IV theological symposium The Church, Jews and Judaism "Jesus : Lord and Brother"

Waldemar Chrostowski

IV theological symposium The

Church, Jews and Judaism "Jesus :

Lord and Brother"

Collectanea Theologica 63/2, 97-100

W A L D E M A R C H R O S T O W S K I, W A R S A W

IV THEOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM

THE CHURCH, JEWS AND JUDAISM

„JESUS: LORD AND BROTHER”

F o r m e r C h r is ti a n - J e w is h m e e tin g s o n J e s u s , if a n y a t a ll, te n d e d to w a r d s im p o sin g o n e ’s o w n p o in t o f v ie w a n d d e m o n s tr a tin g h o w le g itim a te o n e ’s o w n r e lig io u s tr a d it io n is. O n c e t h e d ia lo g u e ta k e n u p , d is c u s s io n s h a v e a n o th e r g o a l: t h e i r a im is to le a r n f r o m o n e a n o th e r , a n d n o t o n ly a b o u t J e s u s , b u t a b o u t o u rs e lv e s a n d a b o u t o n e a n o th e r a s w e ll. T h is c o n s titu te d t h e a g e n d a o f t h e 4 th th e o lo g ic a l sy m p o s iu m T h e C h u rc h , J e w s a n d J u d a is m o rg a n is e d b y t h e P o lis h B is h o p s ’ C o m m is io n f o r t h e D ia lo g u e w i t h J u d a is m a n d th e T h e o lo g ic a l F a c u lty o f th e A c a d e m y o f C a th o lic T h e o lo g y (A C T) a n d h e ld in W a rs a w f r o m 11th— 12th M ay 1992. I ts to p ic , J e s u s : L o r d a n d B r o th e r — J e s u s in C h r is tia n a n d J e w is h v ie w , sh o w s a f u n d a m e n ta l b r e a k ­ th r o u g h in t h e m u t u a l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f J e s u s . R ev . P r o f e s s o r R o m a n B a r t n i c k i , t h e d e a n o f T h e o lo g ic a l F a c u lty o f A C T , o p e n e d i t p r a y in g w it h th e w o r d s o f P s a lm 97. F o r a lm o s t tw o th o u s a n d y e a r s th e q u e s tio n , J e s u s o n c e a s k e d h is d is c ip le s, W h o d o y o u s a y 1 a m ? (M a th e w 16:15; M a r k 8:29; L u k e 9:20) h a s b e e n so u n d in g . R e v . P r o f e s s o r J a n Ł a c h , t h e r e c to r o f A C T , s a id to w e lc o m e th e q u e s ts : „ T h is q u e s tio n w a s t r i e d to b e a n s w e r e d b y J e s u s ’ d is c ip le s c a lle d A p o stle s. T h is q u e s tio n h a s to b e a n s w e r e d b y th o s e w h o c a ll th e m s e lv e s C h ris tia n s . T h is q u e s tio n is a ls o to b e a n s w e r e d b y th o s e w h o b e lo n g to th e c h o se n n a tio n a n d w h o , a t t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e i r e x is te n c e , m a d e a c o v e n a n t w ith G o d w h ic h th e N e w C o v e n a n t, m a d e in C h r is t a n d w ith t h e w h o le m a n k in d , h a s n e v e r th e le s s n o t b ro k e n . T h e q u e s tio n a s k e d b y t h e S o n o f t h e F i r s t C o v e n a n t N a tio n r e q u i r e s a s e r io u s a n s w e r (...). W e r e a liz e t h e C h r is tia n a n s w e r , e v e n f o r m u la te d w ith A p o s tle s ’ w o rd s , is, a f t e r c e n tu r ie s , n o t a lw a y s u n d e rs to o d w e ll e n o u g h . I t is a g o o d th in g , th e n , t h a t w e w a n t to g e th e r w ith a l l o u r d is tin g u is h e d g u e s ts to lo o k a t J e s u s — L o rd a n d B r o th e r a n d lo o k a t H im in a C h r is tia n a n d J e w is h v ie w ” . I n b e h a lf o f A rc h b is h o p H e n r y k M u s z y ń s k i , th e m e tr o p o lita n o f G n ie z n o a n d c h a ir m a n o f t h e P o lis h B is h o p s ’ C o m m iss io n f o r t h e D ia lo g u e w ith J u d a is m , t h e g u e s ts w e r e w e lc o m e d b y B ish o p S ta n is ła w G ą d e c k i , t h e a u x il ia r y b is h o p o f G n ie z n o , w h o e m p h a s iz e d t h a t ta k in g u p a c o m m o n d ia lo g u e , C h r is tia n s a n d J e w s b e c a m e o n e o rg a n is m s in c e th e y g a th e r e d a s a p a r t o f o n e b o d y : t h e m a n k in d . R a b b i B y ro n L. S h e г w i n , t h e v ic e - p r e s i d e n t o f S p e r tu s C o lle g e o f J u ­ d a ic a in C h ic a g o a n d f o r m a n y y e a r s a p a r t ic i p a n t o f th e in te r r e lig io u s d ia ­ lo g u e in P o la n d , o p e n e d th e d is c u s s io n d e liv e r in g h is le c t u r e W h o do y o u s a y I a m ? ( M a r k 8:29): A J e w is h R e s p o n s e . H e s a id th e c h a n g e s in C h r is tia n s a n d C h u r c h ’s a t t i t u d e to w a r d s J e w s a n d J u d a is m s h o u ld b e a c c o m p a n ie d b y a tr a n s f o r m a t io n o f J e w is h a t t it u d e to w a r d s J e s u s a n d C h r is tia n ity . O n t h e p a r t o f J e w s m a n y p r e ju d ic e s a n d s te re o ty p e s g a th e r e d t h a t m u s t b e o v e rc o ­ m e if t h e d ia lo g u e is to b e r e a lly f r u itf u l. A lso t h e a t t i t u d e o f C h r is tia n s to ­ w a r d s J e w s l e f t m u c h to b e d e s ire d . O v e r t h e c e n tu r ie s , m u tu a l fe e lin g s o f h a t e a n d p r e j u d ic e e s c a la te d . R a b b i S h e r w in a s k e d f i r m l y : „A s t h e d a u g h te r re lig io n o f J u d a is m , h a s C h r is tia n ity o b e y e d t h e b ib lic a l c o m m a n d m e n t to h o ­ n o u r h e r p a r e n t ? A s t h e m o th e r re lig io n o f C h r is tia n ity , h a s J u d a i s m lo v e d h e r d a u g h te r ? ”

M u c h o f c la s sic a l J e w is h s o u rc e s c o n s id e re d J e s u s a s a J e w w h o s la n te d th e te a c h in g o f J u d a is m , a s a f a ls e M e s sia h . R a b b i S h e rw in b o ld ly d e c la re d J e s u s w a s n o t a fa ls e M e ssia h , b u t a M e s sia h w h o , fro m th e J e w is h p o in t o f v ie w , w a s a fa ilu re . A f a ilu r e m e a n s H e d id n o t a c h ie v e H is u ltim a te g o al of c o n v in c in g th e p e o p le to r e p e n t a n d th e o b ey G o d ’s w ill. O n ly th e g r e a te s t in d iv id u a ls a r e a lw a y s f a ilu r e s b e c a u s e th e i r g o a ls a r e so e x a lte d . J e s u s w a s a f a i lu r e b e c a u s e h e d id n o t b r in g a b o u t t h e f in a l a n d c o m p le te r e d e m p tio n o f th e w o rld . I f h e h a d c o m p le te ly s u c c e e d e d , a p a ro u s ia — a se c o n d c o m in g , w o u ld n o t b e n e c e ss a ry . A c c o rd in g to J e w is h th e o lo g y , m e s sia n ic r e d e m p tio n is n o t lim ite d to th e s p ir itu a l r e a lm , b u t o c c u rs in tim e a n d sp a c e , in h is to ry , in th e so c io -p o litic a l re a lm . To be c o m p le te , m e s s ia n ic re d e m p tio n m u s t ta k e p la c e in t h e p h y s ic a l a s w e ll a s th e s p ir it u a l re a lm . U n til p e a c e , ju s tic e a n d c o m p a s sio n re ig n . J e w s w ill c o n tin u e to v ie w o u r w o r ld as u n r e d e e m e d , a s p re - m e s s ia n ic . T h a t is w h y J e w s c a n n o t v ie w J e s u s a s th e u lt im a te a n d f i ­ n a l M e s sia h . H o w e v e r, R a b b i S h e r w in su g g e s ts th e y m a y c o n s id e r J e s u s a s a m e s s ia h , a s a p a r t o f th e life o f h is p e o p le a n d th e i r m e s s ia n ic h o p e. In te x t s n o r m a tiv e fo r J u d a is m , su c h a m e s s ia h is n a m e d M e ssia h so n of J o s e p h (o r M e s sia h so n o f E p h ra im ). H e is a p r e l im in a r y m e s s ia h , c o m in g in a n t i c i ­ p a tio n of a n d p a v in g th e w a y fo r th e f in a l m e s s ia h , th e M e s sia h so n o f D a ­ v id . H e is a m e s s ia h w h o d ies to p r o v id e t h e o p p o r tu n ity fo r th e f in a l r e d e m p ­ tio n to ta k e p la c e . F o r a> C h r is tia n lis te n e r , th e n a t u r e a n d fu n c tio n , R a b b i S h e r w in a s s o c ia te s w ith J e s u s, m a k e th e M a s te r of N a z a re th r e s e m b le th e C h r is tia n im a g e o f J o h n th e B a p tis t. T h e v i t a l n o v e lty o f h is id e a s c o n sists in g iv in g J e s u s a p la c e w ith in J e w is h th e o lo g ic a l d is c o u rse . T h is m a y c o n s i­ d e r a b ly c o n tr ib u te to g iv e a n e n d to th e c e n tu r ie s - lo n g v ir tu a l e x c o m m u n ic a ­ tio n of J e s u s fro m t h e J e w is h f a ith - c o m m u n ity . T h is v ie w o f J e s u s p ro v id e s H im n o t o n ly w ith a ro le in J e w is h th e o lo g y , b u t w ith a m e s s ia n ic ro le a s w e ll. J u s t a s C h r is tia n ity r e g a r d s J u d a is m a s p re p a r a tio e v a n g e lic a , J u d a i s m c o u ld a c k n o w le d g e C h r is tia n ity a s p r e p a r a tio m e ssia n ic a . J e s u s c o u ld th e n b e ­ co m e a tr u e B r o th e r in th e ey es o f J e w s.

U n u s u a l fa s c in a tio n o f m a n y J e w s w ith J e s u s w a s r e f le c te d in th e w o rk 's o f S h a lo m A sh (1880— 1957), a J e w is h w r it e r w h o se b o o k , T h e M a n o f N a z a ­ re th , h a s b e e n tr a n s la t e d fr o m Y id d is h in to P o lis h a n d r e c e n tly p u b lis h e d by W y d a w n ic tw o D o ln o ślą sk ie . P ro f e s s o r M ic h a ł F r i e d m a n (J e w is h H is to r i­ c a l I n s titu te ) , its tr a n s la to r , d e liv e r e d a le c tu r e T h e M a n o f N a z a r e th : a M e s ­ s ia h o r a R a b b i? H e sa id t h a t n o d o u b ts a s to th e h is to r ic a l e x is te n c e o f J e s u s c a n b e se rio u s ly tr e a te d . D isc u s sio n s o v e r it b e lo n g to th e p a s t, h o w e v e r. C h r is tia n s a n d J e w s c o n tin u o u s ly q u e s tio n H is id e n tity . R e sp o n se s a p p e a r n o t o n ly in s c h o la rly e ssa y s a n d le c tu r e h a lls , b u t in l i t e r a t u r e a s w e ll (also in th e J e w is h o n e), w h ic h ca n b e b e n e fic ia l to th e in te r r e lig io u s d ia lo g u e ; J e ­ su s is th e o n ly p e rs o n a b le to tr u ly re c o n c ile C h r is tia n s a n d J e w s , in s p ite of t h e c o n tr a r y p a st.

A lso R ev . P ro f e s s o r S ta n is ła w P i s a r e k (K a to w ic e ) d e lib e r a te d o n th e im a g e of J e s u s in S h a lo m A s h ’s w o r k s a n d re m in d e d t h a t t h e n o v e l a b o u t J e s u s is a p a r t o f a tr ip l e s e t c o n c e rn in g a ls o V irg in M a ry a n d P a u l th e A p o stle .

P ro f e s s o r P e te r J. T o m s o n (A m s te rd a m ), p u b lis h e r o f th e s e r ie s C o m ­ p e n d ia R e r u m Iu d a ic a r u m ad N o v u m T e s ta m e n tu m , p r e s e n te d a p a p e r J e s u s T r a d itio n s a n d C h ris to lo g y in P a u l’s L e tte r s . I t is o fte n s a id P a u l d id n o t a tta c h g r e a t im p o r ta n c e to th e e a r t h ly J e s u s a n d fo c u s e d on C h r is t o r f a ith , o n C h r is t r e s u r r e c t e d a n d a n tic ip a te d b y H is d is c ip le s, a n d a n n o u n c e d H im a s th e S o n o f G od. S u c h o p in io n s b r o a d e n a n d w id e n th e g a p b e tw e e n ,,th è J e s u s o f h is to r y ” a n d „ th e C h r is t o f f a i t h ” w h o is p ro fe s s e d e s p e c ia lly iń P r o t e s t a n t c o m m u n itie s , w h e re a s , th e s e b o th v ie w s a r e a b s o lu te ly in s e p a ra b le . T h e o ld e s t c a n o n ic a l C h r is tia n te x ts , th e L e tte r s o f P a u l, sh o w a c lo se r e l a ­ tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e e a r th ly J e s u s a n d th e h e a v e n ly C h ris t. I n a u th e n t ic P a u l ’s L e tt e r s th e r e a r e s e v e r a l u n d is p u ta b le a llu s io n s to J e z u s ’ w o r d s e s p e

-c ia lly re -c o g n is a b le in -c a se s of p r a -c ti-c a l life ru le s , s o --c a lle d h a la -c h a in H e ­ b re w . T h e n , n o t w h a t P a u l h a d h im s e lf to say is v a lid , b u t th e d e lib e r a tio n s a r is in g fr o m t h e te a c h in g o f J e s u s . P a u l ’s p i'a c tic a l re c o m m e n d a tio n s b a s e o n J e w is h c u s to m s , v ie w s a n d la w s , w h ic h m a t te r s in a s m u c h a s t h e A p o s tle ’s w o r ld w a s p e r m e a te d w ith e le m e n ts o f p a g a n th in k in g a n d a c tin g . A lso in P a u l ’s C h ris to lo g y , t h e d e c is iv e f a c to r is t h e p e rs o n a g e a n d te a c h in g of J e s u s , w h o m th e A p o s tle a lw a y s p e rc e iv e s in th e v ie w o f R e s u rr e c tio n . In h is p r a c ­ tic a l p ro p o s a ls , t h e le c tu r e r su g g e s te d to f in a lly r e lin q u is h th e r a d i c a l a n d ille g itim a te d is tin g u is h in g b e tw e e n J e s u s a n d C h ris t. W e, C h ris tia n s , h a v e to s tu d y th e J e s u s h is to r y a s w e ll a s a c k n o w le d g e H is r e s u r r e c tio n a n d p e r m a ­ n e n t p re s e n c e , i. e., c e le b r a te th e E u c h a ris t. P a u l in s is tin g o n th e h e a v e n ly C h r is t d o e s n o t m e a n J u d a i s m o r th e L a w is re je c te d . T h e J e w is h la w is s till v a lid fo r J e w s a n d C h r is tia n s of J e w is h d e sc e n t. P a u l is n o t a C h r is tia n H e lle n is t, b u t th e f i r s t w itn e s s o f J e s u s th e J e w w h o b r o u g h t H im c lo s e r to th e p a g a n w o r ld a n d w o n H is n e w n o n - J e w is h fo llo w e rs.

R ev. D r W a ld e m a r C h r o s t o w s k i (ACT) d e liv e r e d th e le c tu r e T h e J e ­ w is h n e s s o f J e su s . J e s u s d iv id e d J e w s a n d C h ris tia n s , b u t b e lie v e rs o f e a c h d e n o m in a tio n a g re e d in o n e th in g — th e y d id n o t w a n t to a d m it in p u b lic t h a t J e s u s h a d b e e n a J e w . R e p u d ia tin g th e J e w is h n e s s o f J e s u s , w h ic h w a s u n d e s ire d b y b o th p a r ts , th e y o n ly b r o a d e n e d th e e x is tin g g ap . N o t o n ly d o c­ t r i n a l b u t a ls o h is to r ic a l f a c to r s w e r e in v o lv e d , a n d f i r s t o f a ll e n o rm o u s m u ­ tu a l m is tr u s t a n d re c ip ro c a lly b a d im a g e w h ic h m a d e t h e v ie w o f J e s u s a s a J e w „ im p r o p e r ” . T h e c o n se q u e n c e s o f ig n o r in g o r e v e n d e n y in g th e J e w is h n e s s o f J e s u s w e r e la m e n ta b le . J e w s in c r e a s e d th e s te re o ty p ic a l p r e ­ ju d ic e s a n d th in g s u n to ld , w h ic h re f le c te d in c la s s ic a l J e w is h l i t e r a t u r e a n d c o n sc io u sn e ss. C h r is tia n s w e r e te m p te d to d e h u m a n is e J e s u s , to d e m a te r ia lis e H im , t h a t is to m y th ic iz e H im . I f J e s u s w a s n o t a J e w , so w h o w a s h e ? T h e ig n o r a n c e o f J e s u s ’ J e w is h n e s s w a s a c c o m p a n ie d b y a la c k o f u n d e r ­ s ta n d in g o f th e t r u e n a t u r e o f G o d ’s a c tio n s , a s th is J e w is h n e s s c o n s titu te s a p a r t o f a d e f in ite r e a lity o f the- R e d e m p tio n H is to ry . T h e so n o f G o d b e c a m e n o t a „ u n iv e r s a l” h u m a n , o r th e m o r e a „ s u p e r m a n ” , b u t a h u m a n w h o in h is b o d y a c c o m p lis h e d th e C o v e n a n t b e tw e e n G o d a n d A b r a h a m , b e tw e e n I s a a c a n d J a m e s , a n d w h o is a f u lf ilm e n t o f h is C o v e n a n t.

T h e J e w s t a l k o n ly a b o u t a h is to r y Je s u s, a n d n o t a b o u t C h ris t, i.e. a b o u t a L o rd e x a lte d to t h e G o d ’s rig h t. C h ris to lo g y , th u s , is n o t a s u b je c t fo r J e ­ w is h th eo lo g y . T h e re s p o n s e to th e q u e s tio n o f w h o J e s u s is fo r C h r is tia n s r e f le c ts w e ll w h o H e is n o t f o r J e w s. C o n s id e rin g t h e b a s ic C h r is tia n e le m e n ts o f J e s u s im a g e l e t u s see h o w th e s e tw o s is te r re lig io n s p a r t , a n d d is tin g u is h w h a t e a c h o f th e m f in d s sp e c ific . W h e n t h i n k in g o v e r th e J e w is h n e s s of J e s u s , w e sh o u ld n o t o v e rlo o k tw o th in g s : H is se lf-c o n s c io u s n e s s a n d H is p la c e in J u d a i s m o f H is d a y s. T h e q u e s tio n , „ A re y o u a J e w ? ” , if a s k e d t h e e a r t h ly J e ­ su s, w o u ld b e a b s o lu te ly o b sc u re . J e s u s w a s a J e w in th e e th n ic s e n s e (w a s b o r n f r o m a J e w is h m o th e r, o f D a v id ’s h o u se a n d in th e b o so m o f I s ra e l) a s w e ll a s in t h e re lig io u s sen se, w h ic h H is life , te a c h in g , s o lid a r ity w ith H is o w n n a tio n ’s f a t e a n d p r o p h e tic c r itis m o f I s r a e l’s, s in s „ fro m t h e in s id e ” r e f ­ lect. T h e s e lf-c o n s c io u s n e s s o f J e s u s w a s ty p ic a lly J e w is h . T h e d ia lo g u e on J e ­ su s h a s its a d v a n ta g e fo r th e C h r is tia n s in th e J e w s h e lp in g u s re a c h t h e h i ­ s to ric J e s u s a n d H is t r u e e a r th ly c ir c u m s ta n c e s , w ith o u t t h a t C h ris tia n s fa c e th e d a n g e r o f p e r v e r ti n g th e G o sp el. H o w e v e r, to r e a c h th e e a r th ly J e s u s d o e s n o t c o v e r th e w h o le C h r is tia n m e s sa g e a s J e s u s is a lso a n o b je c t o f fa ith . A s f a r a s J e s u s ’s p la c e in J u d a is m o f H is d a y s is c o n c e rn e d , H e w a s t h e n e a r e s t to , c o n tr a r y to p o p u la r C h r is tia n v ie w s, th e te a c h in g o f th e P h a r is e e s a n d a p o s itio n o f a r a b b i. T h e se d e lib e ra tio n s c o n c lu d e d w ith a su g g e s tio n t h a t J e w is h a n d C h r is tia n c o n te m p la tio n o f J e s u s arts re c ip ro c a lly n e c e ss a ry . In o r d e r to b e a g o o d J e w i t is n e c e s s a ry to k n o w J e s u s a s se e n b y th e C h r is tia n s : o n th e o th e r h a n d , t h e C h r is tia n u n d e r s ta n d in g o f J e s u s r e q u ir e s a k n o w le d g e o f J u d a is m , a n d e v e n a c e r ta in lik in g fo r it. I f C h r is tia n s re f u s e th e J e w is h n e s s

o f J e s u s , th e y lo se to u c h w ith th e i r tr u e ro o ts. T a k in g h is J e w is h n e s s in to a c ­ c o u n t m ig h t b e a n e ff e c tiv e a n tid o te to t h e la te ly d e m o n s tr a te d a n ti - S e m it e a ttitu d e s .

D r M ic h a ł W o j c i e c h o w s k i (A C T) t a l k e d o n T h e N e w T e s ta m e n t T e x t s o n J e w s in P o lish B ib lic a l T ra n s la tio n s . H e e x a m in e d 11 P o lis h t r a n s ­ la tio n s o f th e N ew T e s ta m e n t, p a y in g a t t e n ti o n to th e t r a n s la t io n its e lf, p r e ­ fa c e , a n n o ta t io n s a n d s u b h e a d in g s . H e n o tic e d t h a t in e a c h t r a n s la t io n th e r e a r e e x p re s s io n s e it h e r w e a k e n in g t h e f r ie n d ly to J e w s to n e o f th e o r ig in a l o r s tr e n g h e n in g w o rd in g s w h ic h c ritic iz e th e m . A lth o u g h th e s e c a s e s a r e n o t n u m e r o u s , th e y c a n c o n s o lid a te e x is tin g c lic h e s u n f a i r to J e w s a n d J u d a is m .

B is h o p S t. G ą d e c k i p r e s e n te d a t th e sy m p o s iu m th e r e p o r t o n t h e 14 th se s sio n o f t h e I n te r n a t io n a l C a th o lic - J e w is h L ia is o n C o m m itte e (IC J L C ), w h ic h to o k p a r t in B a ltim o re , U S A , f r o m 4 th —7 th M a y 1992. A lso , t h e b o o k J e w s a n d C h r is tia n s in D ia lo g u e w a s p ro m o te d , w h ic h c o n ta in s p a p e r s o f t h e f i r s t in P o la n d C a th o lic - J e w is h th e o lo g ic a l c o llo q u iu m t h a t to o k p a r t in C ra c o w a n d T y n ie c in A p r il 1992. T h is b o o k is t h e t h i r d v o lu m e o f t h e s e r ie s T h e C h u rc h , J e w s a n d J u d a is m . 1 W A L D E M A R C H R O S T O W S K I