ANALYSIS/OPINION:
“While affirming salvation through an explicit or even implicit faith in Christ, the Church does not question the continued love of God for the chosen people of Israel.”
The document by Pope Francis titled “The Gifts and Calling of God Are Irrevocable” then continues on to promote a stronger relationship among Catholics and the Jews.
In so doing, Pope Francis has reignited many discussions, including that of a “dual covenant” with Jews and later Christians. The dual covenant can be described as a concept that maintains recognition of the Jewish people’s still-binding earlier covenant with G-d while also acknowledging the later one for Christians as provided by Jesus.
It is similar to if a law were changed, and people who had already committed to it previously were grandfathered in to the changed dictum.
However, this dual covenant is not dual, nor is it a new concept.
There had been other covenants prior to and after Mt. Sinai, including the rainbow with Noah after the flood (Gen 9:8-17), circumcision with Abraham, Ishmael and the other men of their community (Gen 17:1-14) and, later, the messianic criteria from the descendants of King David (2 Sam 2-14 and 1 Chronicles 17:13).
Simply put, G-d has been making covenants with different groups of people for a long time, so aside from the dual covenant not being dual, having a new covenant for Christians would appear to fall in line with what had happened previously. With each new covenant, more and more people are included. Noah and his family were first. The next was Abraham and his family, including eldest son Ishmael (later Isaac would be born and circumcised) and those in his community. And, later still, the entire nation of Israel at Mt. Sinai, along with those traveling with them.
Noting that the Davidic covenant is hyperspecific to the Messiah, it is reasonable to see Jesus as a catalyst for an even wider group of people. In fact, a similar argument was even made in the early 12th century by Jewish Rabbi Natan’El Ibn al-Fayyumi from Yemen regarding the role of Mohammad and Islam.
However, why should Pope Francis’ words have such an impact on the Judaic/Christian communities when previous popes had already made similar statements?
For example, in 1965 Pope John XXIII was quoted in his apology for blaming the crucifixion of Jesus on the Jews:
“We are conscious today that many, many centuries of blindness have cloaked our eyes so that we can no longer see the beauty of Thy chosen people nor recognize in their faces the features of our privileged brethren. We realize that the mark of Cain stands upon our foreheads. Across the centuries our brother Abel has lain in blood which we drew, or shed tears we caused by forgetting Thy love. Forgive us for the curse we falsely attached to their name as Jews. Forgive us for crucifying Thee a second time in their flesh. For we know not what we did.”
Pope Francis even quoted one of his predecessors, John Paul II, when he restated that “Judaism is not to be considered simply as another religion; the Jews are instead our ’elder brothers.’”
Yet John XXIII’s words in 1965 led to many Catholics leaving the Church, whereas John Paul II’s statement in 1986 had seemingly less of an impact, likely due to many former Catholics breaking off just 21 years earlier.
It is because of this and similar conditions that Francis’ words now are both important and relevant no matter what one’s faith.
The edicts and apologies by Popes John XXIII, John Paul II and Francis are appreciated, but since the time this lie was first perpetuated, many Christian denominations have split off and no longer recognize the Vatican.
Having a difference of opinion in one’s faith and life is not problematic, but not recognizing an apology by the originators of the lie that “falsely attached” the name of the Jews to Jesus’ crucifixion is. There is no good reason to continue believing a lie when the perpetrator has openly apologized.
Nobody should be forced to recognize the dual/multicovenant approach to our Abrahamic faiths, and each person has a right to practice and believe, but it has been too long that a lie has sabotaged our relationship.
Wishing everyone a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and an all-around Happy New Year.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.