Two Covenants Compared

Continuing our journey through the Bible, this week’s reading is from the letter to the Hebrews. Today is All Saints Sunday, and delivering the Communion Meditation is Rev. James Sewell, a retired minister who was on West End’s staff from 1970-1983. Rev. Sewell says that this epistle to the Hebrews appears to be to a congregation of Christians who converted from Judaism as it mentions two covenants, the first being the one through the law of Moses, and involving animal sacrifices to God in tribute and/or for sins committed. The second covenant was the one initiated by the sacrifice of Jesus. The writer of the letter compares the two. Through his readings of this letter, Rev. Sewell says he has taken three values for us as individual Christians and as a church together: worship, service, and the communion of the saints. All of these are exemplified by the life and teachings of Jesus, they prompt our relationships to others through love and service, and they include relationships with those saints who have gone before us.