Monday, December 20, 2004 Nativity Fast
Hieromartyr Ignatios, Bishop of Antioch
Kellia: Exodus 24:8-14 Epistle: Hebrews 8:7-13 Gospel: St. Mark 8:11-21
Exodus 24:8-14, especially vs. 8: "Behold the blood of the covenant which the
Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words." Salesmen are trained to "close" the deal with the buyer's
signature on the contract. In high, solemn moments, people and nations agree in common ventures, unite in helpful
organizations, marry, adopt, or pledge allegiance one to another. Holy Scripture records a number of different agreements
between human beings but only a few covenants between God and men. The principal Divine-human covenants to which
Scripture attests are the ancient one ratified in the life-time of the Prophet Moses (circa 1500 BC), called the Old Covenant,
and the one sealed between the God-man, Jesus Christ and those united to Him, called the New Covenant.
The present reading is the Exodus account of the initial sealing of the Old Covenant, and provides a window for examining
these essential elements of both the Divine-human covenants: sealing in blood, Divine Self-revelation, a communion meal,
and commandments for living. As we approach the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ, this particular reading enriches our
appreciation of the joy of the Church in celebrating the birth of our Savior.
The Child Whose birth we are preparing to worship is He Who says to His Faithful ones, "This cup is the New Covenant in
My blood" (1 Cor. 11:25). The reading speaks of the blood used to seal the Old Covenant, being thrown or sprinkled upon
the People (vs. 8). That blood was taken from oxen sacrificed as peace offerings to the Lord (Ex. 24:5). In the ritual to
ratify the Old Covenant, Moses caught the blood of these animals in basins. First, he sprinkled half of it on the altar where
animals were wholly surrendered to God as "burnt offerings," that is, they were completely consumed by fire. Then the
Priest threw the other half upon the People, declaring to them as he did, "Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord
has made with you in accordance with all these words" (Ex. 24:8).
Why blood? God's reasons for sealing His covenants with His People in blood are stated very specifically in the Book of
Leviticus: "for the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it for you upon the altar to make atonement for your
souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life" (Lev. 17:11). The great difference between the Old
and New Covenants lies in the blood. In the New Covenant it is not animal blood, but "My Blood" that is "shed for you
and for many, for the remission of sins." This we know from the Divine Liturgy.
In both covenants, God revealed Himself to the leaders of the People with whom He made the covenant. In the Exodus
account, the leadership "went up, and...saw the God of Israel" on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24:9,10). The wonder of the Nativity lies
in the fact that God emptied Himself of His heavenly majesty, gloriously enthroned with "a pavement of sapphire stone"
under His feet (vs. 10), and instead became a human baby to be wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger.
The Old Covenant and the New Covenant were sealed in a Communion meal: "they beheld God, and ate and drank" (vs.
11). And we, O believers, "enjoy the banquet of the Lord, an immortal table...receiving with uplifted minds exalted words
from the Word."
Finally, let us note that the Lord laid down laws and commandments for the instruction of His People (vs. 12) in
establishing both of the great Covenants with them. The Lord Jesus is very explicit concerning what He expects of us His
followers: that each take up his cross (Mt. 16:24), that we love one another (Jn. 13:34), and that we disciple the nations
(Mt. 28:19).
O Lord, Who was smitten for the sake of mankind, and was not wroth, deliver our lives from corruption and save us!