Is it not disheartening in our human condition to contemplate ill thoughts during times of festive celebration? Such is the case during Advent. The anticipation of the birth of the Messiah was to be shared by all the people to whom he was prophetically proclaimed, but Jesus was rejected for the most part by the Jewish people of his day. Throughout the Old Testament the Hebrew nation of Israel made bad choices in their obedience to God. Christ even in his final hours on earth proclaimed to his people “do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children,” because they willingly agreed to let “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” This was the final affront to Yahweh from his people.
Throughout the New Testament we are confronted with the fact that those who are not baptized and have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God are not saved from eternal damnation. This is basic Pauline teaching from Sacred Scripture. Believing Jews and Gentiles were integrated into one religion known as Christianity and later as Catholicism is a basic historical fact about our faith. The Early Church Fathers were adamant in their condemnation of Jews for their blindness and refusal to convert to Christianity. Even today traditional catholic recite “Let us Pray for the Conversion of the Jews” during the Good Friday liturgy.
During the Second Vatican Council, the above prayer was not removed from the Missal and yet on the other hand, political posturing by the Bishops in Rome declared that the Jews have a separate salvific covenant with God. Does that mean only Gentiles are in need of salvation. But why pray for the conversion of Jews? For Jews it is a matter of attonement verses baptismal salvation for the rest of us. In theory they seem similar, but in reality are quite distinct. To contribute to the confusion Pope Paul VI promulgated the decree *Nostra aetate*which defines Catholic acceptance of other religious traditions. It must be noted that a Papal Declaration is not magisterial and thus need not be considered an ammended Article of Faith. Further, the Nicene Creed states what we are to believe as Catholics - "in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church."
As Jews hold fast to the old covenant which became obsolete with the death of Jesus, Christians celebrate the expectation of the new covenant during Advent which was foretold in the Old Testament. During Advent Jews celebrate the Festival of Lights, an eight-day holiday commemorating the rededication of the the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
During the ministry of Jesus, he often criticized various leaders of the many jewish sects (notable the Pharisees and Saducees) in their interpetation of the Torah. If he had lived today he would be considered antisemitic. Many Jewish rabbis currently label him so. Antisemitic is a relatively new term and did not exist etymologically during bibical times. This does not take away the fact that Jesus loved all people. It was their errors that he had a disdain for. As Christians, we must follow his example and seek to evangelize those who are lost. What more sublime cause can we embrace!
