Can God Reject His Own Covenant People?
First Reading: Genesis 17:3-9
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 104(105):4-9
Gospel: John 8:51-59
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There are few things as painful in human relationships as betrayal from someone you trust deeply. Whether in marriage, friendship, or family, the closer the bond, the deeper the wound when that bond is broken. Imagine a father who has given everything to his children, only to be rejected when they become adults. He clothed them, fed them, made sacrifices for their future, and yet they now deny ever knowing him or worse, claim his generosity was never enough. This scene, though personal and all too common, reflects something deeper: the mystery of divine rejection. Can a God who makes an eternal promise to a people ever disown them? Is it possible for God to turn away from those He once called His own? This is not just a question of theology, but of identity, fidelity, and the meaning of belonging.
In the first reading, Genesis 17:3–9, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in salvation history. Abram has walked with God, and now God renews and deepens His covenant with him. The Sitz im Leben (life setting) of this text is the narrative formation of Israel’s identity. It marks a shift from a private relationship to a public and generational covenant. God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, promising that he will become the father of a multitude of nations. The word “covenant” here is from the Hebrew berît, signifying a binding, enduring alliance that carries both privileges and obligations. God promises permanence: “I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” This is a sacred bond, meant to last “forever.” But embedded in this promise is also a condition: Abraham and his descendants must keep the covenant. This condition opens up the possibility of rupture. If a covenant is not merely a one-sided declaration but a two-sided agreement, can infidelity from one party invalidate it?
The Responsorial Psalm (105) responds to this covenantal drama by singing the faithfulness of God. It invites the people to remember His wondrous works and His promise to Abraham. The psalm acknowledges that God keeps His covenant “forever,” showing that God is consistent in His part of the relationship. Yet this remembrance is not passive nostalgia; it is an active call to fidelity. The Sitz im Leben of this psalm is likely post-exilic worship, where the people, after experiencing exile due to infidelity, reflect on God’s steadfastness despite their failure. This background raises an uncomfortable question: if the people were exiled, did God abandon them or did He allow the consequences of their rejection to unfold? The psalm praises God’s fidelity, but only those who remember and keep the covenant can truly rejoice in that fidelity. Memory without obedience is sentimentality, not covenantal faith.
In the Gospel reading, John 8:51–59, the conversation between Jesus and the Jews becomes increasingly tense. Jesus claims that those who keep His word will never see death. His hearers, proud descendants of Abraham, are scandalized. How can this man claim superiority over Abraham, who died? The real scandal comes when Jesus uses the divine name “I AM” (egō eimi in Greek), the sacred formula from Exodus 3:14, identifying Himself with YHWH. The Sitz im Leben of this passage is the growing rejection of Jesus by the religious authorities, climaxing in their intent to stone Him. The keyword here is apodokimazō (ἀποδοκιμάζω), meaning to reject or disapprove, which is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe the rejection of Jesus by the builders (cf. Luke 20:17). Jesus is showing that even those who claim Abrahamic heritage can reject the very God who called Abraham. It is possible to belong to the covenant externally and yet oppose the God of the covenant in practice. Therefore, being a child of Abraham is not about lineage, but about listening to and obeying the one whom God has sent. Jesus, the incarnate Word, is the test of covenant fidelity. To reject Him is to reject the covenant.
One major lesson from this is that religious identity is not a guarantee of divine approval. Belonging to a Church, even being baptized and confirmed, is not a shield against judgment if one’s life contradicts the very Word of God. Covenant requires fidelity. If Abraham had failed to walk in obedience, the covenant would have been broken from his side. In the same way, Catholics today must not presume that sacramental status alone is sufficient. Grace is offered, not imposed. God’s fidelity does not cancel human responsibility. Our participation in the covenant is not symbolic; it is real, practical, and moral. The question is not whether God is faithful, but whether we are.
Secondly, the Gospel reveals a sobering truth: God can be in the midst of His people, and they can fail to recognize Him. The Jews in John 8 were steeped in religious observance. They knew the Scriptures. They recited the psalms. But they could not tolerate Jesus. This is a real danger for the Church. Lenten practices, devotions, and religious routines can coexist with a heart closed to Christ. We may defend the Church but reject the poor. We may protect doctrine but remain indifferent to mercy. When religion becomes a defense against encountering the living God, we have begun to walk the path of covenant rupture.
Thirdly, Lent is a privileged time to examine not only our moral lives but our covenant identity. Are we walking with God or simply living off borrowed grace? Do we keep the Word, or do we prefer to argue with it? The God of Abraham is still the God of covenant, but His covenant has now taken flesh in Christ. To reject Christ is not a side disagreement; it is a severance from the source of life. This is not simply an inter-religious issue. Within the Church, many bear the name of Christ but live in a posture of rejection. The call of today’s readings is clear: do not presume on the covenant. Renew it. Keep it. Live it. Or risk being written out of a story you were called to inherit.
In the end, the answer to the question is sobering: yes, God can reject those who were once part of His covenant if they break faith with Him. His love is constant, but not coercive. Covenant is a dialogue, not a decree. To remain in it, we must remain in Christ.
O that today you would listen to his VOICE, harden not your hearts! (Ps. 95:7)
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Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Seminário Padre Pedro Magnone, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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Have you prayed your rosary today?
God help me so I will never break faith with you, Amen