Year A: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Reading: Romans 9: 1-5

In writing to the Romans and expressing the power of God's love to save us, St Paul realises just what those who rejected Jesus had lost. Aware of the wonder of a life lived in union with Christ, he goes through agonies thinking about those who rejected it without ever fully discovering what it could do for them.

His anguish is so great that he feels that he would be willing to lose it for himself if it meant that others would come to recognise Christ as Lord and Saviour.

He looks back to his roots - and sees how God chose the Jewish people as His own - adopting them as His own children. He recalls the covenants of love between God and His people and reminds the Romans that it is from this people that Christ was given to the world.

One problem that Christianity has had to deal with - and is still struggling to deal with is anti-Semitism - hatred of Jews. The Holocaust bears witness to the depths of that hatred - as do other persecutions over the centuries.

Those who hold such views may resort to using Christianity as justification for what they do - "here is a people who rejected Jesus"... "here are the people who killed Jesus". They select Scripture texts to back up their claims -conveniently ignoring the fact that St Paul highlights today. The Jewish people are Jesus' flesh and blood. Jesus was a Jew who honoured the Scriptures and the spirit of the Law.

St Paul did not reject those who did not - or could not -believe in Jesus. Rather he felt deep pain at what he sensed they were losing. It did not fuel hatred - but compassion.

Two thousand years later, the tensions remain. As Christians, we can reflect on St Paul's insights about Jesus and the Jewish people - remember that we share many of the same Scriptures - and work towards understanding and respect of an ancient people, chosen by God to reveal Himself to the world.

For us, the fullness of revelation is Jesus - a man who lived and died a practising Jew. 

What does it mean for me?

What do you know about the Jewish tradition? What do Christians and Jews have in common?

Text © 2007 Wellspring

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