Office for prayer in connection with the Jewish people
Thursday 4 January 2024
Meditation
Jews and Gentiles
The first “encounter” that God brought about for his young Church, all of whose members were, like Jesus himself, sons of the Jewish people, was with the Gentiles. In a way that was both disconcerting and insistent, the Spirit had to compel the apostles to proclaim the Gospel to these uncircumcised Gentiles, so that they too could become disciples of Christ, members of a Church that would henceforth have to understand itself as “composed” of Jews and Gentiles.
Extract from the book by Jean Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille, ‘Dieu a tant aimé le monde – Petite théologie de la mission’, Cerf, 2023, page 87-89.
Intercessions
To be adapted according to your location
R. Amen, amen, blessed be the God of Israel
Or another refrain
1. Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who mourned because of the violence between Cain and Abel,
we pray to you for peace in the Holy Land,
this land where you have chosen to come and join us in our humanity.
2. 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. 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. 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. Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who sent your Son Jesus to save us,
pour out your blessing on Christians who are of Jewish descent.
6. Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Father of Jesus Christ,
bring all Christian churches together in unity.
7. Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
– you have given the Jewish people the promise of the coming of the Messiah,
– you have given the Church the expectation of your son’s return.
– in the Holy Spirit we say with the whole Church: “Maranatha, come Lord”.