Many things are happening in the world which promises even more changes ahead. This week the US President is visiting Saudi Arabia along with other Gulf countries, but this past week he said, that before this visit, he will make a major announcement.
It could be related to a trade deal with Saudi Arabia or perhaps a new development with the Abraham Accords. According to the Gulf countries, Trump will announce US recognition of a Palestinian state, this is what the Jerusalem Post announced this morning (May 10th, 2025).
We also heard about this escalated conflict which erupted between two nuclear-armed nations, India and Pakistan. Our earnest prayer is that peace will prevail swiftly, and this conflict will not endure.
We also have witnessed the election of a new Pope for the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world—this is one of the fastest-growing Christian denominations. This year, it experienced a 1.15% increase from the previous one. It is growing particularly in Africa and Asia.
Watching the news coverage of the papal election and the overwhelming joy expressed by the crowd when Pope Leo the 14th first appeared at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square in Rome, it’s clear that the people deeply venerate their Pope. But, while the election was so grandiose, what was truly disturbing was watching how so many people were revering one man. One can understand a joy of a new leader, but it goes much further than that. For instance, they believe that the Pope is the successor of Peter the Apostle, and they go as far as saying that his words may be infallible. Sadly, the pope stands on the authority of what is called ex cathedra, or chair of Peter. This gives the Pope the peoples’ sanction and the Vatican’s sanction that his teachings are to be considered divinely inspired and error-free. But, even throughout the Scriptures, no man was ever given such divine power from heaven. On the contrary, it often made sure to show the weakness of these men so we may only rely, above all, on God.
We see this exposure of human errors from Moses, from Samuel, from David and even to Peter who, after having been given the keys of the kingdom in Matthew 16, not too long after, denied the LORD three times. And this ex cathedra chair reminds us of another chair in the Gospels. We think about the chair of Moses, which Yeshua mentions in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 23. There He complained about the religious leaders self-given authority. He said, The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. This is what they called the Throne of the Torah which emphasizes succession and legitimacy in interpreting Scripture and law.
The problem is not with having leaders and teachers, but it is these leaders who are taking authority beyond what the Lord allows. Furthermore, toward the end of his inaugural address at St Peter’s , the Pope prayed to Mary. Why pray to a person who is a sinner? She herself spoke of Jesus as being her Savior in Luke 1:47. She said, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. Those who need a Savior are sinners and we ought never to pray to any individual but only to God through Yeshua and by the Spirit of God. That is the biblical formula for righteous prayer. There are many similarities between rabbinical Judaism and Catholicism but there is no other way to heaven than through Yeshua Himself and His Word.
Also, this week Friday will be the traditional Jewish religious holiday, Lag B’Omer, that is the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. From Passover to Pentecost, it counts the 49 days between these two feasts. But during the first 33 days, Jews observe semi-mourning customs: no weddings, no haircuts, no music.
Why? According to tradition, at that time, around 135 AD, during the Omer counting, 24,000 Jewish Torah students died in a plague. And it is traditionally accepted that on 33rd day of Lag B’Omer, the plague stopped and so they made a custom to break the traditional mourning and allow celebrations to begin again. This is why on this day, in Israel and elsewhere, Jews will light bonfires and rejoice and many will sing Psalm 30:11 which says, “You turned my mourning into dancing.” Weddings will then begin to take place, and other joyful gatherings will be planned. They say that this is a picture of resurrection life; how God transforms grief into gladness.
And with the coming of the summer, we can also rejoice with them and remember the flames of the six branches of the Menorah which were daily fed by the center light representing the Servant, the Messiah, our light which should never be quenched but be always shining and reflecting His presence.
As for the counting of the Omer, is a biblical commandment from Leviticus 23: 15-16.It relates how Israel was to count each day, from the Passover to Pentecost, 7 full sabbaths or 49 days. Jewish tradition explains that the idea behind counting each day represents a spiritual preparation and anticipation for the giving of the Torah which they believe happened on Shavuoth. But for us it would be even more exciting to count the Omer for it leads us from the death of the Messiah at Passover, to His resurrection at the Feast of First Fruits right to Pentecost, which is the birthday of the ecclesia.
While the Body of the Messiah is still here on earth today, we as believers have not stopped counting the Omer as our home looks like heaven more and more each day. The Omer count keeps up our hope and our nostalgia for heaven, always lit and alive until we reach our eternal abode. They often say that a trip does not begin the moment you board a plane or a train; but it is all in the preparation and in the anticipation. This the counting of the Omer. It is like counting God’s blessings and promises especially concerning our eternal future. The more we do, the more we will rejoice in thinking and meditating on all that the Lord has given us to do and the less we will crave for the passing things of this world.