The Old Testament and the New Testament – sometimes they seem a world apart – in the Old, it can seem that it is a world that is cruel, brutish, and short – war, disease, famine – punishment – the wrath of God comes out –consequences for not following God’s law – And on top of that – it is only about a single people – God’s people – If one reads quickly, it may seem that the Old Testament is entirely different than the New.
For reading the New Testament, it is the message of Christ – the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, come for the salvation of the World – Bringing the forgiveness of sins – pulling everything back to himself – healing the wounds of sin – leading all who would follow back to God – It is the New Testament which is about hope – mercy – forgiveness of sins – and salvation of the whole world – with Jesus last words to his disciples being the Great Commission.
To some, the two Testaments seem opposed to each other – The second century heretic Marcion tried to throw out all of the Old Testament as not scripture and actually something evil -– but if we really slow down and consider the two testaments – are they all that different?
Things can be ugly in the Old Testament – but original sin is ugly – all sin is ugly – the destruction and harm of sin is hideous – this is a consequence of sin – It was true then – it was that way in the 1st century in the Roman Empire – it is true today – The ugliness is not so much God’s wrath against the people so much as the simple consequence of sin.
If we consider the harsh punishments in the Old Testament – Only Rarely is God taking direct action against the people – usually, it is just letting them face the consequences of their choice - and in those times that God does act -it is always trying to turn the people to repentance – God wrath is never against the people – but against the sin – the harm of sin – We sometimes have an image of God as sitting with a lightning bolt ready to strike whoever makes a mistake – but we do not find that even in the Old Testament.
And for God only having a single people in the Old Testament? – the plan was always the salvation of all – from the very begging – and from Isaiah today we heard – “The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants— all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
So what do we have in the Old Testament – A recording of what happens without God – the consequences of sin – the story of salvation history and God’s intervention within the world – the work of the prophets proclaiming God’s word and covenants laying the groundwork for Christ- foreshadowing what was to come – and through it all – hidden within it – the Gospel is present in every bit of it –that plan for the salvation of the world – the coming of Christ. – Even for foreigners – all the nations – the Gentiles.
Christ, in the Gospel, says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” – for it is from the house of Israel that he came – but he always knew that his mission was at the end of the world – here giving a chance to show the faith of the Canaanite Woman – faith found outside Israel – faith from one who most likely did not know the law and the prophets – for through the house of Israel Christ came into the world – but not just for the salvation of Israel – but of the whole world – something that it turns out is evident in both the Old and the New Testament – in Christ – but also the law and the prophets.
Today no one is saying that only those of the house of Israel are saved – or the Gentiles are lesser in some way – after all – the gentiles are the nations - that includes all of us. But it is possible, in practice, to forget that the Gospel is for the whole world – it is easy to sit in our Catholic corner – looking at what we do as Catholics and thinking it is only for those currently Catholic. Why not invite family to come with you to Mass on Christmas or Easter? Perhaps they are not Catholic – at least not right now but why not invite them to attend the stained glass windows lectures on Wednesday? Why not ask them to participate in the bible study Tuesday night? Why not ask them to come to the Advent Lessons and Carols that will – assuming the choir is ready – will be happening in December?
Never asking someone to come to the Parish because “they are not Catholic” is like assuming that Christ only came for the house of Israel– yet the Gospel is for all. If we proclaim the Gospel and ask – maybe they will say no - but also, – there may be more faith there than we think – just as Christ found faith in the Canaanite woman – For as Isaiah says, God’s house is to be “called a house of prayer for all peoples.” – Christ established his Church – let us invite people – proclaim the Gospel – and perhaps they will not be “not Catholic” much longer – but might ask for baptism – ask to be Catholic.
As Jesus put it right before his ascension into heaven – “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” – The Message of both the Old and the New Testament – for “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”