Let us hold fast to the confession of
our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 NRSV
How difficult it must have been for the
early Jewish converts to Christianity. They were subject to
persecution from the Romans, and even their own kinsmen. Concerned
that this could cause them to turn back to their Jewish beliefs and
rituals, as some were already wavering in their faith, not joining
their congregations for worship, the author’s exhortation was to
hold fast to their baptismal hope, renew their faith in Jesus, and to
encourage each other.
To reinforce this new covenant, the
author uses the analogy of Jesus as the loving way into the presence
of God for Christians, just as the High Priest in the Temple entered
through the curtain, to the Holy of Holies—the presence of God.
This comparison reminded them that through Jesus’ death on the
cross their sins are forgiven. They now have eternal life, because
Jesus is the full sacrifice, once for all time—unlike the yearly
animal sacrifices for forgiveness of sin in their former Jewish
faith.
I feel a deep compassion for their
plight. In contrast, my conversion from Judaism to Christianity in
this modern era, and my choice to worship in the Anglican tradition,
in a free country, cannot compare to the experiences of the early
Jewish converts. I had a strong history of the Christian religion to
learn from, an established church to join, supportive, practicing,
and believing Christians, who rejoiced at my conversion; and I did
not suffer persecution.
This Advent let us pray for an end to
religious persecution in our world.
Phyllis Beauchamp
