In respect to the Gospel, they are enemies on your account;
but in respect to election,
they are beloved because of the Patriarch.
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
By our response to the 94th psalm we declare a fundamental doctrine of our faith,
"The Lord will not abandon his people."
We have seen this promise fulfilled throughout our history. It is a story we have heard in the lives of our saints and martyrs; we study in our history, and enshrine it in our teaching.
We remember the Word given to Abraham in what, for all practical purposes, was prehistoric times. As Abraham's descendants emerged from that vast cloud of unknowing onto the pages of history, we see God's presence first with the Jewish people, and then with the gentiles as the Church spread from Jerusalem to all parts of the Earth.
God has entered irrevocably into human history despite the protests of deists, atheists, and a secular culture. First through Abraham and then through Jesus, the Creator of an incomprehensibly vast universe has shown his authority and his tender compassion. He can be as severe as a hurricane, and as gentle as a child.
But only the faithful can see his presence. Only some are given the eyes to see and the ears to hear, though faith is offered to many. To us God's mercy and justice are as obvious as the weather; and, as Bob Dylan should have said, it doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the Spirit is blowing.
Our Christian faith in God's irrevocable call must include the Jewish people; it has no foundation and makes no sense otherwise. And yet we see that his compassion reaches every corner of the earth.
I've heard a Jewish observation that any persecution of any group of people, once begun, will persist until it includes the Jews. They are, by God's election, the pariah people of the earth. It seems a terrible gift which is extended by human hatred to other races, ethnicities, classes, and arbitrarily selected minorities. In other words, God's favor becomes a curse as hostile human societies discover the presence of God in our world, and respond to it. Their envy becomes murder.
But the curse also becomes a blessing when martyrs receive it with grace. Many Jews and Christians have walked fearlessly to their death. This wonder also appears undeniably in our historical record.
Hatred of any person is hatred of God, as Saint John insisted:
Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
This doctrine challenges every Christian who holds resentment or suspicion in their heart. We can deal with difficult and hateful persons realistically while still hoping they will come to the Lord. We can be courteous, helpful, and open to receive the individuals even as we cautiously listen to their suggestions, opinions, and concerns. They know some part of the truth, and we respect that.
We can be, as Jesus says, innocent as lambs and clever as serpents. God's Spirit teaches us that wisdom.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.