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Bible venerates several great figures
among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest
Meichisedek a figure of Christ and the
upright Noah, Daniel, and Job.4 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 2569 children of
God who are scattered abroad.5 God chooses Abraham 59 In order to gather together scattered humanity
God calls Abram from his country, his kindred and his
fathers house,6 and 145, 2570 makes him
Abraham, that is, the father of a multitude of
nations. In you all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed.7
6o The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee
of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people,
called to 760 prepare for that day when God would gather
all his children into 762, 781 the unity of the
Church.8 They would be the root on to which the
Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe.9
6i The patriarchs, prophets and certain other
Old Testament figures have been and always will be honoured
as saints in all the Churchs liturgical traditions. 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 coven- 2060, 2574 ant of Mount
Sinai and, through Moses, gave them his law so that 1961
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 Saviour.2°
63 Israel is the priestly people of God, called by
the name of the 204, 2810
LoRD, and the first to hear the word of
God,2 the people of 839
elder brethren in the faith of Abraham.
64 Through the prophets, God forms his people in the hope of
salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting
Covenant 711 intended for all, to be written on their
hearts.22 The prophets 1965 proclaim a radical
redemption of the People of God, purification from all their
infidelities, a salvation which will include all the |
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