Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - For more than a decade every year the 17 January has been celebrated as the Day of reflection to promote the development of Catholic-Jewish dialogue: inaugurated in 1990 by the Italian Bishops' Conference and placed on the eve of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18 - 25 January), almost as a foundation for ecumenical dialogue. The purpose was to recall the Jewish origins of Christianity the holy 'root' which gave life to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church desired by Jesus Christ.
The Day is celebrated in Italy and in the Churches of Austria, France, Poland and Switzerland; and in some cases in collaboration with other Churches or ecclesial communities or with Jewish authorities or communities. One tile of a vast mosaic, on which many initiatives to foster mutual knowledge among the two religions are designed, this interreligious initiative at the beginning of the year aims to promote deeper reciprocal knowledge and respect between Catholics and Jews. Dialogue and comparison which started with Vatican II and is found also in the most recent discourses of Pope Benedict XVI - who has repeatedly called for its promotion during frequent meetings with rabbis and Jewish authorities encountered in various parts of the world -, helped also by the profitable contribution offered by the pontificate of John Paul II, and his immediate predecessors.
The Day proposes to develop interesting ecclesiological and ecumenical perspectives found in the Council's declaration on the Church's relations with non Christian religions where, it states in the paragraph on the Jewish religion: “ As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock.” (Nostra Aetate, 4). And further on, citing the Apostle, “ On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.” (cfr Rom 11,28-29 and LG,16).
In the past three years however a specific theme for reflection has been assigned to the annual Day. In 2005 it was decided to reflect each year on one of the Ten Commandments - the Ten Words, or Decalogue, revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.
This year 2008, we are reflecting on the third commandment - at least according to the traditional order followed by Jews and Orthodox Christians and Protestants, which for Catholics, at least since St Augustine onwards, and then for Lutherans, has been the second: "You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not leave unpunished anyone who misuses his name” (Ex 20,7-8).
A Commandment which is commented in the awaited Handbook for the Day of Dialogue between Catholics and Jews. The joint preface by Rabbi Giuseppe Laras and Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, reads “this commandment forbids vain use of the name of God for false or superficial purposes. In fact the first locution is followed by a second, which declares the ineffable majesty of God and the necessity, for the Jew, to keep the commandments with love and fear. True love for God should in fact lead the Jew even to sacrifice his life. In this way he Sanctifies the Name=Qiddùsh ha-Shèm, in order to glorify the holy Name in the world. In this way the Commandment reveals to man his whole richness, of which the apex is reached in the proclamation of the universality and holiness of the Eternal One”.
Just as the sanctification of the Name is meritorious, and even the smallest good work is offered to God, so its profanation is a grave sin (Lv 24,14-16). False oath and blasphemy are considered guilty transgressions which lead to spiritual death. If in fact “ Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live” (Ez 18,23), it is just as certain that not only in the intimacy of the conscience but also in social life respect should be shown for the religions signs of the different faiths and among these the highest place must be given to the divine Name.
With the Bible in fact Man learns to address God as Avìnu - or Our Father-, a simple but profound invocation revealed to the Jew (Is 63,16) and to the Christian (Mt 6,9). A holy and loving Name through which the Most High expresses his relation as Creator and Redeemer with his beloved children. An invocation which becomes ardent and confident prayer rising from the heart of the children to the Father of all men and women, for the Jews in the Birkàt ha-Torà=Blessing of the Law, for Christians in the Pater Noster. Thanks to this revelation we know that God is the Creator and Father of all humanity (cfr Mal 2,10), a paternity which is expressed in the irrevocable Covenant of which the Ten Commandments are the seal.
In conclusion, the Day for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue 2008 comes to remind us that if God is Father, then all men and women are brothers and sisters. A truth which today, after centuries of misunderstanding, is made ever more visible in fruitful although difficult, relations between Jews and Christians; the former being “elder brothers” of the latter.
Brotherhood which in the whole world, still suffering and torn by ethnic, cultural and religious divisions, we hope may be extended and achieved as soon as possible in order to anticipate and enjoy the fruits of the Kingdom of God, promised to humanity since the times of the Patriarchs and definitively inaugurated by Jesus Christ (Nostra Aetate, 5). (3 - to be continued) (Agenzia Fides 17/1/2008; righe 66, parole 928)
