'Israel' & 'Jerusalem'

[adurian]

What is the significance of ‘Israel’ and ‘Jerusalem’ with regards to our Catholic faith? What does ‘Israel’ symbolise? And what about ‘Jerusalem’?

A non-Christian friend is asking me, but i have not given a reply.

I understand that Catholics are so called the ‘New Israel’, and ‘Jerusalem’ symbolizes God’s eternal city - heaven (or the new earth).

Appreciate if you can explain and correct me, or direct me to a good site to read up Thank you & God bless!
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[Della]

adurian:

What is the significance of ‘Israel’ and ‘Jerusalem’ with regards to our Catholic faith? What does ‘Israel’ symbolise? And what about ‘Jerusalem’?

A non-Christian friend is asking me, but i have not given a reply.

I understand that Catholics are so called the ‘New Israel’, and ‘Jerusalem’ symbolizes God’s eternal city - heaven (or the new earth).

Appreciate if you can explain and correct me, or direct me to a good site to read up Thank you & God bless!
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From the 6th paragraph of Moral Aspect of Divine Law: the New Israel from the online Catholic encyclopedia:

Christ is the author of the New Law. He claimed and exercised supreme legislative authority in spiritual matters from the beginning of His public life until His Ascension into heaven. In Him the Old Law had its fulfilment and attained its chief purpose. The civil legislation of Moses had for its object to form and preserve a peculiar people for the worship of the one true God, and to prepare the way for the coming of the Messias who was to be born of the seed of Abraham. The new Kingdom of God which Christ founded was not confined to a single nation, it embraced all the nations of the earth, and when the new Israel was constituted, the old Israel with its separatist law became antiquated; it had fulfilled its mission.

Also from the online Catholic encyclopedia: Apocalypse: the New Jerusalem:

Fifth Act. Chapters 21-22. The new Jerusalem (cf. Ezechiel 40-48). God dwells in the midst of His saints who enjoy complete happiness. The new Jerusalem is the spouse of the lamb. The names of the Twelve Tribes and the Twelve Apostles are written on its gates. God and the lamb are the sanctuary in this new city.

So, you see you are right.

 

[tjmiller]

The terms “Israel” and “Jerusalem”, apart from their literal, historical significations, have always been appropriated and accommodated in spiritual and metaphorical senses - and this, not merely by Catholics from the beginning, but also going back to ancient Judaism - cf. for example the Qumran Documents, Philo, etc.

They stand for the people of God, the chosen dwelling place of God, and therefore, to Catholics, for:
the human nature of Christ,
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Catholic Church,
the individual soul of the just.

When in the Divine Office I daily pray the Psalms and come across terms like “Zion” or the “holy city”, I generally refer them to
myself! Try it and see what you think…

 

[adurian]

Della & tjmiller,
Thank you for your replies
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