Many Catholic Christians do
not know the origin of Christianity. At the same time many Christians are
exclusive in faith and salvation. A number of Christian Catholic failed to
understand our rootedness to Judaism. That Jesus was born Jew as well as Mary
and Joseph. Even the earliest follower of Christ. They are all Jews. After the
death and resurrection of Jesus, the first Christian community called
themselves Jewish – Christian. Acts 11:26 would narrate “… it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christian.” This
mean that, the early follower of Jesus remain a Jew until the twelve (12) left
Jerusalem. It was James a relative of Jesus lead the community in Jerusalem and
was called the first Bishop of Jerusalem.
I am one with those who said and believed that the
Hebrew Bible is essential and necessary in order to understand the New
Testament. For without the Old Testament the Christian Bible will not be
completed. Many Theologians and Bible Scholars would say that the New Testament
is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. It is through this written Sacred
Scriptures that we understand our Christian tradition and how God enters into
the history of humanity. And most of all it is only there that we can find the
truth of our faith. God revealed to us the salvific truth. As a Christian it is
very important for us to recognize our rootedness in order to have a deeper
understanding and appreciation of our Christian religion. St. Pope John Paul II
called the Jews as “Elder Brothers” and urge them to work for the sake of
peace. Peace is the common aim we share.
On the other point, having known our close bond with
the Jewish people, culture and tradition. I would like to comment on the
exclusivity that still I sense regarding this matter. Yes, as Christian we can
trace back to Judaism. And so I ask this questions “How about those of other
faith?” - Those people who do not profess in the “One, Holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church?” Are they not also our brothers and sisters? – the Muslim,
Buddhist, Hindus, and so on. How can we extend and share the salvation we claim
without compromising our Christian identity? Where this initiated Inter-Faith
Dialogue leads us? As Christian we are taught to be a brother and sister to all
and so we have the responsibility to one another. For me this is a very challenging
questions to ponder. And after all, I can say that only God knows. It humbles
me to realize that this is how incomprehensible the plan of God is. His
presence is concretely felt because he resides in the heart of every human
person.
Lastly, I say that, it is only in the eyes of Love
that we can treat each other as brothers and sisters. We do not only trace back
our rootedness in the human dimension but more so to the spiritual dimension.
We trace back our identity to God who is our beginning and our end. Now I am
challenge to Love other people regardless of his or her faith. I believe this
is what Jesus is telling and teaching us to love one another because in this
way other people will know that we are his disciples. The paradox of being a
Christian is that, before knowing and claiming that you are a Christian but has
already practice loving others unconditionally all the more that we become a
genuine Christian. For me, a true Christian is free from the pre-conditions of
this world. A person who continue to love despite of all the things happening
around him or her. A person who continue to welcome people into their lives. It
is through this that the boundaries and discriminations will disappear and will
never hinders the strengthening of our relationship to others and to God.
