Christians blame the Jews for the death of Jesus their Lord. During the first century when Christians were still a minority, the Jews persecuted them, especially the Jewish Christians, because they worshipped a carpenter, a Rabbi from Galilee. When Christianity became a national cult for the Roman Empire, the table began to turn. Christians turned around to persecute the Jews. It is a tragic historical fact. Christians know the teaching of St. Paul. Still, they continued to persecute the Jews.
In the reading today, we read of Paul's defence for the position of the Israelites. Paul himself was a Pharisee, the most rigorous party of the Jews. Party members spent most of their time studying the Torah, the Scripture. They were meticulous in the keeping of the law. Therefore, they would be the last to give up their faith. In fact, Paul was known to be a persecutor of Christians before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus.
Probably, Paul was torn between his loyalty to Christ and his loyalty to his fellow countrymen. At that time, many Jews were still hostile to the Christians. Paul himself had suffered under their hands many times (2 Corinthians 11:23-25). It would only be nature for Paul not to preach to the Jews. Yet, blood is thicker than water. In his missionary journeys, he always started his preaching to the Jews first. Only after he was rejected would he turn to the Gentiles. In Romans 9, we find how Paul defended their positions.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race.
They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen (Romans 9:3-5).
The Jews used to be the sons of God. They possessed the law, the covenant; the worship and the promises; the sonship and the glory. The most crucial point is that Jesus was born a Jew! From the point of view of a Gentile, I usually would ask why Jesus was not born a Chinese, but a Jew. From the point of view of Paul, he might have asked why the Jews have to suffer so many casualties.
Probably, Paul was torn between his loyalty to Christ and his loyalty to his fellow countrymen. At that time, many Jews were still hostile to the Christians. Paul himself had suffered under their hands many times (2 Corinthians 11:23-25). It would only be nature for Paul not to preach to the Jews. Yet, blood is thicker than water. In his missionary journeys, he always started his preaching to the Jews first. Only after he was rejected would he turn to the Gentiles. In Romans 9, we find how Paul defended their positions.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race.
They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen (Romans 9:3-5).
The Jews used to be the sons of God. They possessed the law, the covenant; the worship and the promises; the sonship and the glory. The most crucial point is that Jesus was born a Jew! From the point of view of a Gentile, I usually would ask why Jesus was not born a Chinese, but a Jew. From the point of view of Paul, he might have asked why the Jews have to suffer so many casualties.
We owe the Jews Jesus. For our sake, Jesus died on the cross to save us. Had the Christians remembered the teaching of Saint Paul in the epistles to the Romans, less Jews would have suffered senseless murders in the name of God!
The Israelites and the Jews were scapegoats. They had been attacked to show that God still loved us despite our rebellions.
The Israelites and the Jews were scapegoats. They had been attacked to show that God still loved us despite our rebellions.
Dear Lord, I praise You. It is because You always work miracles. Your servant, Israel, has suffered for the sake of all mankind. May Your mercy be abundant to bridge our divisions. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment