Meditation
“The Jewish people remain the living root of the Christian faith. We want to signify this attachment by praying for the members of the Jewish people every first Thursday of the month. We believe that this intention is a source of blessing in our journey towards unity among the churches.“
From Jean-Michel Guarigues : the impossible substitution
Jesus did not come to abolish but to “fulfill the Law and the Prophets.”
The first meaning of this fulfillment – too often forgotten by Christians – is Jesus’ religious observance of the Law.
As Saint Paul says, Jesus was “born of a woman (meaning, a Jewish woman), born under the Law” (Galatians 4:4). He lived as a practicing Jew and remained so his whole life, both personally and with his disciples.
This is why the apostle Peter can say in the Acts of the Apostles: “Never have I eaten anything profane or unclean” (Acts 10:14). Yet Peter lived alongside Jesus for two to three years, throughout his entire public ministry.
Most often, Jesus’ controversies with the Pharisees concerned his healings on the Sabbath.
In these debates, he himself—as much as the Pharisees—refers back to the Law:
“Have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent?” (Matthew 12:5). But he also reasons according to the casuistry commonly accepted at the time, and his words, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27), echo the saying of a Jewish sage:
“The Sabbath was given to you, but you were not given to the Sabbath.”
Suggested reading
| Shema Yisrael: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 The call of Abram: Gen 12:1-4 I am the one who is: Ex 3:13-15 Blessing: Num 6:22-2 | Ancient Confession of Faith: Deut 26:5-9 The First Commandment: Mk 12:28-34 The Faith of Abraham: Heb 11:8- 12 The inheritance of the people of Israel: Rom 9:1- |
Intercessions
R. Amen, amen, blessed be the God of Israel
Or another refrain
1. Most Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who wept for the violence between Cain and Abel,
we pray for peace in the Middle East,
for all the people who inhabits this land
where you have chosen to join us in our humanity.
2. Most Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who made possible the reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers,
for any contempt for your people Israel, forgive us (silence).
We pray to you, Father, to make fraternity grow between the Jewish people and the nations.
3. Most Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who brought Israel out of Egypt and made your people free,
give your joy to the Jewish people,
and keep them faithful to your covenant.
4. Most Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who united the twelve tribes of Israel around the Torah,
give peace to the Jews who believe in Jesus.
5. Most Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who sent your Son Jesus to save us,
Make your blessing rest on Christians who are of Jewish origin.
6. Most Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Father of Jesus Christ,
you who gave your beloved Son so that all might be one
gather all Christian churches together in unity.
7. Most Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who promised the Jewish people the coming of the Messiah,
you who promised the Church the return of your son
We praise you and we say in the Holy spirit “Maranatha, come Lord!”.
Prayer
Eternal and almighty God,
listen to the prayer of your Church.
You who chose Abraham and his descendants
to make them the children of your promise,
Lead to the fullness of redemption
the first people of the Covenant.
Let the nations of the earth
be welcomed by grace into the family of Abraham,
and may all of creation joyfully enter into your reign of peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.