I used to wonder why they act like this and what motivates their hostility. Eventually I came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter. It's clear they are never going to change. By their own admission they've been kicked out numerous societies and yet that has never motivated any sort of behavior change or self-reflection on their part. If they were going to change it would have happened by now. Instead the explanation is always "irrational bigotry" as if all these different civilizations across the past two millennia rolled the dice on who to blame and the dice kept randomly coming up "Juden", over and over and over.
On the contrary. It matters a great deal, and they
will eventually change —the Jews
will eventually be converted, but not until shortly before the end of the world and the return of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The most profound, most complete explanation that I have ever seen for why they act like this, what motivates their hostility, etc. is an article published in the April 1997 issue of
The Angelus magazine —
The Mystery of the Jewish People in History by Rev. Frs. Michael Crowdy & Kenneth Novak. It is excellent. I strongly suggest everyone to carefully read and study the
FULL article, in its entirety. I’ll give a summary of some of its crucial points below:
-
Only in the light of theology can one explain the Jew. Neither merely psychology nor the biological sciences, nor even purely historical studies can explain the Jewish people. This people is a topic of universal and eternal scope which by its very nature requires a universal and eternal explanation that is valid for today, for yesterday and forever. The Jewish people must be considered by an explanation which is eternal, like God; that is to say, a theological explanation.
-There is a
theological opposition —that is to say, one arranged by God— which exists throughout Christian history between the Synagogue and the Church, between Christians and Jews, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau. What is indispensable at this point is to put down the theological conclusions in the light of which history must be interpreted.
-The Jewish people, once a mystery of goodness, is now changed into a mystery of iniquity. It is no longer Isaac, but Ishmael. No longer Jacob, but Esau. No longer Abel, but Cain.
-Judaism is inimical to all nations in general, and in a special manner to Christian nations…. The Jewish people, if it has not converted to Christianity, will, even if it does not wish to, seek to ruin Christianity…
Christendom and Jewry are destined inevitably to meet everywhere without reconciliation or mixing. It represents in history the eternal struggle of Lucifer against God, of darkness against the Light, of the flesh against the spirit.
-As once they treated Christ, ever since, to persecute Christianity is their theological preoccupation.
This theological law is stronger than all human plans and expedients.
-Ever since Christ was lifted up on Mount Calvary, the world has been subjected to two truly opposite forces: the Jewish force and the Christian. In the world as it is, there can be only two truly basic modes, two poles of attraction: the Christian and the Jewish. Only two religions: Christian and Jewish.
All that is not of Christ and for Christ is done in favour of Judaism. It follows from that, that the de-Christianizing of the world runs parallel to its Judaizing. Why are only these two modes possible? Because they are the only ones willed by God, they are the only theological ones.
-How long must this terrible enmity between Jews and Christians last?
Until God in His mercy brings about the conversion and reconciliation of the Jewish people. St. Paul teaches us that the day will come when Israel will recognize Him whom he has denied:
"For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, of this mystery, (lest you should be wise in your own conceits), that blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles should come in. And so all Israel should be saved, as it is written: There shall come out of Sion, he that shall deliver, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob." (Rom. 11:25,26)
When the moment arrives (which is in the hands of God), then Esau will be reconciled with Jacob, that is to say, the Jews will become Catholics, and the words of the prophet Ezekiel, five centuries before Christ, will be fulfilled:
"...Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will take the children of Israel from among the midst of the nations whither they are gone: and I will gather them on every side, and will bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king over them all: and they shall no more be two nations, neither shall they be divided any more into two kingdoms. Nor shall they be defiled any more with their idols, nor with their abominations, nor with all their iniquities: and I will save them out of all the places in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezek. 37:21-23)
Then all will be one in Christ because the Jewish people will convert from its Judaism and the Christians will be Christians in earnest, and peace will become a reality as the fruit of justice and charity, in Him Who promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is Jesus Christ, the Blessing of all the ages.