On being neighbors

I learned earlier this afternoon of the vandalism to the property of our neighbors at Anshe Emet Synagogue.  Horrible, awful things were spray painted on their walls and I won't re-post them here.  

We are moving quickly towards Jerusalem, to Holy Week, that most sacred and holy time of the Christian Year. The sad truth is that historically this time of year is a time when Christians have persecuted our Jewish brothers and sisters, using our Sacred Story as support of that persecution. In particular, the Gospel of John, has been used to support or as rational for lashing out against Jews. I've often included in Holy Week bulletins reminders about the context of such verbiage. This is one from an older bulletin:

“The Jews” in the gospel text are to be understood as Judean leaders hostile to the Johannine community. They are not to be interpreted as members of the Jewish faith or race throughout history. Many, including church officials, have promoted and justified anti-Semitism using a literal interpretation of these texts. They have erred profoundly. As Christians, we share a common faith heritage with the Jews.  Indeed, Jesus was a Jew.

A simple text, I know, but I think an especially important reminder as we move into Holy Week. Now more than ever we must boldly and clearly claim our Sacred Story, our Scripture as one that teaches of a God who moves to earth to love us all, to take on our skin, to move with us, as one of us, to stop the violence that we human beings are so damn good at. May we be a people who promote peace with our words, our actions and our lives. May we be a people who proclaim the profound love of a dying and rising God, who stops at nothing to welcome all into God's saving embrace. And may we never, ever use our faith as a weapon.