Confession of Our Sin Against the Jews

Text: Acts 12:1-17

Reflection and Question: This action-packed description of Herod’s treatment of the first believers is striking, in part because Peter’s miraculous escape from prison has remarkable similarities to Jesus’ resurrection. But for me the more important aspect of this passage is the way it has contributed to Christian persecution of the Jews ever since. This is a grievous sin by the Church against the innocent and we need to confess it every time we read sections of Scripture like this. How do you atone for Christian treatment of Jews through the ages?

Prayer: God of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, forgive us our sin against their children’s children through the course of time. May we learn from our past that we must treat every person as Your beloved creation. Have mercy on us, we pray. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).