Tracing our RootsTracing our Roots

Ancestors of our FaithAncestors of our Faith

The desire for God is written in the The desire for God is written in the human heart. human heart.

• Since the beginning of time people have sought something beyond themselves to give meaning to life and to answer the questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here?

• Most early civilizations believed in many gods. This is called POLYTHEISM

God calls AbrahamGod calls Abraham

Adam and Eve disobeyed God and fractured the relationship between God and people.

God wanted to repair that relationship.

There were many tribes of people in the world at that time.

But God chose the Israelites through his call to Abraham to be his chosen people.

Abraham is sometimes called the “Father of our Faith.” He is also the father of the Jewish and Islamic faiths.

Salvation HistorySalvation History

• This is the story of God’s relationship with his people and their responses over the ages is called salvation history

• God made an agreement with his people that he would be their God and they would be his people.

• This agreement is called The Ten Commandments

• Agreement: covenant: promise: testament

Judaism became the religion of the Judaism became the religion of the Israelite peopleIsraelite people

• Because Jesus was first of all a Jew the roots of the Catholic faith are in Judaism.

• The Jewish faith is the root of the Catholic faith.

• And so there are many comparisons that can be made between the two faiths

BeliefsBeliefs

• Jews• There is one God• His name is Yahweh(Hebrew

letters yod-hei-vav-hei)• Bible usues other words

Elohim, Adonai• God gave the law to Moses• God will send a

Messiah(anointed one) to save the people

• Catholics• There is one God• His name is Yahweh• God gave the law to Moses• God sent His only Son Jesus

to save his people from sin and death

• Jesus IS the Messiah

The Messiah means anointed one in Hebrew.The Messiah means anointed one in Hebrew.Jewish people anointed their kings…that is, they set them apart for the Jewish people anointed their kings…that is, they set them apart for the

special task of leading special task of leading the peoplethe people by pouring oil on their heads. by pouring oil on their heads.

• Jews believe that when the Messiah comes the world will be at peace….Jesus came but the world is not at peace. Therefore Jesus must not be the Messiah

• Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah…the one sent by God and given the special mission of bringing God’s people back to him. Christ means anointed one in Greek.

Worship SpaceWorship Space

• Jews

• A temple (this is a word associated with the temple in Jerusalem)

• A synagogue

• Catholics

• Church• Chapel• Cathedral• Bascilica

PrayersPrayers

• Jews• The Shema (means

“listen”)• Confession of faith

found in Deuteronomy 4:6-9

• There is one God

• Catholics• The Our Father• The Nicene Creed

and the Apostles Creed (profession of faith in the Trinity)

• The Mass: greatest prayer of the Church

ShemaShemathe most important prayer for Jews; found in the book of the most important prayer for Jews; found in the book of

DeuteronomyDeuteronomy• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aad0rYQ7p58

&feature=related"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!

Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

Aids to remembering Aids to remembering

• Jews• Use a mezuzah(plural is mezuzot) on

their doorposts.• Jews touch this and then kiss their

fingers on entering the house. "May God protect my going out and coming in, now and forever."

• The mezuzah contains a scroll of the Shema

• Catholics• Have traditionally used a holy water

font for a similar purpose• Catholics dip their fingers in the

blessed water and make the sign of the cross

Holy, Holy, HolyHoly, Holy, Holy

• Jews• Keep the Torah scrolls which are the

law which Jews hold sacred in a special box called the Ark of the Covenant

• Catholics• Catholics keep the Eucharist in a

special box called the tabernacle

LeadersLeaders

• Jews• Before the last destruction of the

temple, Jews had a priestly system in which it was the priest who offered sacrifices and communicated with God

• Then the Jewish faith became centered on learned teachers or “rabbis” who lead the congregation

• Catholics• Because Catholicism developed out of

the Jewish traditions, priests first began leading the prayers…and eventually the hierarchy of the Church developed

Scriptures are believed to be the word of God by Scriptures are believed to be the word of God by both religions. Scriptures are sacred writings. both religions. Scriptures are sacred writings.

• Jews• The foundation of the Jewish religion is

the Torah. Torah scrolls must be copied by hand by scribes.

• Jews also read from the Talmud

• Catholics• Catholics read from the Holy Bible

which is divided into the Old Testament (which contains the Torah) and the New Testament.

Other Objects and symbolsOther Objects and symbols

• Jews• The Ten Commandments• The star of David• The tree of life

• Catholics• The crucifix• The ChiRho • A fish

Special clothingSpecial clothing

• Jews• Tallis

• Yarmulke

• Catholics• Vestments primarily

the stole• Bishops wear a

zuchetto (a beanie like hat)

Sanctuary LampSanctuary Lamp

• Catholics• Sanctuary lamp…usually red, burns to

show the presence of the Eucharist in the tabernacle.

• Jews• The eternal flame hangs above the

Torah scrolls• It is a sign of God’s continued

presence with His people

And so people of the Jewish And so people of the Jewish faith are truly our ancestors in faith are truly our ancestors in faith. Their roots are our roots. faith. Their roots are our roots.