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He recently posted (admittedly at my request) a response to my little article about Judaism. It’s chock-full of great information, and as always, Mark has a sound and reasonable perspective.
What all this means is that we can’t meet ancient Jews today. That seems like a no-brainer, but I think a great many Christians labor under the notion that in encountering contemporary Judaism, they are encountering “what Jews believed before Christianity”. They aren’t. They are encountering “How non-Christian Jews adapted their tradition, in huge measure in response to the claims (and hostility) of Christians”. Of course, in addition to the surrounding pressure of the Christian community, Judaism also experienced its own discoveries and developments (including various attempts to understand Jesus which have varying levels of success and plausibility). But the reality is that Judaism, while having a great deal to say to us in understanding Jesus, is not magisterial and holds no more promise of a Latest Real Jesus than any other tradition outside the Church. In the end, Jesus was right when he told the apostles and their successors “he who listens to you listens to me.” Indeed, Jesus seems to have had just this paradigm shift in mind when he renamed Simon “Kefa”. For the name not only means “Rock” but is a punning riff on “Caiaphas” signifying the transfer of authority in interpreting the Revelation. Certainly, the early Church seems to have instantly and conclusively made that break. There is no record whatever of the Church referring its deliberations to the Sanhedrin or the rabbis. The apostles and presbyters were the interpreters of Christ *and* Moses for the early Church, which was overwhelmingly Jewish.
Many thanks, Mr. Shea. Much for me to consider.
Alright, fans and admirers. I ask once again for your intercession.
My life is basically falling apart. I’ve been out of work since February save for three days last week, I’m overdrawn on my account by $86.71 which my upcoming paycheck won’t cover, my bike was stolen, bills are mounting, and I frankly have no idea what the hell I can do about any of it.
Things aren’t good for your dutiful blogger.
I try to remember God and his grace, to commit myself to his hands and stop worrying, and in the past I’ve been pretty good about it. But I’ve reached the point where I can barely sleep at night.
UPDATE: My good friend Ryan of Fils Prodigue has offered to wire me enough to cover my overdraft. I thank him and I thank God and I’m really overwhelmed sometimes at the charity God makes possible.
UPDATE II: In an astonishing coincidence, in the mail today arrived a $100 check from my grandmother. God really does provide!
