St. Paul takes a bit of a side bar in these next few chapters to make us aware of God's intention for the Jews. It is important for Paul to convey to his readers that God was not finished with the children of Israel. They still had a major place in God's plan for the future. The church did not replace the people of Israel nor were the promises He made to them null and void.
St. Paul's heart is broken for the Jews and their withdrawal from Jesus as the intended Messiah. Paul felt obligated to reach out to what has been designated as the chosen people of Israel. That is, this particular group of people who have been the recipients of the covenant promises of God. They have been God's agent of light to the nations, the hearers and recorders of God's word, along with the human channel for the Messiah for this commitment we are all in a debt of love. Paul writes in complete honesty that he has a heart filled with love for the lost sheep of Israel. Perhaps concerned that when he told them that without a personal relationship with Christ there was no hope for salvation that they may have felt they were outcasts. He again affirms that his message is true and his concern for them as well. How important that our message consistently begins with truth.
Here is a man experiencing much grief over the spiritual state of the people of Israel and much like Jesus. Paul also weeps over the people of Israel and their rejection of Jesus their Messiah. Paul conveys himself as a parent who has lost a child and would do anything for that child's return. The Oratory is an apostolate of prayer and like Paul it is our obligation to grieve and pray for all who are lost without Christ. Paul was so intent that he said he would trade his own soul if it would make a difference in the spiritual condition of the children of Israel. Perhaps if we get that serious we will see more results from our commitment and effort.
Israel had been the recipients of many gifts from God. They were given much
truth and had so much revealed from the Lord. Included with this are the
Prophets and prophesies and great witnesses of God's presence among them. Yet
they became so focused on ritual that they lost sight of the true concept of
what the Messiah was to bring and what Jesus had to offer. Paul refers to
Jesus as the "Christ" a name which means anointed one a direct
reference to Messiah he also gives inference to Christ the creator when he say
that He is "over all." Paul is taking every opportunity to swing the
hearts of the readers of this letter toward Jesus the Messiah and here giving
special concern to the Jew and to those then and now who would take
opportunity to love the Jew as God and Paul do. Paul's greatest concern is
that they would one day along with the entire world experience the saving
grace of God.
His servants and yours,
Gerard & Yolanda Cleffi Directors
Oratory of Divine Love
The Jewish people spoke of the Holy Spirit often, but it was Christ who equated this Spirit as a person with the Father and himself, making the Holy Spirit's relationship to the Father comparable to this own as Son, and so Christians are baptized according to the command of Christ in the single name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The ancient theological tradition of the Church sees the Holy Spirit as being the total expression of the love between the Father and the Son. In a word, the mystery of God as seen in the New Testament... is a mystery of relationship in which the Holy Spirit is taught as proceeding both from the Father and from the Son. What is perhaps more understandable to most of us is that the Holy Spirit is seen as the source of the constantly extraordinary and powerful works of God in history.
Quiet Moments with Benedict Groeschel, 120 Daily readings, Servant books, St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 34
Lord, help me daily to draw near to you. Enlighten my mind, heart and spirit to be a holy vessel so that others would see the light of Christ within my mortal being. Amen.