GN 9:8-15
PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 PT 3:18-22
MK 1:12-15
The scripture for this
Lenten reflection speaks to us about covenant.
It is a familiar story about God’s covenant with Noah and his sons and
their descendants who come after them.
God declares God’s covenant not only with Noah, his sons and
descendants, but also with every living creature. God’s covenant is to never again use the
waters to become a flood destroying all mortal beings.
What is interesting about
this covenant in our scripture is that it is unilateral. It is a covenant that only goes one way. The covenant flows out of God to God’s
creation. How incredible God’s relational
love is that there is no expectation in this passage for Noah, his sons and
descendants to covenant back to God.
As I sat thinking about
this relationship God has with creation and God’s unilateral covenant, I began
to think about how I might have that kind of love, living a unilateral covenant
with others.
My mother Cay Hartmann who
is now deceased, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Not being able to live in her own home, she
came to be a resident in the Alzheimer’s unit at Laclede Groves Senior Living
Community. Because my brother does not
live in St. Louis, I was the one who visited with her several times a
week. I was the one who collected her
clothes and washed and ironed them and returned them to her. I was the one who fixed her hair and put on
her make-up before taking her to her doctor’s appointments or to a family
gathering. I was the one who nervously went
to the women’s departments trying to buy bras and underwear which I had no clue
what size to ask for. I was the one who
each month was present at the Social Work/Nurse meetings as they discussed my
mother. I was the one who sat for long
periods of time as she reminisced about a time long before I was born since her
recent memory was so often shadowed by the fog of Alzheimer’s.
One could say I was
obligated to do all these things because I was her son. After reading this scripture passage and
thinking about this incredible loving unilateral covenant that God is showing
us, I began to erase from my memory the obligatory mindset. Yes, I guess one could say as her son, I was
obligated to care for my mother who no longer could care for her own
needs. But now I believe I made a
unilateral covenant with my mom. I
expected nothing in return from her. I
wanted no promises from her. I wanted no
tit-for-tat. I simply unilaterally
covenanted with her because I loved her that much.
What would happen to our
biological, work, church, and/or neighborhood families if our mind-sets – our
hearts expressed our relationships in a loving and compassionate unilateral
covenant. Would our lives be
different? Would our communities be
different? Would our country be
different? Would our world be
different? Thank you, God, for showing
us yet another way to express love.
Rob Hartmann is Manager of Pastoral Care Services at SLU Hospital.
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