Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson writes these words of wisdom concerning a Jewish conception of the Messiah: Consider an odd aspect of Jewish belief and eternity: we pray in the machzor and elsewhere for the coming of the Messiah. We say the Ani Maamin -- I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. Notice that it does not say, I believe in the Messiah. What we Jews pledge allegiance to is not belief in the Messiah, but we must believe in the coming of the Messiah. But heres the catch: a Messiah, to be coming, can never arrive. Once the Messiah arrives, he is no longer coming, so at that point one can no longer believe in his coming. But Jewish beliefs are timeless affirmations. God is always One, the Torah was given to Moses -- these beliefs do not become false over time. So if we are to believe in the eternal coming of the Messiah, then the Messiah must be eternally on the way. Because we know that the Messiah is always on the way (hence, never arriving), our job is to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah, doing what it takes to make the world that much more messianic. We must engage in acts of justice and compassion so that even though the arrival is never completed, the work of the Messiah is advanced: a world with somewhat greater justice, somewhat greater compassion, somewhat greater inclusion, somewhat greater welcome. A Messiah always on the way reminds us of our goals and aspirations, but it is up to us to work for justice.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:46:49 +0000
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