Finishing Up "The Crucified Rabbi" and More

We are just about ready to finish our first book study of our Havurah.  We are finishing up the last 3 chapters of Marshall Taylor's, The Crucified Rabbi" on July 31.

It has been a terrific study and we have had some lively discussions about how Jewish our Catholic Church really is.  Yeshua himself said that I came not to abolish but to fulfill (Matt 5:17) and our study has shown us that it is truly the Catholic Church that is the fulfillment of Judaism and the Old Covenant.  While it is true that Christianity in general also fulfills much of Judaism it does not have the fullness of truth that was passed down through the Apostles and the Early Church Fathers. 

This study has invigorated our faith and has brought us closer to our Lord and Savior, Yeshua.  It has also confirmed and deepened our veneration of our Blessed Jewish Mother, Miriam and the Catholic Church which is post Messianic Judaism. 

I believe that not only has our study deepened our Catholic faith but it has also brought us to a closer understanding and appreciation for the Jewish point of view and all Jewish people whether they are believers in Jesus or not. 

It is vital that we as Catholics have a deep understanding of the plan of salvation for the Jewish people and especially those that have yet to come to faith.  G-d has promised us that all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26).

We also know that since it was the Jewish believers who shared the Gospel with the Gentiles it is now a matter of justice that Gentiles are now to share the Gospel with our Jewish family, friends, and neighbors.  There is a myth among some in the Church that we are not evangelize Jews but this could not be further from the truth.  There is only one name by which we are saved. (Acts 4:12) Even though we are confident that at the end G-d will bring all Israel to faith we are seeing more Jews who are coming to know their Jewish Messiah, Jesus.  And the Catholic Church is the surest way to salvation so why would we withhold this truth? 

When we share the faith we are always respectful and never try to be deceptive.  Our lives are to be so joyful and blessed that Jew and Gentile alike are to be jealous and want to know what makes us different. We are to provoke to jealousy.  If Jesus is off limits to Jews then all our faith is in vain.

Let us also be aware there is still much anti-semitism in the Church and even in some of the theology.  There are some in the Church that believe in hyper super-secionism which is the idea that since Jews rejected Jesus that Jews are now cut off from G-d and have no further election as a people since the Church replaced Israel.  This is also a very dangerous idea, it is unscriptural and certainly not what our Church teaches (Rom 11:29).  We need to be aware and ready to do battle against both heresies.

On a related topic we are also seeing that Catholics and non-Catholics are both discovering their Jewish roots and it is through the Jewish believers in both camps that real unity in the Body of Christ can be realized.  Let me make a case in point.  Recently the Messianic Jewish TV ministry of Jonathan Bernis invited Hebrew Catholic, Roy Schoeman to be his guest.  Roy shares his faith journey and Jonathan has recommended his book, "Salvation is from the Jews".   This could be the first fruits of collaboration between Catholic and non-Catholic Christians.  We know that G-d will use the Jews once again at the end of time to rekindle the faith of Jews and fallen away Gentiles from Christianity.  This is one of the reasons that Satan hates this work and will do anything he can to discredit and discourage this from moving forward.  We need to encourage and support his effort.

Let's do battle together and let's watch and recommend this video,  you will love it!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHcXe3nqJEI

Also we will consider reading, this Hebrew Catholic classic, "Salvation if from the Jews".  We are taking the month of August off but will start up again in September and we look forward to celebrating the Fall Feasts of Israel together and praying for the salvation of all Israel keeping mind what the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 674 states,  "The glorious Messiah's coming is suspended at every moment of history until his recognition by all Israel for a hardening has come upon part of Israel in their unbelief toward Jesus."

Shalom in Yeshua.  Miriam Mystical Rose please pray for us,
Gershon ben Sha'ul