ambitions to a form of death? How can we ever hope to have a popularly adopted Constitution unless individuals and groups are willing and ready to subject their own sense of pride and arrogance to a kind of death that will beget life for the whole nation?

These concerns can only be realised if all of us learn to put the good of the country first before our own good. The three Church mother bodies -- Evangelical Fellowship in Zambia (EFZ), Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) and Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) – in their letter to all Christians before the 1991 multiparty general elections called for this: “The over-riding concern in the elections should be the common good, the general interests, of the entire Nation. Despite different political affiliations, we are all Zambians, sisters and brothers cast together in one destiny of Nationhood.”

On this fifth Sunday of this season of grace, we pray in thanksgiving to God for the abundant signs in our communities showing that indeed something new is in the making. Our prayer is that the elections of this year may be a step further along this road, bringing us closer to the realization of our common dream of a better Zambia. We further pray that this Lenten season, all of us, whatever our social standing in life, may find time to sit at the foot of the cross and learn the lesson that true life only comes if we allow ourselves to die. God is saying to us: “See, I make a new covenant!”

Questions for reflection and sharing in Small Christian Communities

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Have a couple. There have stayed together for sometime. One breaks the promise by being unfaithful. The disappointed partner forgives and reconciles. A new relationship begins. The family celebrates the joy that has come back.  

Community Prayers