One way the Catholic Church describes itself is the People of God. A people is a body of persons who share a common religion, culture, or language. The citizens of a nation or state form a people. For example, the American people share common government, laws, history, holidays, languages. The Constitution begins, “We the People of the United States…”
The Church as the People of God is a body of believers who share common worship, law, history, leaders, faith. We share a common head in Jesus Christ.
The ancient Israelites became the People of God when they made a covenant with God at Mt. Sinai and agreed to keep the ten commandments, the law of Moses (1250 BCE). Their covenant relationship with God defined them from then on. It was their constitution. The law of Moses taught the people to be holy as their God is holy.
The gospel writer Matthew sees Jesus as the new Moses and his teachings as the new law. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus gathers his disciples and crowds on a mountain and teaches them for three chapters, usually called the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). This setting is Matthew’s way of picturing Jesus as the new Moses.
Jesus challenges us to be salt of the earth and light to the world. He insists that he has not come to abolish the law of Moses or forget Israel’s prophets. He has come to fulfill them, to take them farther.
Jesus institutes a new covenant in his blood through his self-giving death on the cross and his life-giving resurrection to new life. Those who believe in Jesus become a new People of God through baptism and the Holy Spirit.
Christ is our head. Our law is the new commandment to love as Christ loved us. Our destiny is the kingdom of God, which God has begun on earth and will be extended and perfected until Christ comes again in glory (Lumen Gentium #9).
The apostle Peter discovers that a Roman centurion named Cornelius believes in Israel’s God and in Jesus. Peter baptizes Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. The Second Vatican Council repeats Peter’s words—at all times and in every race anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God. Some people may have faith in God and act justly without belonging to the Church.
The bishops of Vatican II recognize that the Church does not include all the people of the world and may appear to be a small flock. But the People of God are “a sure seed of unity, hope, and salvation for the whole human race.” Christ establishes the Church as the instrument for the salvation of all and calls Christians to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth to the whole world (#9).
Down the centuries three offices evolved in Israel, those of priests, prophets, and kings. At baptism and confirmation every new Christian is anointed as a prophet, priest, and king.
As prophets Christians spread a living witness to Jesus’ way of life in our world. As priests, Christians participate in eucharist by making a gift of themselves to God along with Christ’s gift of himself in his death and resurrection. They participate in all the sacraments. As leaders Christians participate in working for laws that are uplifting for the poor and just for all in our states, nations, and world.
The Church is the visible plan of God’s love for humanity, because God desires that the whole human race may become one People of God, form one Body of Christ, and be built up into one temple of the Holy Spirit.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #776, also 777-780, 592