The Gospel of the Forty Days: The Church Is the Kingdom
Two weeks ago we looked at the disciples’
Messianic expectation of a restoration of the kingdom to Israel as they had asked just before Jesus’ ascension into Heaven (Ac 1:6), and that Jesus’
speaking about the “kingdom of God” during those forty days (Ac 1:3) must have
spoken of that expectation, and we asserted that the kingdom is the Church.
By “Church” (capital C), we are referring
to the whole universal assembly of all those who believe in Jesus Christ, and
are known by Him as His. Catholics believe the Church subsists in the Catholic
Church, but the full universal (“catholic”) Church is certainly broader.
What might Jesus have said about
prophecies of the restoration of the Kingdom being the Church He was forming?
First, we already know from the four
Gospels that Jesus’ entire message of repentance, new life in the Holy Spirit,
and promise of eternal life constantly used the expression, “Kingdom of God.” So
Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God (see Catechism 541-550, 566; 763-766,
769).
The Evangelists even refer to the Gospel
as the Gospel of the Kingdom (Mt 4:23; 9:35; Mk 1:14; Lk 8:1).
Turning to Acts, what do the Apostles say
about the Kingdom after the Ascension (as indicative of what Jesus may have
taught them during the forty days)? The Apostle St. Philip “preached good news
about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” to Samaria and “they
were baptized” (Ac 8:12), thus becoming Christians. St. Barnabas, who may have
been a disciple of Jesus and present at the Ascension (as he was afterwards, Ac
4:36) and St. Paul (converting later) preached the Gospel as the kingdom (Ac
14:21-22); and St. Paul continued to speak of the kingdom of God (Ac 19:8;
20:25; 28:23, 31) – even to the point of arguing and pleading in the synagogues
(Ac 19:8) that “the Way” (belief in Christ, the Church) was the Kingdom of God (Ac 19:9).
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| St. James of Alphaeus |
At the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), the
issue being debated was whether Gentile converts to Jesus needed to become
circumcised and observe the Jewish ceremonial law. After some debate, the
Apostle St. James of Alphaeus (bishop of Jerusalem) quotes the prophet Amos on
God’s promise of “rebuilding the dwelling of David,” and that all men,
including Gentiles, may seek the Lord (Am 9:11-12; cf., Jer 12:15; Is 45:21).
Now the Davidic Kingdom was a Kingdom based on covenant with the Lord (2 Sam
7:1-29), including the Lord’s promise to establish a kingdom from a descendant
of David who “shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne
of His kingdom for ever. I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son.” Now the
Davidic Kingdom had also incorporated several Gentile nations surrounding
Israel (2 Sam 8-9; 1 Kings 4), so in applying Amos’ prophecy of Gentile
inclusion, St. James sees it as applying to the Church. All the assembled
Apostles and elders (presbyters) agreed.
Had Jesus taught them about Amos’ (and
others’) prophecy of the restoration of the Kingdom during the forty days after
His resurrection? Very likely. Had Jesus taught them during the forty days that
it was now time to go to the Gentiles, preaching the kingdom to all nations? Yes
(Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15; Lk 24:47). And did everyone present, now at St. James’
words, recall that Jesus had taught them this? Also likely.
“The testimony of James demonstrates that
from the very beginning, the living
tradition of the Church, as expressed in the teaching of the apostles,
understood the Church to be the manifestation and fulfillment of the kingdom of
David. This ... is important to grasp because it provides the biblical
basis for many of the external and hierarchical aspects of the Church’s
structure – for example, the exercise of authority in a Church council by
Church leaders, as at the Council of Jerusalem.” (Bergsma & Pitre, “A
Catholic Introduction to the Bible,” Vol. 1, OT, 2018, p. 950.)
We will look
into this further next week.
Dibby Green
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News dated July 16, 2020, slightly modified.
References:
John Bergsma and Brant Pitre, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible, Volume 1, The Old Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2018), p. 950.