When he looked inside the church Jesus would be puzzled by the artworks displaying crucifixions and the unfamiliar statues in a building he would think is a Pagan Temple: "Where are Venus, Jupiter, Apollo, and the other Pagan Gods?" he would wonder.
In sharp contrast, a peek into the synagogue would surely warm his heart. His eyes would fixate on the altar, where he would see the Holy Arc housing his beloved Torah--the Torah that he read from every Sabbath at Jewish prayer service: "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read" (Luke 4:16).
Is there any doubt which building Jesus would choose to enter?
Christians seeking to experience Jesus often travel great distances. High on bucket lists is a visit to Jerusalem to walk the steps of Jesus in the 14 Stations of the Cross, as he was dragged to his crucifixion. Other places where Jesus taught and walked in the Holy Land, as described in the Gospels, are on bucket lists, as well.
Yet while many Christians wait to pursue these distant journeys, there is a place in their communities or nearby where they can experience the life of Jesus easily and at no cost: a synagogue--Jesus' spiritual home, where he could be found every Sabbath during his lifetime praying and reading from the Torah.
Attending a synagogue service can also contribute to the reconciliation process initiated by Vatican ll in 1962. Among its goals is to restore the common foundation and bond of Judaism and Christianity--a bond that was severed by destructive forces spanning more than a thousand years.
Visiting a synagogue will also confirm the bold pronouncement of Pope Francis:"Inside every Christian is a Jew."
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