YOUCAT Catechism +
Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 8
AVE MARIA Series
8. How does God reveal himself in the Old
Testament?
God shows himself in the Old Testament as God who created
the world out of love and remains faithful to men even when they have fallen
away from him into sin. [54-64, 70-72]
Then the Lord said to Noah: “Go into
the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this age have I found to
be truly just.” -- Genesis 7:1 …...8
God makes it possible to experience him in history:
With Noah he establishes a covenant to save
all living things.
He calls Abraham so
as to make him “the father of a multitude of nations” (
Genesis 17:5b) and to
bless “all the families of the earth” in him (
Genesis 12:3b). The
people Israel, sprung from Abraham, becomes his special possession.
To Moses he introduces himself by name.
His mysterious name YHWH, usually transcribed
Yahweh, means “I AM WHO I AM” (
Exodus 3:14).
He frees Israel from slavery in Egypt,
establishes a covenant with them on Sinai, and through Moses gives them the
Law.
Again and again, God sends prophets
to his people to call them to conversion and to the renewal of the
covenant.
The prophets proclaim that God
will establish a new and everlasting covenant, which will bring about a radical
renewal and definitive redemption.
This
covenant will be open to all human beings.
REVELATION Revelation
means that God opens himself, shows himself, and speaks to the world
voluntarily.
“We cannot talk about God, but woe to the one who remains
silent about him.” St. Augustine
(354-430, Doctor of the Church, the most important writer and theologian of the
early Church)
“This is (the theologian’s) mission: in the loquacity of our day and of other
times, in the plethora of words, to make the essential words heard. Through words, it means making present the
Word, the Word who comes from God, the Word who is God.” Pope Benedict XVI, October 6, 2006
“All that is said
about God presupposes something said by God.”
St. Edith Stein (1891-1942, Jewish Christian, philosopher, and Carmelite
nun, concentration camp victim)
[54-64, 70-72]
In the beginning God
makes himself known
54 "God, who creates and
conserves all things by his Word, provides men with constant evidence of
himself in created realities. And furthermore, wishing to open up the way to
heavenly salvation - he manifested himself to our first parents from the very
beginning."(Dei
Verbum 3; compare John 1:3; Romans 1:19-20.)6 He
invited them to intimate communion with himself and clothed them with
resplendent grace and justice. –Catechism
of the Catholic Church, Second Edition
55 This revelation was not broken
off by our first parents' sin. "After the fall, [God] buoyed them up with
the hope of salvation, by promising redemption; and he has never ceased to show
his solicitude for the human race. For he wishes to give eternal life to all
those who seek salvation by patience in well-doing."(Dei Verbum, 3; compare Genesis 3:15; Romans 2:6-7.)7--CCC
Even
when he disobeyed you and lost your friendship you did not abandon him to the
power of death. . . Again and again you offered a covenant to man.(Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayer IV, 118.)8
--CCC
56 After the unity of the human
race was shattered by sin God at once sought to save humanity part by part. The
covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the
divine economy toward the "nations", in other words, towards men
grouped "in their lands, each with [its] own language, by their families,
in their nations".(Genesis 10:5; compare Gen 9:9-10, 16; Gen 10:20-31.)9 --CCC
57 This
state of division into many nations is at once cosmic, social and religious. It
is intended to limit the pride of fallen humanity united only in its perverse ambition
to forge its own unity as at Babel.(compare Wisdom, 10:5; Genesis 11:4-6.)11 But,
because of sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of its
rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy with the perversion of
paganism.(compare Romans 1:18-25.)12 --CCC
58 The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the
Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel.(compare Genesis 9:16; Luke 21:24; Dei Verbum 3.)13 The Bible venerates several great
figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchisedek - a
figure of Christ - and the upright "Noah, Daniel, and Job".(compare Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:3; Ezekiel 14:14.)14 Scripture thus expresses the heights
of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of
Noah, waiting for Christ to "gather into one the children of God who are
scattered abroad".(John 11:52.)15--CCC
God chooses Abraham
59 In order to gather together scattered humanity God calls Abram
from his country, his kindred and his father's house and makes Abraham "the father of
a multitude of nations".(Genesis 12:1),16 "In you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis17:5; Gen 12:3; Galatians 3:8)."17 --CCC
60 The
people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the promise made to the
patriarchs, the chosen people, called to prepare for that day when God would
gather all his children into the unity of the Church.(compare Romans 11:28; John 11:52; Jn 10:16.)18 They would
be the root on to which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to
believe.(Compare Romans 11:17-18,24.)19 –CCC
61 The patriarchs, prophets and certain other
Old Testament figures have been and always will be honored as saints in all the
Church's liturgical traditions. –CCC
God forms his people
Israel
62 After
the patriarchs, God formed Israel as his people by freeing them from slavery in
Egypt. He established with them the covenant of Mount Sinai and, through Moses,
gave them his law so that they would recognize him and serve him as the one
living and true God, the provident Father and just judge, and so that they
would look for the promised Savior (Dei Verbum 3).20 –CCC
63 Israel
is the priestly people of God, "called by the name of the LORD", and
"the first to hear the word of God",the people of "elder
brethren" in the faith of Abraham. (Deuteronomy 28:
10; Roman
Missal, Good Friday, General Intercession VI; see also Exodus 19:6.)21 --CCC
64 Through the prophets, God forms his people in
the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant
intended for all, to be written on their hearts (Compare Isaiah 2:2-4; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:16.).22 The prophets proclaim a radical redemption of
the People of God, purification from all their infidelities, a salvation which
will include all the nations (Compare Ezekiel 36; Isaiah 49:5-6; Isa 53:11.).23 Above all, the poor and humble of the
Lord will bear this hope. Such holy women as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Miriam,
Deborah, Hannah, Judith and Esther kept alive the hope of Israel's salvation.
The purest figure among them is Mary (Compare Luke 1:48).24 –CCC
IN BRIEF
70 Beyond
the witness to himself that God gives in created things, he manifested himself
to our first parents, spoke to them and, after the fall, promised them
salvation (compare Genesis 3:15) and
offered them his covenant. –CCC
71 God made an everlasting covenant with Noah
and with all living beings (compare Genesis 9:16). It
will remain in force as long as the world lasts. --CCC
72 God chose Abraham and made a covenant with
him and his descendants. By the covenant God formed his people and revealed his
law to them through Moses. Through the prophets, he prepared them to accept the
salvation destined for all humanity. --CCC
