With Israel and the Jews in the news so much these days I wanted to share this again. With anti-semitism (irrational as it is) at an all time high, we must remember why the Jews still exist and flourish even though they are only 16 million world-wide.
Since we are planning our pilgrimages for the rest of the year and into 2025, I thought it appropriate to share my perspective on the Jews as proof of God’s existence. My wife and I have walked on the land of the Jewish Mary and Jesus over 200 times. It is amazing to stand on the very land God gave to Abraham 4,000 years ago when he established his chosen people Israel.
Winston Churchill wrote “Some people like the Jews, and some do not. But no thoughtful man can deny the fact that they are, beyond any question, the most formidable and the most remarkable race which has appeared in the world.”
He is absolutely right! I have often said they are remarkable people — gifted in a special way and blessed by God. They had no homeland for 2,000 years yet held together and thrived no matter how scattered they were or how terribly persecuted. Like cream, they always rise to the top.
Where are the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites? They disappeared; yet even though scattered over the face of the earth (called the Diaspora) the Jews have survived, remained intact, and have thrived. God made promises to Abraham that his seed would be unable to be counted — as the sand on the shore and the stars in the heavens.
Remarking on the Jews, of which he was one, St. Paul wrote: “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” ( Rom 11:29). These gifts and calling are readily apparent even now, 4,000 years later. I have always thought the existence of the Jews and their incredible impact on civilization — even though their numbers are relatively small — is a convincing proof of the existence of God and to his faithfulness.
Imagine, there are only 14 million Jews in the whole world, yet look at the huge and disproportionate impact they exert on our society.
I was recently in a bookstore buying a pile of books on Jewish culture and history — the better to understand the Bible and the roots of Christianity. The woman at the counter was surprised and asked if I was a Jew. I said, “Not by ethnicity, but certainly by affinity since I am a Catholic. I love the Jewish people and spend a lot of time in Israel.” She looked around, hesitating, and then said quietly, “I’m Jewish.”
Our late Pope referred to the Jewish people as our elder brothers — and so they are. It might be just a story, though it may also be true, that once when the Pope and the head Rabbi of Rome were going into St. Peters, the Rabbi motioned for the Pope to step in first. But the Pope stopped and gestured for the Rabbi to precede him saying, “The Old Testament first!”
There was great wisdom here. The Bible is Jewish. Only one biblical writer was a gentile and the Old Testament is 90% of what we carry in the book called the Bible. The New Testament only makes up 1/10th of the book. The Church may be the branches and the fruit, but the roots and truck of our tree are certainly Jewish.
And considering those who hate the Jews, I love the little ditty that goes like this: “How odd of God to choose the Jews, but odder still are those who choose the Jewish God and hate the Jew.”
(You can read another astute article about the existence of Jews as proof of God’s existence HERE written in Crisis Magazine by Casey Caulk)
Below is a very moving rendition of Ani Ma’amim sung magnificently at a huge Orthodox Jewish gathering. Ani Ma’amim consists of thirteen lines, each beginning with the phrase “Ani ma’amin be-emunah shelemah” (“I believe with full faith”). They are professing faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Many Jews recite Ani Ma’amin at the conclusion of their morning prayers. In some communities, Yigdal is also recited on the Shabbat and holidays after the evening service.
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While completing my questions for our Bible study class today, something reminded me of that ditty, and I went searching because I could only recall the first half. St. Paul (our study is on Romans) points out that we are the ‘adopted’ children, but heirs with the Jews, so I want to share that information in this evening’s class.
Thank you for the help.
Marleen
The jews have always rejected Christ our Lord. Our Blessed Savior has made it very clear.”he who is not with Me ,is against Me” That puts those who reject Christ’s teaching in a very bad situation. They also need Baptism as a requirement. Christ has said:” I am the Way ,the Truth and The Life” Need I say more?
Thank you
“The jews have always rejected Christ our Lord” (DAVID LANDSBERGEN)
You mean Paul your Lord.
Jesus as Messiah is one thing. Paul’s nonsense about faith alone and that “if you are circumcised Christ can profit you nothing” is another. Of course the Jews will reject Jesus as long as Paul is part of the package. So will I. I was raised a Christian, but I can’t stand Paul anymore. That biggot against the Jews and against anyone who dares live a moral life, that Gnostic who teaches faith alone. If Jesus is a package deal with Paul, I reject him too.
@James:
Jesus taught faith alone Himself (John 6:29). Also, quoting verses out of context is dodgy: in context, Paul in Galatians was warning against trying to save ourselves via works. Indeed, in a different context, he had Timothy (who was a born-again believer) circumcised, so that he does not offend other Jews, confirming the rationale in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22. Last but not the least, gnostics don’t believe in faith alone; quite the contrary, since the first epistle of John is against gnosticism. And John says: «Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life».
@David:
they have so far; but it will come to an end (Acts 15:13-18; Romans 11:25-26; Matthew 8:11 + Matthew 23:39, etc.). After all, the Lord said in Zechariah 12:10: «And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. **They will look on me, the one they have pierced**, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.»
STEVE RAY HERE: you are correct in one thing my friend, St.John wrote against Gnosticism. But you are incorrect about “faith alone” since you’ll never find that phrase used in the Bible except James 2:24 where it says “we are saved by works and not by faith alone.” Of course it is not “works alone” either. I will also you should be aware that the phrase “works of the law” is technical term regarding practices (works) regarding things the Jews were doing to maintain a distinction from the rest of the nations. Christians are not obligated to follow those laws because we are saved by faith and obedience to Christ.
The sad part about Israel is today according to Father Mitch Pacwa at a Malvern retreat House in 2009 the Jewish people are 85% secular Humanist who live in ISRAEL.
Hi, my name is Mike and I am currently working on a book called, ‘How to Debate Atheists.’ I have completed the first three chapters and would appreciate any feedback.
http://mikemanea.com/unapologetics/how-to-debate-atheists/
That’s a very simplistic statement. It is not true that all of them have rejected Christ. They, in fact, are awaiting His coming with anticipation and hope.
Our Blessed Lord also said:
Mark 9:40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
The foundation of Christian Doctrine is the Ten Commandments. Of which Christ said:
Matthew 5:18New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
Baptism is a requirement for salvation by the Sacraments of Christ. But ultimate salvation requires that we keep the Commandments.
1 Corinthians 7:19New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
19 Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing; what matters is keeping God’s commandments.
In other words, it doesn’t matter if one is Jewish and keeps the rubrics of the Jewish faith or Christian and keeps the Sacraments of Christ. What matters is that one keep the Commandments of God.
Yes. If you’re trying to prove that the Jews are somehow condemned because they haven’t recognized the coming of Christ. You see, Christ also said:
Matthew 12:32New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Do you understand? The Jews can be forgiven for speaking against Jesus Christ. But they will not be forgiven if they don’t keep the Commandments which are written in the Spirit of Love. The Commandments can be summed up in one word, Love. Love God and Love neighbor.
St. Paul did not teach the Protestant doctrine of faith alone. What many of our early Church Fathers called “justification by faith alone” is a reference to salvation by the Sacraments, where we approach Christ in an attitude of faith apart from works and believing His promises are washed of our sins and united to Him by the work of the Holy Spirit.
What that means is “if you have departed from the Sacraments of Christ, then Christ can’t pour into your hearts the sanctifying grace which will help you.”
I’m afraid so. As are all the Apostles and Saints. As the Scripture says:
1 Corinthians
Chapter 11
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Do not lose hope though. Keep the Commandments and you can be saved:
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
Nope. Not unless you believe that Jesus contradicted Himself. Because Jesus said:
Matthew 7:The True Disciple. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,[a] but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Actually, St. Paul is comparing the Old Testament (i.e. salvation by works) to the New Testament (i.e. salvation by the faith of Christ). The faith of Christ is a euphemism for the Church. It is within the faith of Christ that we receive the Sacraments that save us by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
Indeed. And you will never understand the context until you recognize that Jesus did not write the New Testament. He established a Church, taught the Church His Doctrines and commanded the Church to make disciples of the world and pass on His Doctrines.
It is the Church, which wrote the New Testament based upon these Doctrines.
Unless you learn the Doctrines of Christ which are taught by the Catholic Church, you will never understand the New Testament.
Which is a reference to the Eucharist. The Sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That is true. The Jews will learn the truth in the end. What you are perhaps neglecting is that many are being saved already, when they turn to the Catholic Church and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation with God.
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