As we listen to the Passion according to St. John, we hear the term 'Jews' used to refer to those who opposed Jesus during his trial and crucifixion. It is crucial to note that this term refers to a specific group of individuals, not the entire Jewish people. Jesus, his disciples, and his opponents were all Jewish, and in the early centuries of Christianity, many Jews remained Jewish while also being Christian. Therefore, the events of the Passion depict an internal conflict within first- century Judaism, rather than a conflict between Judaism and Christianity. This understanding is crucial for fostering dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation between Christians and Jews today.
“The passion narratives are proclaimed in full so that all see vividly the love of Christ for each person. In light of this, the crimes during the Passion of Christ cannot be attributed, in either preaching or catechesis, indiscriminately to all Jews of that time, nor to Jews today. The Jewish people should not be referred to as though rejected or cursed, as if this view followed from Scripture. The Church ever keeps in mind that Jesus, his mother Mary, and the apostles all were Jewish. As the Church has always held, Christ freely suffered his passion and death because of the sins of all, that all might be saved.”
-USCCB Good Friday pastoral note quoting Nostra Aetate / Catechism of the Catholic Church #597
“From the Christian confession that there can be only one path to salvation, however, it does not in any way follow that the Jews are excluded from God’s salvation because they do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel and the Son of God … Here we confront the mystery of God’s work, which is not a matter of missionary efforts to convert Jews, but rather the expectation that the Lord will bring about the hour when we will all be united, "when all peoples will call on God with one voice and ‘serve him shoulder to shoulder.’”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes conscience as the person’s “most secret core…and sanctuary.” Is conscience the same thing as Catholic guilt? How do we learn to make good decisions? Is moral perfection the whole point of Catholicism? Join Fr. Dexter and others for several discussions on the role of conscience in the life of the believer.
In this episode, Fr. Dexter Brewer returns to talk about the Easter Triduum. We discuss his favorite parts of these most holy days of our liturgical year, and he reflects on the nature of liturgy and why these solemn rituals are so powerful.