No matter the silliness of current figures (e.g., Ted Cruz) on the topic, "Israel" is not actually Israel. Nor--pace certain shouting pundits--is it 'the Jews.' It is the Catholic Church.
...the Church has always taught, consistent with the apostolic witness, that the election of the patriarchs and their carnal progeny was principally ordered toward the generation of the Seed promised to Adam and again to Abraham (Genesis 3:15, 22:18), the Seed who would fulfill the promises of the old and transient covenants in a most excellent fashion, uniting all men in the blessings of the new and eternal covenant (Romans 4:13-25; Galatians 3:15-29; 2 Corinthians 1:20; St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I-II, 98, 4; Lumen Gentium 1-2; Dei Verbum 14-15).
Hence, the children of Abraham were charged with guarding glimmers of God’s splendor (Romans 3:2) until the Dayspring from on high should dawn (Luke 1:78), illuminating the eyes of Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 26:23). This Seed, this Dayspring, is Jesus, the incarnate Word, to whom the Father said, “I will make You as a light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6; see Matthew 12:15-21; Luke. 2:32; 2 Corinthians 4:6). Being the Christ, the Son of God, He realized in Himself Israel’s threefold office, perfecting and universalizing its vocation; and anyone who clings to Him by faith shares and reflects this triple glory (Matthew 5:14; Acts 13:47). ...
So what?
...it is unsatisfactory to assert, as did Professor George, that the Jews were—are—elected to enlighten the world, full stop. That is half the story, at best, bracketing pertinent Christological and ecclesiological applications and ignoring the problem of how the Jews can be light bearers when they largely reject the Light, our Lord Jesus (John 8:12)....
OK, then. So what is "Israel"?
Second, technically it is not the Jews who received this special calling but Israel, a covenant community that finds mature form in the mystical body of Christ, the Catholic Church....the Gentiles have been enrolled on equal footing (Ephesians 2:12-13), taking the place of those Jews who are alienated for unbelief (Romans 11:17). Therefore, the duties and privileges of sonship—royal, priestly, and prophetic (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; see Exodus 19:6)—accrue to the messianic congregation, which truly deserves to be called Israel and the people of God (Lumen Gentium 9; Nostra Aetate 4).
Understand this clearly: in Revelation, "Israel" is not a chunk of land. It is a 'people,' and--most important--it is the people who are NOT "alienated for unbelief," as are the secular Jews and even the Jews who refuse to accept Christ as Emanuel. (You may also conclude that those who worship Baal in any form are also "alienated for unbelief." There are a lot of those in the United States.)
...This is not to say that carnal Israelites—those who hold to Moses apart from Christ—are utterly devoid of celestial gifts, totally alienated from the sacred commonwealth. Doubtless, they abide in sin and death, spurning the fountain of life (Luke 1:79; Ephesians 2:3). Yet they retain some natural connection to Israel and its heavenly treasures (Romans 9:4-5, 11:21; Nostra Aetate 4). Eventually, they will be corporately reintegrated into the covenant community (Romans 11:25-2...6). ...
So, as they say, it's complicated:
... We must constantly recall that our Lord came personally to His brethren (Matthew 15:24). The Gospel is for them first (Romans 1:16). The moment we forget this is the moment we begin to hate the Jews, for where the Gospel languishes, anti-Semitism thrives. Let us love the Jews, but let us love them in the truth....
Yes. Love the stiff-necked ones as much as the kind and gentle mensch. That's your job. Do it.
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