In today’s first reading we meet the Jewish Christian missionary couple Aquila and Priscilla. The Emperor Claudius had expelled them and other Jews and Jewish Christians out of Rome. Paul now works with them in Corinth because they all are tentmakers. This couple, Priscilla and Aquila, not only worked with Paul but also preached the Gospel here in Corinth as they had in Rome. Their workshop became a place to evangelize. The community would gather in their home for the Eucharist.
Like Jesus before them, some Jews accepted their message and some did not. When they were rejected in one place they just turned to another place or people. In today’s passage they turn to the Gentiles. When, however, Paul travelled to the next town he again preached to the Jews. God did not reject or replace the Jews as the people of God even when they did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Paul pondered his limited success in preaching the Gospel among his fellow Jews.
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Of course not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. (Romans 11:1-2)
The Catholic Church, like Paul, teaches that the Jews are and remain the People of God. God has never rejected the Jewish people as his holy people since God is always faithful and merciful.
Luke points out at the very beginning of his two-volume work, Luke-Acts, that Jesus rejects none and brings light to all, both Jews and Gentiles. We hear this in the prayer of the Simeon:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace…for mine eyes have seen your salvation…a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)
This light of Jesus has been handed on to each of us through our baptism as we hear the words of the baptismal ritual: “Receive the light of Christ…this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly.” Jesus calls us to receive the light and let this light shine: “You are the light of the world…your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14, 16)