The Old Covenant (Catechism Part 3)

"Covenant" is a loaded word in theology. For many this term implies that God has chosen (both in the past and present) a particular group of people and not others for salvation. In my understanding the idea of covenant does not include arbitrary insider/outsider boundaries. Rather, the idea of "covenant" expresses an aspect of the nature of God who seeks a relationship with the all-inclusive group that is made up of God's entire creation.

Now, to be certain, historically the idea of "covenant" can be seen in the self-understanding of the Jewish community. In fact, they are a concrete example of the way God seeks to sustain a relationship with all humanity. The Catechism affirms that God's primary promise to Israel was that they would "bring all nations of the world to [God]."

The Church owes its beginning to the Jewish community. Because of that, the adjective "old" is problematic. God's covenant-nature has not ended ... with humanity in general ... or even Israel in particular. It seems to me that it is an insult to Judaism to label the Hebrew Scriptures "old." In addition, the "Old" in "Old Testament" is sometimes used as an excuse to treat the Hebrew Scriptures as irrelevant for the Christian Church.

Yet indeed the "Old Testament" (especially in the prophets) contains one of the clearest calls to "love justice, to do mercy, and to walk humbly with [our] God" that will keep us faithful to our baptismal covenant with God in which we promise to "proclaim by word and example the Good News of God," "serve Christ in all persons,"and "strive for justice and peace among all people."