Will Israel be restored?

Why do the apostles ask about the restoration of Israel before Christ’s Ascension? Have they misunderstood Christ’s ministry and purpose, or does their question point at a deeper reality?

The following homily was preached to the student brothers during Compline.

Reading: Acts 1:1-11

At the beginning of the book of Acts, we are told that “when they (i.e. the apostles) had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’” [Acts 1:6]. What might be lying behind this question? We know from the gospels that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. Have the apostles failed to grasp this point? Is it plausible, given that the resurrected Christ had “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” [Lk 24:45], that the apostles still do not understand that the kingdom which Christ establishes is not of this world? Or might the question be pointing to something deeper?

Might it not be the case that, having grasped the fact that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the son of David, the apostles have come to expect the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel – just as king David, God’s anointed one, once united the tribes into one kingdom? We would do well to remember that at this point, apart from Judah and Benjamin, the rest of Israel had been dispersed throughout the nations, and they remain indistinguishable from the Gentiles even until today.

Recall that before his Passion, Christ prophesied about his crucifixion: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself” [Jn 12:32]. And yet it is obvious to the apostles that all peoples have not yet been drawn to Christ – the remainder of Israel remains lost!

In a manner reminiscent of the Last Supper Discourses, Christ does not answer their question directly. “It is not for you to know times or seasons…” Christ does not say that the apostles were wrong for expecting the restoration of Israel. Instead, he implies that the restoration will take place in the future.

How is it to take place? “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” [Act 1:8]. At the Last Supper, Christ said that he must go away so that he can send us the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete [Jn 16:7]. And here, at his Ascension, Christ says that it is the Holy Spirit, working through the apostles, who will bring about the restoration of Israel. Hence, the apostles, after Pentecost, will go on to preach the Gospel even to the Gentiles. And the Church today, animated by the Holy Spirit, continues the apostolic mission to evangelise all peoples, for it is only by drawing all peoples into the Body of Christ that Israel can truly be restored.

Perhaps through his Ascension and sending of the Holy Spirit, Christ reveals a second meaning to his words: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself”. Christ has restored Israel, and in his Church, he continues to restore Israel. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to work in us also, for the restoration of Israel.

Image: Raphael, St Paul Preaching in Athens (1515). Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.