Pope: mercy, compassion at heart of new covenant

Last updated on: August 6, 2014 at 11:13 am by CNA Daily News

Pope: mercy, compassion at heart of new covenant 2014-08-06T11:13:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Aug 6, 2014 / 05:13 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his first general audience since June, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the Church, explaining that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament by giving a new teaching on mercy in the beatitudes.

“At the heart of the new covenant is our realization that, in Christ, we are embraced by God’s mercy and compassion, and that our lives must bear witness to his love for all our brothers and sisters,” the pontiff stated in his Aug. 6 general audience.

Beginning a catechesis on the Church shortly before breaking for summer, Pope Francis continued this line of reflection with those gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

“Prepared for in the Old Testament and established by Christ in the fullness of time, the Church is a new people, founded on a new covenant…sealed with the blood of Jesus,” he said.

This newness brought by Jesus “does not set aside what went before, but brings it to completion,” the Roman Pontiff noted. The importance of the figure of John the Baptist in scripture is also “very significant since it prepares the people to receive the Lord,” he said.

“Saint John the Baptist is a bridge between the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament and their fulfilment in the New,” the pope said. "He points to Jesus and calls us to follow him in repentance and conversion.”

The Pope also pointed out how “Jesus also, on a small hill, delivered a new teaching to his disciples, which begins with the beatitudes.”

“The new law which Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount perfects the law given to Moses on Mount Sinai,” he explained, stating that Jesus provides a path to true happiness through the Beatitudes.

Pope Francis said also noted how Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew “that our Christian life will be judged on how we treat him in the least of our brethren.”

“In addition to the new law, the Lord invites us to recognize it in the poor, in those that suffer, in those in need.”

“We will be judged on this at the end of our lives,” he said. “The new covenant consists precisely in recognizing that thanks to Christ, mercy and the compassion of God surround us.”

Following his weekly address, the Bishop of Rome extended his greeting to the thousands of pilgrims gathered, which included groups from the United Kingdom, Norway, Zimbabwe, Japan, the United States, Spain, Mexico and Argentina.

He also pointed out that the day marked the feast of the transfiguration of Jesus, and prayed “that his grace transforms us into his image, so that living in the spirit of the beatitudes we are light and consolation to our brothers.”

Vatican

Previous Post

August 6, 2014

Catholic groups unite to help Iraqis ousted by extremists

Next Post

August 6, 2014 Pope thanks Knights of Columbus for their service, charity

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who opposed the rebuilding of the Temple and tried to discourage the Jews?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Amalekites Their enemies/Samaritans Moabites Philistines