Dear Readers,

As we journey through this Lenten season, I have found myself reflecting on covenants. Each Sunday’s lectionary readings seem to abound with stories of God’s covenants—a reflection of how often God makes promises to and with his people, and the role these promises play in shaping the story of creation.

These days, we toss off promises like we pencil arrangements into our calendars—a statement of intention in the moment, but subject to change along with the circumstances. After all, making promises is easy; it is keeping them that is difficult. We do not like being beholden to anything other than ourselves, and shy away from the expectations promises impose on us. In a conversation on covenant vows, Cathy Kaufman and Fr. Timothy Danaher discuss these obligations, but also the importance of making commitments; as human beings some part of us longs for them—another, maybe even more important form of love. In a lonely world, our commitments bind us to others. (Perhaps, then, we ought to devote more care to discernment when making promises; as Whitney Rio-Ross points out, there are some parties to whom we are better off not being bound.)

Thankfully, we have God to help us keep our promises—how many times in the baptismal vows do we say the words “I will, with God’s help”? As Jake Casale finds in his reflection on exploring covenant bonds in a game he played while in quarantine, the knowledge of God’s presence in the midst of his friendships frees him from worries about their persistence.

This dependence on God to help us fulfill our promises points to the larger reason we view God’s covenants with such reverence; God is the ultimate promise-keeper. When he makes a vow, we know with absolute certainty it will be kept. Of course, this still leaves the question of the when and the how—details we tend to be uncomfortable leaving ambiguous, as Emily Carter observes in her examination of God’s covenant with Abraham. Even knowing that God will always keep his promises, we are not good at waiting for him to do so.

So, we practice. All through Lent we remember and revisit the anticipatory period before God created a new covenant and fulfilled his biggest promise: to send a savior who would vanquish sin and death. As we near the celebration of that triumph again, we hope these essays, reflections, and conversations enliven your contemplation of promises you have made, promises you have kept (or not kept), and promises that have been made and kept to you.

Fare Forward,

Sara Holston

Editor