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My dear friend in Christ,
I'd like to comment on the three BOLDED comments you made.
"The only difference I see is the way the Passover was kept."
While what you say here has an element of truth, it completely misses the FACT that the New Covenant COMPLETES, and PERFECTS the Old Covenant.
Under the Old Yahweh fed His CHOSEN people manna
Under the New Covenant; the Chosen people of Jesus {the Catholic Church} Mt. 10:18; Mt. 16:15-19; Jn. 17:17-22 & Mt. 28: 19-20 are fed by, with and through Jesus HIMSELF: Mt 26, Mk. 14, Lk. 22, John 6 {entire chapter; here is a short portion of it: verse 47-58 " And Paul in 1st Cor. 11: 23-30 {THAT"S SEPARATE AUTHORS OF THE NT}
[FONT="][[/FONT]47] Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
[48] I am the bread of life.
[49] Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
[50] This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.
[51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
[52] The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
[53] So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
[54] he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
[55] For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
[56] He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
[57] As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.
[58] This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
It is difficult to imagine that GOD could have been more precise, more specific or more clear it what He GOD intended,
So the difference is a rememerance of God {OT} and actually Jesus Himself-GOD {NT}.... That's HUGE
""I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
The difference here is a bit more subtle. In both covenants this reality holds true. The KEY difference {ots perfection} is that Jesus in the NEW Covenant instituted 7 Sacraments, ALL avenues if His GRACE to aid us in our efforts to merit our personal Salvation. In particular Baptism, Sacramental confession and FORGIVENESS of sins GOD"S WAY {John 20:19-23}, and the Eucharist; Jesus HIMSELF.
"Also the Passover gives us forgiveness of sins. Not exactly the cross"
And exactly HOW do you reach this conclusion?
As a FYI: Mass, the Eucharistic celebration actually forgive ALL Venial {lesser} sins so that when we Catholics receive Christ, are souls are "sinless"**
1John.1 Verses 8 to 10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
1John.5 Verses 16 to 17 "If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
[h=3]John.20 Verses 20 to 23"When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."[/h]God in order to BE God cannot JUDGE all sins to be of equal punishment; therefore in 1 Jn 5: 16-17 it is clear that there exist in GOD"S view both Venial {lesser} & Mortal {Greater} sins. Mortal sin can only be forgive GOD'S WAY through Sacramental Confession {Jn 19:23}
The New Covenant & the Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist are inseparable! ... Eucharist is the fulfillment; the Perfecting of the New Covenant.
Sorry, but I'M unclear as to what you mean here?
God Bless you,
Patrick