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Pope Benedict admits Christians efforts to convert the Jews have been ‘a horrifying misunderstanding’.

By Deacon Nick, on March 11th, 2011

In the second volume of his trilogy, Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict makes a statement that, potentially, will have a profound and beneficial effect on Catholic and Jєωιѕн relations. In the section dealing with ‘The Time of the Gentiles’ the Holy Father gives a biblical justification for Christians not seeking to convert Jews at this phase of salvation history.

Pope Benedict indicates that past efforts to seek the conversion of the Jews were a horrifying misunderstanding on the part of Christians.

‘In this regard, the question of Israel’s mission has always been present in the background. We realize today with horror how many misunderstandings with grave consequences have weighed down our history. Yet a new reflection can acknowledge that the beginnings of a correct understanding have always been there, waiting to be rediscovered, however deep the shadows.’ (p.44).

Pope Benedict quotes with approval Hildegard Brem’s comments:

‘In the light of Romans 11:25, the Church must not concern herself with the conversion of the Jews, since she must wait for the time fixed for this by God, ‘until the full number of the Gentiles come in’ (Rom 11:25).  On the contrary, the Jews themselves are a living homily to which the Church must draw attention, since they call to mind the Lord’s suffering’.  (p.45).

This does not mean that the Jews do not require conversion to faith in Jesus, but that this is in the hands of God as his original chosen people, and is not in the hands of the Church at the present time.

The duty of the Church at the present time, the ‘time of the gentiles’,  is to focus on her mission to evangelise every gentile nation of the world, because it is only when the Church has fulfilled this responsibility that the next phase of salvation history can commence, God’s conversion of the Jєωιѕн people to faith in Jesus as saviour of the world.

Furthermore, Hildegaard Brem, and Pope Benedict, are proposing that the Jews must have a special place in the hearts and prayers of Christians, because their innocent sufferings call to mind the Lord’s suffering. Surely this must involve our recognition that for centuries Christians have been involved in the shameful crucifixion of the Jєωιѕн people.  It is heart breaking to realise how horrifyingly wrong Christians have been in their understanding of God’s plan for the Jєωιѕн people, and the terrible consequences that have flowed from this misunderstanding of scripture.

Pope Benedict’s radical thoughts on this matter do not appear to require that the Church change her prayer for the Jєωιѕн people on Good Friday because it is not a prayer that encourages Christians to convert the Jєωιѕн people but only to pray that they remain true to His covenant and come to the ‘fullness of redemption’, that is, redemption through Christ, which we now understand is in God’s own time.

Let us pray
For the Jєωιѕн people,
The first to hear the word of God,
That they may continue to grow in the love of his name
And in faithfulness to his covenant
Almighty and eternal God,
Long ago you gave your promise to Abraham and his posterity.
Listen to your Church as we pray
That the people you first made your own
May arrive at the fullness of redemption.

Having said this, it does mean that as Christians we must not focus our missionary activity on evangelising the Jєωιѕн people.  If individual Jews approach Christians to hear the Gospel that is their choice on their journey of faith, but we must be reactive, not proactive.

http://protectthepope.com/?p=2679

Has the SSPX said anything about the Pope's statements stating that Jews should not be evangelized?