In preparation for this set of presentations, I had been encouraged to read something called "Nostra Aetate, Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions" of the Second Vatican Council, promulgated on October 28, 1965, by Pope Paul VI.  (Catchy title!)  Not having ever read a declaration of the Church, I honestly thought this would be way over my head.  I'm happy to report that I was able, interested, and intrigued.  So, we're always learning!  And here I am, passing it on.

The introduction to Nostra Aetate provides a very beautiful insight into the unity of humanity.

In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions. In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship.

One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth. One also is their final goal, God.

This is why I think it is a gift to study our Jewish roots.  Human institutions may yet struggle with the ideal.  Still, it's beautiful to consider the common origin and common goal that unite us.

This week, Level III reflects on a timeline of the history of the Jewish people from the call of Abraham (which you may recall we studied earlier this year) to Parousia, the time when God will be all in all.

Central to the history of the Jewish people is a special relationship of the people and God called covenant.  Like the history of other peoples, the history of the Jewish people passes through periods of light and dark.  It is through the covenant relationship with God that the Jewish people know that light is stronger than darkness, and God's light will ultimately be victorious.  The Christian people inherit this faith from the Jewish people and live this faith through the Risen Christ.

Jesus Christ and his mother Mary were Jewish and lived in a culture which was waiting for the Messianic Age.  After Jesus' death and resurrection, some Jews accepted Jesus as the Messiah.  Other Jews recognized Jesus as a teacher but not the Messiah.  The Jews continue even today to await the Messianic Age, and the Christians await the time that Christ will come again.  And so, "the person of the Messiah is not only a point of division for the people of God but also a point of convergence." (Notes on Jews and Judaism in Catechesis, 1985)  The Jewish and Christian people, though walking on different paths, gaze on the same destination, the time of the coming (or coming again) of the Messiah, and are united in this shared waiting.

The second May presentation for Level III will help us realize that our liturgy is rooted in Jewish worship,  and that even today, we share an important part of worship in common.  For a long time before Jesus was born and for all the time since then, Jewish people have been gathering together to listen to the Word of God, read from scrolls, and reflect on its meaning.  Jews do this in synagogues, particularly on their Sabbath.  In the scrolls, it is written that a Messiah will come, a light in the darkness.  People wonder when and how.  The Word does not say exactly, so people gather to listen to the Word and ponder its meaning, either quietly in their hearts or through discussion with others.

We begin our historical reflection by reading about a particular day in Jesus' life.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region.  He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.  He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."  Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.  He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."  And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.  (Luke 4:14-22a)

We will then continue tracing this listening and reflection on the Word through the time of Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection and beyond.  We will consider how the apostles were strengthened by the Holy Spirit to continue meeting in the synagogue.  Now, when they read from the scrolls, their reflections and discussions interpreted the Word in light of their belief that Jesus, the one who was crucified and is risen, is the Messiah.

Such discussions and interpretations in the synagogue sometimes became very heated.  And so, the apostles and small Christian communities began meeting in other places, usually homes.  Still, just as had been their Jewish tradition, they would gather to listen to the Word of God, still read from the same scrolls, and reflect on it, discussing it in light of the stories of the life of Jesus.  And to this familiar liturgy, the early communities added a meal, particularly remembering Jesus through the bread and wine.

As we trace this history, we can see again what we considered in the first week of May, that the Jewish and Christian people, though walking on different paths, gaze on the same destination, the time of the coming of the Messiah.  Not only are we united in this shared waiting, but also we are united in our method of waiting:  listening to God's Word and responding through prayer.

The Tuesday and Thursday Atria will meet three times in May, whereas Sunday will only meet twice (May 8 and May 22 because May 15th is First Communion for the parish).  In the third May session, we will trace the history of the Eucharist from the Last Supper up through today and beyond to Parousia, the time when God will be all in all.  It began long ago when Jesus was celebrating his last Passover supper with his disciples.  And throughout history, we continue to repeat and remember Jesus' words:

This is my body which will be given up for you.

This is my blood shed for you and for all.

It's hard to even write it, but we know the time for Sarah's move home is quickly approaching.  Please mark in your calendars the date of our special celebration of thanksgiving for the gifts she has brought St. Teresa Parish.  Please spread the word to others (especially those who don't get the e-news through Catechesis) who want to wish Sarah well in her new chapter of life and thank her for sharing so much with us over these three years.

What:   Sarah's Farewell Brunch

Date:   Sunday, May 22, 2011

Time:   10:00 AM (just following mass)

             Families are encouraged to join together at 9AM mass first. 

Where: St. Teresa's Parish Center 

If you can help with set-up, service, or clean-up, please contact Myrna Gomez at Myrna.gomez@sbcglobal.net or 312.307.8921.