Office for prayer in connection with the Jewish people
Thursday 7 March 2024
Meditation
The better we understand Jesus in the religious context of Israel at the end of the Second Temple, the clearer it becomes that Jesus not only did not found another religion, but did not do or say anything to suggest that he wanted to do so. Not that the theme of newness is absent from the New Testament, but it is always in line with the promises made by God to Israel.
This is particularly true of the New Covenant. This expression appears at the central moment of Jesus’ blessing of the Cup, during the Last Supper (…)
Jesus did not come to abolish but to “fulfil the Law and the Prophets”.
The first meaning of this fulfilment, as Christians too often forget, is Jesus’ religious observance of the Law.
Jesus, says Saint Paul, was “born of a woman (implying a Jewish woman), born subject to the Law (Galatians 4:4).
He lived as a practising Jew, and remained so throughout his life, both personally and with his disciples.
From the book by Jean Michel Garrigues, ‘L’impossible substitution – juifs et Chrétiens du 1er- au 3ème siècle’, pages 35 and 38.
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”.