I have written obliquely before of how disturbed I am at the rise of antisemitism in some quarters of the right and the traditionalist Catholic community. I’m going to be more blunt now. If you are afflicted with this, you have welcomed a demon into your counsels. Keep nurturing it and the demon at the table will eventually hold sway over all your counsels.
I am deathly sick of hearing that criticizing Israel is not antisemitic. No, it is not. I love America and often criticize her. But searching restlessly for things to criticize to justify your hatred of Jews IS antisemitic – and too many people on the right and among traditional Catholics are doing that these days. Stop it or perish with the godless left you condemn. Stop giving the devil the toehold he needs in your genuine efforts at Godliness. He will use it to destroy you.
I read a post on X the other day that said that Jews are no longer the chosen people; Christians are the chosen people. That is arrogant – and incorrect theology. The Jews are both an ethnicity and a religion – and became and remain God’s chosen people. With the coming of Christ, ALL people might individually become part of the elect by their freewill decision. The reality of man’s relation to God is bluntly stated by Christ in the Vine discourses, particularly in the 5th Chapter of John. St. Paul later expands on this in Romans 11, noting that Jews are the natural branches of the one Vine, while Gentiles are grafted onto the same vine under Christianity. In NO place in the Bible does it suggest that Jews have been supplanted in Salvation History, only that Gentiles have now, in the fullness of time, been added in. St. Paul’s discourse in Romans 11:11-31 makes it overt that, though a partial hardening had come upon the Jews in order to facilitate the coming in of the fullness of the Gentiles. When that has been accomplished (and it has not yet) then the Jews will be fully reunited with their Christian brothers. The closest you can come, Biblically, to rejecting the Jews, is the saying that those branches which do not bear fruit will be broken off from the Vine. But St. Paul says, about those branches, that they will be re-grafted onto the Vine. Do not tell me that those Jews who live their faith in God as they know Him, are kind to those around them, and seek the good of all, focused on their families, are broken branches.
Even cultural disobedience does NOT lead to permanent alienation. That only comes with an individual’s free choice. Almost the entire Old Testament is the story of the Jews being rescued by God, backsliding into disobedience, being punished, and then being rescued by God yet again. Theologically, there is ample cause to evangelize Jewish people, but there is NO cause to spurn them as outcasts.
Politically, the left is the antisemitic party in America, just as it was in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Antisemites, supposedly on the right, are trying to seduce conservatives into the first stage of their journey towards leftist authoritarianism. Their ineptness would be comical if they were not so deadly dangerous. Antisemites Nick Fuentes, Candace Owens, and Tucker Carlson are greater traitors to the conservative cause than Bill Kristol, Jonah Goldberg, and Jennifer Rubin. The latter three are comically inept even as they have overtly turned their backs on everything they once professed to believe in. The former are almost equally inept, but manifest a strange power over conservatives who should know better. America was the first country where anyone could become a citizen by adopting American values as expressed (partially) in the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights. It mirrored Christianity, which was the first religion which welcomed all as full members who authentically chose to follow Christ, regardless of ethnicity or region. Those Christians (including leaders) who pretend to “expand” Christianity by welcoming and celebrating active, intentional sin are actually attacking the foundations of Christianity. So those American, including leaders, who are working to exclude some categories of fellow Americans solely because of immutable characteristics such as ethnicity, are also attacking America. (I know I will disappoint some Catholic leaders by saying this – but insisting that foreigners follow the rules to become American citizens is not a whit different than the Church demanding that postulants publicly and freely proclaim their adherence to Christ before being fully welcomed into the community.)
If you find yourself thinking the Jews are responsible for all ills…and the Jews are why there is turmoil in the Middle East…and the Jews control everything and are trying to hurt everyone else, you may remain my friend for a time, even my colleague for a time. But it is the snake in your garden. If you do not exorcise it from your soul, eventually you will find yourself with all snake and no garden.
*********
I am proud that Pres. Trump has weighed in, saying he will act to protect Christians in Nigeria, the most persecuted religious group in the world – and one of the few places where an actual religion-based genocide is being attempted. A little over a decade ago, it shamed me that the only country that was actively defending Christians in foreign lands was Russia. I was proud that the Knights of Columbus in America were actually and actively providing relief for the downtrodden (but now the Knights have mandated uniforms that mimic the increasingly irrelevant U.N. and stick largely to the business of selling insurance. You can find some real faith and charity in local chapters of the Knights, but the national organization is far too degraded and pathetic to do any real good on the international scene.)
I say this because, in the parable of the two sons in the 21st Chapter of Matthew, Jesus makes it very clear that the Christian acceptable to Him is the one who does, not the one who merely says. On that basis, at this particular moment in time, Donald Trump is the most Christian leader of any large organization in the world. He keeps making peace between nations, building the American and other nation’s economies, and defending the genuinely afflicted around the world. Meanwhile the left, Western European leaders, and the Pope hate him for it. I tremble at the thought of the general judgment at the end of time, but if I am not among those sent to perdition, it is going to be fascinating watching the loudly self-righteous being cast out while the bombastic that did their best to do right are refined so they can take the place awaiting them in heaven. As Jesus often said, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Of course, the godless left already specializes in wailing and gnashing of teeth, judging everyone else while not lifting a finger to help anyone but themselves.)
*********
I continue to marvel at the godless left’s enormous capacity to say one thing while meaning its exact opposite. In terms of ideology and tactics, Antifa is the most brazenly fascist organization since the Brownshirts who helped bring Adolf Hitler to power. Yet they call themselves “anti-fascists.” It’s like calling a dunghill a rose. That seems to be the whole program of the left now. This is what happens when ideology and the will to power become the only (hollow) meaning in a person’s life. God help them. After Hitler attained the power they helped him gain, he executed a massive purge of their ranks so they could never be a threat to him. It amuses me when I realize that, ironically, when I fight for faith, family, and freedom, the witless members of Antifa will be among the beneficiaries, though they are far too witless and self-absorbed to ever understand that.
Several years ago I wrote a phrase I have come to think was inspired – as I like it more every time I look at it. I think it captures the heart of Christianity. It is, “As you look at your life, you cannot measure it by the books published, the soup kitchens worked, the refuges built – though if you do those things they are good. Rather, you must judge it from the perspective of the hope inspired, the peace you spread, the joy you engendered, the love you kindled- for these are the sure marks of the Kingdom of God. All else is detail. ”
*********
Erika Kirk suffered one of the most brutal losses a person can two months ago. Her husband and the father of her children was brutally and publicly murdered before the cameras of the world. I guess I expected the godless left to attack and mock her: they have become heartless, soulless ghouls. But I have been shocked and deeply disheartened to see so many on the right and who call themselves Christians mock her for her dress and her sometimes desperate need for solidarity and a hug.
I have had the honor of comforting a lot of people who were recovering from tragedy and loss. For a time, I was in charge of my original Parish’s outreach to the homebound and the terminally ill. People process grief differently – but the common element is the primal need for comfort, human connection and solidarity as you grieve. When people make awful speculation about a close hug that Kirk had with old family friend, J.D. Vance, all I can think is that these people are either heartless ghouls or have never suffered genuine, breathtaking and tragic loss. They should be more careful. If they live long enough, they will – and Christ said that by the same judgment you judge you shall be judged. God forbid any of us should be lacking in grace, charity, or mercy for the grieving. We will need plenty of it ourselves soon enough.
If communication goes out for any length of time, meet outside your local Church at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Tell friends at Church now in case you can’t then. CORAC teams will be out looking for people to gather in and work with.
Find me on X at @JohnstonPilgrim
The Corps of Renewal and Charity (CORAC)
18208 Preston Rd., Ste. D9-552
Dallas, Texas 75252
0 Comments