THE "MYSTERY OF ISRAEL" AND THE READJUSTMENT

OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
ACCORDING TO MENAHEM MACINA
By Prof. Yves Chevalier, Sens, N. 387, March 2014, p.
223-227 (orii!al "re!ch #e$#%.
English version by Emilie Pecheul.
&f#er havi! p'(lishe) fo'r (oo*s (y vario's p'(lishers
1
,
Me!ahe+ Maci!a )eci)e) #o p'(lish his co!si)era#io!s
a!) #he fr'i# of his ,or* #hro'h )ii#al p'(lishi! a!)
crea#e), ,i#h so+e frie!)s, #he -.)i#io!s /sofi+0
(1i+oes, "ra!ce%. /his series of si$ #i#les is #herefore
)o,!loa)a(le for o!ly 22.33 (i.e. 42.32%, each o!e - ('#
#he rea)er has #o rea) #he+ o! scree! (,i#h #he a(ili#y
#o 5clic*5 o! #he +a!y li!*s i!ser#e) #hro'ho'# #he
#e$#%, 'si! a (free% sof#,are, for e$a+ple &)o(e 6ii#al
.)i#io!s 2.0 for 7i!)o,s, ,hich re8'ires #herefore so+e
1
Chrtiens et Juifs aprs Vatican II. tat es lieu!"
histori#ue et thologi#ue" prospective thologi#ue (.).
6oc#e'r &!9li8'e, 2003% :cf. Sens, 2010 !; 3<1, pp. <=3-
<=<> ? $es %rres retrouvs. &e l'hostilit chrtienne (
l'gar es Juifs ( la reconnaissance e la vocation 'Isra)l
(.). )e l@A'vre, Paris, 2011% :cf. Sens, 2011 !; 3=2, pp.
=74-=77% ? $'apologie #ui nuit ( l'glise. *visions
hagiographi#ues e l'attitue e Pie +II envers les Juifs (B).
)' Cerf, coll. Cis#oire, Pari s, 2012% :Cf. Sens" 2012, !; 374,
pp. 83=-838> ? a!) Confession 'un fol en &ieu (.). 6oc#e'r
&!9li8'e, &vi!o!, 2012%.
1
fle$i(ili#y #o #his +o)e of co!s'l#a#io!, +ore a!) +ore
,i)esprea) !o,a)ays. /he ac8'isi#io! of #hese (oo*s i!
elec#ro!ic for+a# e!#i#les #he rea)er #o rea) #he+ i! all
for+a#s (P)f, 7or), e#c.%.
/his series i!cl')es vol'+es #ha# ca! (e rea)
i!)epe!)e!#ly ('# ,hich co+ple+e!# o!e a!o#her a!)
provi)e a! i!-)ep#h a!alysis of ,ha# #he a'#hor calls
-#he +ys#ery of Dsrael0, #ha# is, a!) sho'l) (e, accor)i!
#o hi+, #he a##i#')e of #he Ch'rch (a!) of #he (elievers%
#o,ar)s #he Ee,s a!) E')ais+. .$cep# for #he firs# op's,
#his series co!#ai!s #e$#s acco+pa!ie) (y a lare !'+(er
of co++e!#s. 7hile #he a'#hor has for#'!a#ely ,ell
)iffere!#ia#e), #yporaphically, #hese 8'o#es fro+ his
o,! ,ri#i!s, if o!e rea)s #hese vol'+es af#er havi!
pri!#e) #he+ o! paper, #he refere!ces are '!for#'!a#ely
posi#io!e) a# #he e!) of each chap#er (or sec#io!%, a!)
!o# a# #he (o##o+ of pae.
D! Confession 'un fol en &ieu
2
, #he a'#hor prese!#s #he
rea)er ,i#h his a'#o(ioraphical #es#i+o!y. Ce relates
spiritual e!periences that have mar,e the first ecaes
of his life as a fervent Christian layman -.... an the
belief he ac#uire" after more than half a century of
meitation an after having unergone a raical inner
conversion. D! #he 1s# par#, he re#races ,ha# he calls #he
five visitations (a!), #hro'ho'# #he paes supernatural
events% he e$perie!ce) +ore #ha! for#y years ao,
(e#,ee! 13<8 a!) 13=3. /hese eve!#s have (ee! for hi+
2
.). /sofi+, 1i+oes, 2013
(h##pFGG,,,.s+ash,or)s.co+G(oo*sGvie,G323<20%.
He,or*i! of #he (oo* e)i#e) (y #he B)i#io!s 6oc#e'r
&!9li8'e i! 2012.
2
#he si!s he fi!ally ca+e #o '!)ers#a!) a!) #o accep#, of
a specific -+issio!0F #he #ra!s+issio! of a!
i!#erpre#a#io! of #he Icrip#'res ,hich ,o'l) J's#ify
Dsrael a!) e!lih#e! #he Ch'rch o! ,ha# sho'l) (e i#s
#heoloy of E')ais+.
Ce!ce, i! a seco!) par#, his effor#s #o prese!# the t/o
ma0or points /hich accoring to him" Christian theology
is not faithful to 1o2s planF (asi! #his co!vic#io! o!
#he )oc#ri!e of Dre!ae's of 1yo! (DD-DDD ce!#'ries% i! his
3versus 4aereses ((oo* K%, #here is !o )o'(# for #he
a'#hor #ha# 1% the 5illennial reign of Christ /ill ta,e
place 6on Earth7" /ith the first resurrection? 2% the
graual return of the Je/s to their ancient homelan"
since the en of the 89th century" matches the plan of
1o on this people. .ve! if #he Na#io!s are s#ill far fro+
co!si)eri! s'ch prospec#s, i# is #he )'#y of Chris#ia!s #o
reflec# o! #heir scrip#'ral roo#s a!) #o prepare for
,elco+i! #he+ a!) #o accep# #he co!se8'e!ces arisi!
#herefro+, ,hich re8'ires a serio's co++i#+e!#.
/he five o#her vol'+es are, so+eho,, a +ere )eepe!i!
of #he i!sih#s +e!#io!e) a(ove. /he seco!) o!e, $e
signe e Sa:l
3
, s'(#i#le)F -&(o'# Pa'l@s severe ,ar!i!
#o #he Chris#ia!s (*m 11F 13-22%0, is a! a!alysis of #he
passae i! #he .pis#le #o #he Ho+a!s ,here Pa'l re+i!)s
the ;il olive<tree #ha# he sho'l) !o# (e arroa!# a# #he
e$pe!se of #he (ra!ches :of #he orii!al olive #ree,
,hich ,ere c'#>. D# is #herefore a firs# approach of #he
-Heplace+e!# /heoloy,0 ,hich re+ai!s, eve! #o)ay, a
3
.). /sofi+, 2013
(h##pFGG,,,.s+ash,or)s.co+G(oo*sGvie,G323==3%.
3
#e+p#a#io! for #he Ch'rch. /his vol'+e also raises a fe,
s'(si)iary 8'es#io!s s'ch as ,he#her -#he Ee,s :sho'l)>
(elieve i! Chris# i! or)er #o (e save)L5 a!) ,he#her 5#he
Ihoah :,as a> Mco+pe!sa#io!@ for #he cr'cifi$io! of
Ees's0.
Ce co!cl')es #ha# -#he Ch'rch (a)ly !ee)s M,a#ch+e!@0
,ho +'s# co!s#a!#ly re+i!) Cer ,ha# #he Icrip#'re says,
i! par#ic'lar #hro'h #he prophe#s. Df #he e!era#io! of
Ees's ,as ive! #he -si! of Eo!ah0, o'rs is ive! a -si!
of Ia'l0 :#he firs# Ni! of Dsrael #ha# Oo) reJec#e) a!)
replace) ,i#h 6avi)>, ,hich re8'ires #ha# ,e loo* l'ci)ly
a# co!#e+porary eve!#s (#he Coloca's#, viole!ces aai!s#
#he I#a#e of Dsrael, #he )ecli!e of o'r civiliPa#io! *!o,!
as -Chris#ia!0, e#c.% a!) #ha# ,e sho'l) )ra,
co!cl'sio!s fro+ #hese eve!#s.
D! #he #hir) vol'+eF $es glises face ( la rliction es
Juifs =89>><89?@A. Impuissance ou iniffrence
chrtienne B
4
" #he a'#hor e$#e!)s #he a!alysis of #he
a##i#')e of #he Ch'rches )'ri! #he NaPi era he ha)
alrea)y propose) i! #he (oo* p'(lishe) ,i#h #he B)i#io!s
)' Cerf
<
(a!) ,hich ,as al+os# e$cl'sively )evo#e) #o
#he a##i#')e of #he Ca#holic Ch'rch #o,ar)s #he Ee,s
)'ri! #he Ieco!) ,orl) ,ar%. Ce s#')ies firs#, 'si!
+a!y 8'o#es )'ly refere!ce) a!) co!#e$#'aliPe), #he
-reac#io!s of #he Pro#es#a!# ch'rches #o #he persec'#io!
4
.). /sofi+, 2013
(h##pFGG,,,.s+ash,or)s.co+G(oo*sGvie,G323<38%.
5
$'apologie #ui nuit ( l'glise. *visions hagiographi#ues e
l'attitue e Pie +II envers les Juifs" op. cit., :Cf. Ie!s, 2012
!; 374, p. 83=-838%.
4
of #he Ee,s (1332-134<%,0 a!) -#he e$#re+e p'(lic
)iscre#io! ,hich :Pro#es#a!# a!) Ca#holic> reliio's
lea)ers e$hi(i#e) a(o'# #he persec'#io! of #he Ee,s?0 he
#he! sho,s #ha# -#he cli+a$ of Ca#holic a!#i-Ie+i#is+ i!
#he 30-40s :is i!)ee) #he> co!#i!'a#io! of #he a!#i-
Ie+i#ic #re!) roo#i! (ac* i! #he 13#h ce!#'ry0.
/his lea)s #he a'#hor #o #ualify -#he realpoli#i* of #he
ch'rches aai!s# #he NaPis,0 (ase) o! sile!ces,
resi!a#io!, i!)iffere!ce a!) eve!, i! so+e cases,
co+plici#y (eve! if, o! #he o#her ha!), #here also e$is#e)
a+o! Chris#ia!s a! opposi#io! a!) ac#s of resis#a!ce%. &
series of a!!e$es (6eclara#io! of #he Iy!o) of Bar+e!,
May 1334, a!) Me+ora!)'+ of Qc#o(er 1338 o! #he
Ee,ish 8'es#io!, #i+eli!e of #he +ai! eve!#s rela#e) #o
#he rela#io!ships of #he Ch'rches ,i#h Oer+a!y fro+
1323 #o 134<, ,i#h, i! a))i#io!, a re+i!)er of #hree
posi#io!s #a*e! (y #he Ch'rchesF Costra 3etate (13=<%?
Iy!o) of 7RrP('r (137<%? a!) #he s#a#e+e!# (y Eoh!
Pa'l DD (200<%, co+ple+e!# #his prese!#a#io!, #he a'#hor
(ei! a,are of #he (revi#y a!) i+perfec#io!s of #his
prese!#a#io!, ('# ,ishi! #o offer #hese 8'es#io!s #o #he
reflec#io! of #he rea)ers, so #ha# #hey ca! for+ a!
opi!io!, havi! i! ha!)s #he +ai! ele+e!#s of #he iss'e.
/he fo'r#h vol'+ is #o#ally )iffere!#. $a pierre re0ete
par les bDtisseurs
=
" s'(#i#le) S 1@-i!#rica#io!
proph9#i8'e0 )es Bcri#'res T, is, accor)i! #o #he
a'#hor, ra#her a spiritual testimony an committment
:#ha!> a theological essay" though it's someho/ also
6
.). /sofi+, 2013
(h##pFGG,,,.s+ash,or)s.co+G(oo*sGvie,G323<38%.
5
that. I#ar#i! fro+ #he Icrip#'res, a!) a)op#i! a line of
interpretation calle 6literalistic7 by many e!perts" #he
a'#hor #ries #o )e+o!s#ra#e #ha# the contemporaneous
events are the proromes of an accomplishment of the
Scriptures. D! a !'#shel, he s'+s 'p his reflec#io! F the
central thesis of this volum is that 1o has
reestablishe the Je/s" an that it is time for
Christianity to ta,e seriously the fact that the purpose
of 1o2s salvation" if it inclues the /hole of humanity"
concerns a fortiori 4is people" too long regare as
having no role to play anymore. Ce (ases #his s#ro!
co!vic#io! o! a cer#ai!#yE the po/er of the ;or of
1o" transmitte by traitional Je/ish an Christian
traitions. -/he Prophe#ic e!#a!le+e!#0, a co!cep# he
crea#es i! a!aloy ,i#h #he #heory of Fuantum
entanglement i! Physics, co!veys o!e of #he Icrip#'res@
charac#eris#ics, ,hich is, accor)i! #o Dre!e's of 1yo!
co++e!#i! 'po! 1n 2F1 F 6both a tale of /hat
happene in the past" as it happene" an a prophecy of
/hat /ill happen7 (3versus 4aereses, K, 28, 3%. D#@s
#herefore a lo! +e)i#a#io! )ivi)e) i!#o five par#s, o!
#he co!se8'e!ces #o )ra, fro+ #he fac# #ha# 1o has
reestablishe 4is people a!) #ha# Chris#ia!s +'s#
(eco+e a/are of their eficient ,no/lege of the
mysterious esign of 1o for 6both7 :peoples ,hich>
Christ has mae 6one7 (Ep 2F14%. D!)ee), /hile
accor)i! #o Chris#ia! #heoloy, Jesus" S Ghe stone the
builers re0ecte H" an ,hich Psalm 88I =v. JJA" an
the Ce/ Gestament =5t J8E?J K 3c ?E88 K etc.A" affirm
that it 6has become the cornerstone7 :U>, this verse
might also" precisely by the uni#ue meiation of Christ"
have a ifferent scope" eschatological" in the collective
6
person of the Je/ish people /ho" in a time ,no/n only
by 1o" /ill be" in turn" this stone" re0ecte by the
nations /ith the implicit inifference of a part of
Christianity that is priing in itself an that has become
flavorless salt :U>.
/herefore, i! #he 1
s#
par# of his (oo*, #he a'#hor s#')ies
#he ()'al% +ea!i! of elec#io! i! #he Bi(le, a!)
'!)erli!es #he long theological ignorance ,hich le) #he
Ch'rch #o ela(ora#e i#s -Heplace+e!# #heoloy0? i! #he
2
!)
par#, he re-e$plores #he Na#io!s@ hos#ili#y #o,ar)s
Dsrael, (ase) o! a! a!alysis of #his #he+e #hro'ho'# #he
Bi(le? he also reflec#s, i! #he 3
)
par#, o! 6genetical7
trens of the Scriptures, i! e!eral, a!) pec'liarly o!
#he eschatological proclamation a!) +ea!i! of #he
restitution of &avi's ,ingom to Israel? #he!, i! #he 4
#h
par#, he co!si)ers #he +ea!i! of #he alienation of
Israel by Christianity a!) #he co!#es#a#io! of #he
co!#e+pora!eo's I#a#e of Dsrael@s lei#i+acy (y so+e
Chris#ia!s ? a!) he fi!ally co!cl')es (i! #he <
#h
par#% o!
#he !ecessi#y of a #r'e Chris#ia! repe!#a!ce, Dsrael (ei!
so+eho, a trial for #he Na#io!s a!) for #he Ch'rch
i#self. /he Icrip#'res #each 's, he clai+s, #ha# (o#h
Dsrael a!) #he Ch'rch ,ere elec#e) (y Oo)? #herefore,
he co!cl')es, ,e +'s# '!)ers#a!) ,ha# role #he firs#
a!) #he la##er are calle) #o play #oe#her, a!) i!
par#ic'lar for #he Ch'rches #o #r'ly apprecia#e #he val'e
of #he Je/ish people's role in the final phase of 1o's
plan of salvation.
7
I'ch is #he s'(Jec# of #he fif#h vol'+eF Ln voile sur leur
cMur
7
s'(#i#le) -1e S !o! T ca#holi8'e a' Hoya'+e
+ill9!aire )' Chris# s'r la #erre0 F #he '!)ers#a!)i! of
#he acco+plish+e!# of Chris#@s *i!)o+ o! ear#h,
(e#,ee! #he re#'r! of Chris# a!) #he /i+e of E')+e!#
(,ha# is 's'ally calle) -pre-+ille!aris+0%. /his ear#hly
Ni!)o+, ,hich ,as )escri(e) a!) praise) (y so+e early
"a#hers of #he Ch'rch a!) has (ee! co!si)ere) or#ho)o$
for fo'r ce!#'ries, has (ee! s'(se8'e!#ly al+os# #o#ally
reJec#e) (y #he Mais#eri'+. /his s#')y aims at
unerstaning the cultural" theological" or even
psychological reasons for this reluctance" an even
eclare hostility of the Catholic 5agisterium to/ars
this venerable belief" to the etriment of #he Icrip#'res
(&p 20F2-7 ? 2 P 3F8% an of the Graition of the %athers
(+oreover E's#i!, &ialogue a!) Dre!e's, 3versus
4aereses%. D! #his (oo*, #he a'#hor )eals ,i#h #he #hor!y
pro(le+ of escha#oloy, or more e!actly of Je/ish an
Christian opinions on the fulfillment of 1o's plan
through En of Gimes" or 5essianic Gimes (i! Ce(re,,
yemot hammashiahA. B'# i! )oi! so, #he a'#hor faces a
efective theology of the respective roles of Je/s an
Christians in the purpose of 1o2s salvation. Ce!ce #he
#as* he has se# #o hi+self #o )e!o'!ce #his )eficie!cy
a!) #o o'#li!e #he (ases of #his al#er!a#ive #heoloy
7
.). /sofi+, 2013
(h##pFGG,,,.s+ash,or)s.co+G(oo*sGvie,G323=80%.
8
/he si$#h vol'+e F Si les Chrtiens s'enorgueillissent
8
,
)9)ica#e) #o Ea! NoPiele,s*y (Ea! Nars*i%, e$plores
aai! #he #he+e of -#he &pos#le Pa'l@s ,ar!i! i!
Ho+a!s 11F200, alrea)y e$plore) i! #he seco!) vol'+e,
('# ,hich is #he s'(Jec# here of a! i!-)ep#h-a!alysis.
Me!ahe+ Maci!a )isc'sses here, i! a firs# par# e!#i#le)
-Kos frVres 8'i vo's haWsse!# (Ds ==F<%, :#he> chris#ia!
repro(a#io! of #he Ee,ish people0, #he Ch'rch@s
#ra)i#io!al a##i#')e rear)i! #his 8'es#io!, (asi! o!
!'+ero's 8'o#a#io!s fro+ a!#i-Ee,ish #e$#s fro+ #he
(ei!!i! of #his era #o #he XX
#h
ce!#'ry, a!) o! e$#rac#s
fro+ e)'ca#io!al +a!'als a!) #he #eachi!s of #he Popes
fro+ #he XDX
#h
a!) XX
#h
ce!#'ries. /his )evas#a#i!
a!#holoy ill's#ra#es ,ha# E'les Dsaac calle)
l@-e!sei!e+e!# )' +9pris0 :-#eachi! of Co!#e+p#0>,
a!) ,as #herefore !ecessary #o '!)erli!e ho/ Christian
attitues /ere then impregnate /ith visceral anti<
Juaism" or at least /ith the *eplacement theology. D!
#he seco!) par# F -Y! a'#re rear) F l@Blise re)9co'vre
le pe'ple J'ifU0, he #he! re#races ,ha# ,as, firs#
priva#ely, #he! +ore ope!ly, a +ore for+al self-
e$a+i!a#io! (y Chris#ia!s, (e#,ee! 1320 a!) 13<0, #o
crea#e, al(ei# !o# ,i#ho'# )iffic'l#y, +ore posi#ive
rela#io!ships (e#,ee! Chris#ia! a!) Ee,s. D! #he #hir)
par#, -H9sis#a!ce Z l@apos#asie0, #he a'#hor sho,s #ha#
through slo/ness an human resistance that seem so
iscouraging that one /oul be tempte to espair" the
Spirit of 1o leas irrevocably to/ars its
accomplishment the salvation of all humanity" incluing
the reconstitution of 4is people having reache its
8
.). /sofi+, 2013
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9
messianic fullness by the union" in its mist" of the
Christian nations remaine faithful" at the time of the
supreme trial. /he a'#hor hi+self says he has ,ri##e!
#hese paes from a perspective of faith an hope,
co!vi!ce) of #he i+por#a!ce of #he roa) alrea)y
covere), a!) lo!i! #o a Chris#ia!s@ co++i#+e!#
#o,ar)s a reco!si)era#io! of #he Pa'l@s say ,he!
spea*i! a(o'# Dsrael@s +ys#eryF 5a!) so all Dsrael ,ill (e
save)5 (H+ 11F2=%.
D# is '!)ers#a!)a(le #ha# #his series, (y i#s !ovel#y a!)
#he )ep#h of reflec#io! #o ,hich i# i!vi#es, +ay p'# off
#he rea)er (rear)less of #he fac# #ha# #he rea)er +ay
!o# (e acc's#o+e) #o rea)i! o! scree!%. Co,ever #hese
si$ vol'+es +'s# (e #a*e! i!#o acco'!# for ,ha# #hey
areF a (e!evole!# a)+o!i#io! aai!s# #he #ra!sressio!s
of a cer#ai! #heoloy ,hich has ca'se) so +'ch evil #o
Ee,s ('# also #o Chris#ia!s, a!) a caref'l repor#i! of
#he Icrip#'res@ par#s ,hich +'s# (e #a*e! i!#o acco'!#
(y ,hoever ,a!#s #o s#raih#e! #he #eachi! of #he
Ch'rch o! #his s'(Jec#. D# is o!ly af#er a! ho!es# #a*i!
i!#o acco'!# of ,ha# Me!ahe+ Maci!a asser#s #ha# i# ,ill
(e possi(le #o )isc'ss #he ass'+p#io!s a!) #he prospec#s
he ope!s.
7e +'s# of co'rse #ha!* #he a'#hor #o force 's #o
8'es#io! a !'+(er of cer#ai!#ies so '!f'!)e) a!) #o
i++erse o'rselves i! #he Icrip#'res, ,hich ,e are #oo
i!cli!e) #o rea) ,i#h !o# al,ays releva!# ('# pre-
es#a(lishe) sche+as.
10
Yves CC.K&1D.H
11