Vol. 12, No. 4, November, 2007

I Will Write My Law Upon Their Hearts
by Sr. Brigid Meierotto, S.N.C.

In this teaching, we will accept the Word of God, the Scriptures into our hearts and minds, letting them be light to us. The Scriptures are the inspired word of God which has the power to accomplish what it says, for us. Yes, for us, right here. Right now!

The Scripture we are reflecting upon is Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:7-17; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-35. Read these passages slowly, prayerfully.

As you read the Scripture, in your heart ask the Holy Spirit to explain to you the message that the Lord has for you personally. Do not doubt that the Lord Jesus will do this for you, because that is why he came, so that you can get to know and to love Jesus. "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:25f). Ask the Holy Spirit what you desire from him...something like this: "O Holy Spirit, Jesus said that you would teach me all things and I believe him. Teach me about how you are going to write your law upon my heart! Teach me how I can learn about obedience! Teach me how I am to follow Jesus! Teach me to love Jesus with my whole heart, filled with gratitude, giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you, O Holy Spirit." Things have not been going well for the Lord's people. Why? Because they have not been faithful to their covenant with Him. In this prophecy in chapter 31 of the Book of Jeremiah, the Lord makes a just complaint against his people, the people he loves, saying that he took them by the hand in order to deliver them from slavery in Egypt -- he made a covenant with them "...which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord."

Now, at this time in history, the Lord in his mercy, proclaims a powerful message of hope to his people through his prophet Jeremiah:

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers ....But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord:

"I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people....I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more."

With the psalmist, Psalm 51, we cry out with gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord, verses 10-13:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

The Father fulfills his promise -- his promise to write his law upon our hearts, to put a right spirit within us. The Father sends his son, Jesus, to accomplish this great work of salvation! In the midst of his suffering Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to his Father who was able to save him from death. Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered;

"...and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him...(Heb. 5:7-10).

Before his passion, Jesus told his disciples, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:23-26).

If we love our life here, Jesus explains, we will lose it, but if we hate our life in this world, we will keep it for eternal life. Jesus calls us to serve him; and the only way we can serve him, is to follow him.

"If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

Closing prayer: Thank you, Spirit of love, for teaching me that Jesus is come to write your law upon my heart! Thank you for teaching me that I learn about obedience as Jesus did -- through suffering! Thank you for teaching me that if I want to serve Jesus, then I must follow him! Continue to teach me to love Jesus with my whole heart, filled with gratitude, giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you, O Holy Spirit." Now the prayer to Mary: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus! Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen!"