In the first reading, we hear the famous prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah. It is a prophecy that provides the foundation and the very core of the central teaching of the New Testament.

What is 'new' about the new covenant that Jeremiah speaks about? In contrast to the Old Covenant made at Mount Sinai which failed because the people of Israel did not respond to God's love, the new covenant will be successful. Why is this so?

The new covenant will be successful because it will be God and God alone who put into the hearts of the people the power to love and to respond with love. This power is called 'grace'. Grace is a gift freely given to us by God through Jesus Christ, who as high priest lovingly sacrificed himself for humanity.

Today, Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that he has given us new life through his death. He had buried himself like a seed on the cross, so that we may enjoy the fruits of his sacrifice in our own lives. But sometimes, we can forget this. In the face of challenges and problems, we can fail to realise that we are blessed with God's amazing grace each day because of the self-sacrificing love of Jesus.

So, let us live today as grace-filled people. After all as someone once said, "We are too blessed to be stressed."