(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: https://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Mass-Blog-for-the-11th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time-2026.mp3)
Last week we quoted from the new book “If There Is No God,” in which Jewish Author and Scholar Dennis Prager argues that Judeo-Christian values must overcome secular reason if we are to live in a decent world. The book is largely built around answers he gave to challenging questions posed to him during speaking events. One question could have been inspired by this Sunday’s first reading:
“If you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:2-6a)
This excerpt from Exodus seems to portray God as treating Jewish people as His favorites. Prager fielded the following question from someone who distrusts people like him who, he thinks, seem to rub this favoritism in their face:
“Why would I follow a religion that considers its Jewish followers to be chosen?”
Prager answered:
“The task Jews were chosen for is to introduce the world to the one God and spread the values of the Torah to the world. What’s more, ‘Chosenness’ has historically come with the price of antisemitism. That tremendous burden hardly indicates Jewish superiority.”
One might even ask why a Jew would remain a Jew despite the dangers such antipathy can inspire. The question could also be addressed to Catholics and ALL Christians inspired by this Sunday’s gospel reading, in which Jesus gives the apostles their marching orders:
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.” (Matthew 9:36—10:8)
Sounds like both Jews and Christians were more drafted than chosen—enjoying all the dangers that come with any military conscription. As we know, Christ’s apostles were among the first to live and die by the experience of mission creep, as they and their charges were eventually called to evangelize all souls. We also know that most of them were killed in this service.
In that way, Prager believes, many Christians share more values with religious Jews than they do with non-practicing Christians. All people of faith therefore share in the antipathy that might inspire hate. That’s why Christ told HIS chosen people: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matthew 10:28)
You and I were chosen to show all souls the way out of the Hell of hate on Earth.
–Tom Andel