Comments on: Friday, April 5, 2019 – The Hidden Things of God

By: Laura Kazlas

Laura Kazlas — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 20:04:19 +0000

In reply to Angela. I loved your comments Angela. It helped me understand the Rabbi’s comments better. He did say that the Gentiles or Christians’ religion was good for them, that they read the Old Testament and come to know God in their own way. Perhaps that is what I didn’t understand. The Jews are still Gods chosen people and that Jesus came for all people. Jesus did say that he had sheep in other sheep pens too.

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:12:04 +0000

I have found it very important and enlightening to study each of the three Abrahamic faiths. God has planned for all from the beginning. There is a very important reason Jews do not think about Jesus, the Messiah they wait for was suppose to be a king, a king in the sense of a geo-political king. Someone strong and mighty who would restore and rebuild the Temple. The Temple is the gateway to God. Jesus was a meek, poor, man who was quite the opposite of what they were looking. To the Jews, who studied laws and order based on rational, Jesus’ teaching of love was counter. Some people could identify that Jesus WAS God and thus the love he taught was about the true love he felt for his creations. Jesus and his salvation is our covenant with God as Christians. God has other relationships with other people, the Jews, as one, will always be His chosen people. We are His adopted people.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:11:27 +0000

Hey Laura,

A rather interesting reflection.

Remember, Jesus, although a strict Jew, was a rebel. His teaching weren’t just slightly different from the traditions that were being taught, they were polarizing opposite. Reread His teachings on forgiveness (no more eye for an eye), earthly riches (no, you are blessed if you are poor, not rich) and love (no, you have to love your enemies, not hate them) just to name a few. As Jesus Himself said (Luke 12:51), “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Jesus was that much different.

Your view is different the the rabbi’s. He may think that you have it all wrong, and the funny things is, he can show you why you are wrong. (A little aside. The Catholic religion comes from Judaism. Study the mass, much of what is done has it’s roots in the Jewish religion.)

My point. Your title is fitting, things are hidden by God. Sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. But just because one can’t see them, doesn’t mean one has “a heart as hard as a rock.” And just because one see them, because they are so radical, doesn’t mean one will believe them.

Pray for the rabbi.

Mark

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:03:55 +0000

Laura I enjoyed your reflection and am not surprised by the orthodox Rabbi’s view. Your reflection is a little unsettling because it describes the difference between Jewish and Christian beliefs. If Jews believed Jesus was the savior there would be no Christianity as we would be Jewish – wouldn’t we?

What is important to me is the knowledge that God is in control and this Rabbi and all Jewish people are my neighbors.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 13:39:09 +0000

Laura, I was quite shocked by your reflection today, which spoke generally of the Jewish people as closed off and hard of heart. There’s a lot of anti-semitism around, and this reflection might in some ways encourage this. You clarify that you were talking of a particular rabbi in a reply to a comment but not in the reflection itself. I have enjoyed your previous reflections but found this one pretty disturbing.

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 12:56:34 +0000

Strange… very strange. What a paradox between how this Rabbi was presented and discussed and the last paragraph of the piece which asks us to give more people the benefit of the doubt and … “maybe during this Lenten season we could work on giving more people the benefit of the doubt?” In the Q and A you share a little bit more of what you might call the “full story.” I think I’ll start right here with this article and try to open my mind to who this Rabbi is and what has led to his conclusions. Also, I’ll be careful to not generalize the thoughts of this one man (as reported) to the way many jewish people think.

By: Sergio

Sergio — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 12:46:58 +0000

Amen, “PK”…

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.

A Lot to chew On, Thank You Laura for your Reflection.

Only God Knows our Hearts, and He is the only one to Judge. Don’t dwell in things we cannot change.

With God in our Hearts, we can Love, Forgive and move forward. That’s all we have to do. Leave the rest in Gods hands.

By: Pk

Pk — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 11:05:59 +0000

There are so many “levels” of religion/faith in our world today. Think of orthodox, coptic. Jesus was a Jew. His mother was a Jew. I love that the Catholic Church has so many traditions in the mass that I believe were from the Jewish traditions. This was all meant to be from the beginning of time. Love the Lord your God with all your heart,soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.