The Church and the Jews in the Liturgy
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The Second Vatican Council developed a number of profound theological insights which have influenced the liturgy of the Roman Rite and the spiri- tuality of the faithful. The Church's relationship with the Jewish people has THE CHURCH implications for each local congregation's call to be good neighbors; more profoundly, a proper understanding of the Church's roots in the Jewish her- AND THE itage is integral to our own self understanding. Through baptism we became children of God and spiritual descendants of Abraham (Gal 3:26- JEWS 29). IN THE The Church in Italy, Austria and Poland has a "Judaism Sunday" in January each year in order for the clergy to explore some facet of this heritage and LITURGY to instruct the faithful on the attitude they should have toward their Jewish neighbors. Should the bishops consider this for the Church in the United States? Rather than wait, we may consider the possibilities already avail- able to us. Qev. Lawrence E. Inzzell, D. Phil. Inslilule of Judaeo-Chrislian oludies The Liturgy of the Word in the Eucharist and in other sacramental celebra- &lon Hall Universily tions should be the occasion for the faithful to learn from the Scriptures, ooulh Orllil8e, New Jersey with an emphasis on the way in which the Gospel and teaching of the Apostles built upon the rich biblical heritage preserved by the Jewish peo- ple. The three-year cycle of readings for Sundays in the Roman rite is intended to provide a rich and varied fare for the congregation and its mem- bers. The proclamation of God's Word should resonate in each person's mind and heart to meet personal needs and queries; then the homily should draw upon the fundamental themes of faith and practice that would unite the listeners in the Body of Christ, a convocation (ecclesia) created anew by the Word as the proclamation continues with the Eucharistic prayer. In other words, at least on occasion the homily should foster an understanding of some facet of a congregation's bond with the Universal Church, as the people of God in the New Covenant. ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE The Gospel text continues the prophetic tradition, the work of teaching for the encouragement of ordinary people to sense the profound connection between the drama of worship and the fabric of everyday life. Along with In this issue: • The Church and the Jews in the Liturgy • Stewards of God's Grace • Principles of Translating the MissaJe Romanum • Letter to the Bishops' Conferences on "The Name of God" consoling and healing words to strengthen every case, the Jewish background to the piety of the faithful so that, as in the and uplift the bruised reed and smoldering New Testament and our liturgy would be proclamation of the Passion, they would wick (Isa 42:3), many passages record elucidated as part of the picture. experience what the Lord has done for me Jesus' words of admonition, especially to and the fickleness of human response. his peers, the leaders and teachers of vari- Can we dream of a parish in which large The typology of God's gifts during ous segments of the Jewish community in numbers would take part in a well-pre- Israel's desert wandering after the Exodus Galilee and Judea. Debates and condem- pared series? Think back to the "mis- in contrast to the malevolent deeds of nations were intended to provoke the sions" of an earlier time! But even if Jesus' persecutors should relate to this interlocutors to an examination of con- attendance is limited to a small group of congregation and our common need for science. Tragically, from the second cen- interested parishioners, their experience mercy and repentance. The Church's tury and down through the ages, many could be shared quietly, at least in part, intention is clear from the refrain: "Holy preachers forgot that these were inner with larger groups. If adjacent parishes God ... holy immortal One, have mercy on family quarrels; rather, they were inter- joined forces for such a series the task us!" However, commentators through the preted as signs of a deep alienation, of a would be less daunting. ages have tended to interpret the hymn as total rift between Jesus and his people. an indictment of the Jewish people. Thus, preaching contributed to the long A pastoral team might present a brief Unless there has been an adequate catech- history of polemics between Christians essay in the Sunday bulletin so that the esis for the entire congregation, possible and Jews. The power of a preacher's congregation would be prepared for a only in a closed community, it is better for words should never be underestimated. deeper appreciation of one or another another hymn to be selected. Jokes and snide remarks about other major theme for Lent and Holy Week. groups can be taken to justify prejudicial Before the Passion, the teaching of the The rubrics for Passion Sunday and Good attitudes of congregants. When the Second Vatican Council on the Church's Friday call for a brief homily, but there Gospel reports failures of religious lead- bond with the Jewish people, Nostra are so many themes calling for comment ers, the interpretation should not general- Aetate, 4, should be reiterated: "True, the and explanation! Although the homily ize to condemn all Jews, but may become Jewish authorities and those who followed focuses on the person and work of Jesus, an occasion for an examination of con- their lead pressed for the death of Christ; those preparing for the Liturgy should science regarding our own conduct. still, what happened in His passion cannot avoid anti-Jewish generalizations in the Many among the clergy have acquired the be charged against all the Jews, without hymns and prayers. The language used in skill to move from the biblical passages to distinction, then alive, nor against the homilies and hymns should reflect inclu- the needs of the congregation, for whom Jews of today." siveness and contemporary understand- the Word of God should offer principles ings of the relationship between for a response to destructive patterns of For many Catholics, especially the crowd Christians and Jews. behavior. This is a tribute to their appre- that comes for palms and Easter blessings, ciation of the Gospel's challenge! the Scripture readings on Passion (Palm) The Solemn Orations (General Sunday should be introduced by a brief Intercessions) on Good Friday include a LENT AND HOLY WEEK commentary. If the Passion is proclaimed sensitive prayer for the Jewish people, The abundance of rich themes in the litur- in parts with congregational participation, stressing their place in God's plan: gy of Lent and the Paschal season might people should understand that this is an be approached by a series of Sunday hom- occasion to reflect 1) on the responsibility Let us pray for the Jewish people, ilies on the person and ministry of Jesus, only of those Jews and Romans who were the first to hear the word of God, the Lord's self-giving and the sacraments, directly involved and 2) the way in which that they may continue to grow in the the link between worship and the moral the faithful deal with situations of injus- love of his name challenges of daily life ... Ideally, those tice and persecution in their daily lives. and in faithfulness to his covenant. topics should be presented in another for- Proponents of evil today find collabora- mat (which would allow for questions and tors and bystanders, so great courage is (silent prayer) discussion) as well: I) a study of Exodus, required to defend the innocent! Catholic Passover meal, the Last Supper and the piety with a focus on the Passion of our Almighty and eternal God, Eucharist; 2) a study of the Passion-resur- Lord should include this type of moral long ago you gave your promise to rection narratives from the Gospel being probing, as many forms of the Stations of Abraham and his posterity. proclaimed in the given year of the the Cross present for our meditation. Listen to your church as we pray Sunday cycle; 3) a catechesis on the that the people you first made your sacrament of baptism; 4) a study of the THE SACRED TRIDUUM own Scripture readings and prayers of the Preparation for the Good Friday liturgy may arrive at the fullness of Sacred Triduum. In each series there and devotions places demands on the redemption. would be a place for presenting the bibli- entire pastoral team, especially those in We ask this through Christ our Lord. cal background and contemporary setting music ministry. Of special importance is of the Gospel. Of course, such presenta- the choice of hymns for the veneration of This prayer serves as a model for the lan- tions would draw upon multi-media the cross. The traditional Improperia guage and theology which ought to be resources which are readily available.' In (Reproaches)' were intended to evoke the reflected in all prayers, homilies and hymns that reference the Jewish people, 10 especially in the liturgies of Holy Week. tJ6.\Words The Easter Vigil offers a rich panoply of •. on Nostra Aetate biblical readings and prayers, with a basis Pope Paul VI for many positive insights into the "\Worship Church's relation to the people of Israel. Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, The selection of texts for proclamation this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and evokes a Jewish tradition of four nights wherein God wrought marvelous deeds: respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as the night of creation, of Abraham's sacri- of fraternal dialogues.