Easter, John - New Life from the Tomb

John 20.1-18
“I have seen the Lord.” (Jn 20.18)

Mary shows us that the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection is not the end of the story. Jesus’ terrible death and then the empty tomb, which seemed liked a tragedy, is transformed into a new beginning in her life...and ours.

Just as Jesus commanded his followers at their passover meal, “do this in remembrance of me,” we are also charged to remember Jesus’ ministry by following him—his life-giving miracles of healing and liberation show us to our own everyday acts of mercy and compassion. By our own small acts of healing, teaching, feeding the hungry, we follow our teacher.
In Jesus’ death and resurrection, we see what it means to rely on God’s spirit, to do what we cannot do on our own. In a world seemingly bereft of hope, we, like Mary, have witnessed God’s amazing power for life.

In Palestine today, even under the brutality of Israeli occupation, there are many signs of resurrection, places where, against all human expectation, new life is emerging.....God is still, today, bringing new life out of the tomb of death and destruction and hopelessness.

This new life can be seen in Bethlehem and Ramallah and Gaza, where the children of the occupation are being given the tools for their liberation—education, pride in their heritage, self-confidence to stand up for their human rights.

New life is emerging in Israel, out of the tomb of militarism, fear and hatred, when Israeli young people meet Palestinians in organizations like Sulha and when Machsom Watch grandmothers stand up for Palestinians at the checkpoints. New life is emerging where IDF soldiers question what they have done in the name of security and they refuse to serve in the occupied territory of the West Bank and Gaza (Breaking the Silence and the Shimistim).

Once glimpsed, the hope of resurrection cannot be quashed. We have seen hopes for new life race across northern Africa and spread throughout the Middle East, as people take to the streets, throwing their bodies in the line of fire.

Even in Denver, I see signs of new life for Palestinians. More and more people are learning about what has really been happening in Israel and Palestine. And more people are protesting Israel’s brutality and its disregard of international law and human rights.

Watch some Alleliuia! action in Denver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWmfp1KEIOo. These protesters are challenging TIAA-CREF to live up to its motto, “Financial services for the greater good,” and pull their investments out of companies that support Israel’s occupation and the building of the apartheid wall. (If you squint, you can see me in my bright green jacket holding the yellow sign “End the Occupation”).

Whether you have investments with TIAA-CREF or not, take action on Jewish Voice for Peace’s new website: www.wedivest.org

Good Friday, Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me,
From the words of my groaning?

During the month of March, as we have been making our Lenten pilgrimage, 15 Palestinians were killed by Israel, including five children. As reported by the Palestine News Network, another 90 Palestinians, including 22 children, were wounded.

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
And by night, but find no rest.

Israeli troops arrested 270 Palestinians, including 20 international solidarity workers, who travel to Israel and Palestine to stand with the Palestinians in non-violent protest of continuing land confiscations and human rights abuses.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted, and you delivered them.

“Israelis Don’t Want to Be Occupiers Either”—it’s not a message we often hear in the US. The words of Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers usually drown out the voices of ordinary Israelis who see how militarization is corrupting the soul of their country. But these were the words of an Israeli peace activist, Gershon Baskin, as he reflected on the liberation movement sweeping across northern Africa toward the Middle East.

Baskin founded the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI), headquartered in Jerusalem. This organization brings Israelis and Palestinians together for weekly meetings to hear speakers and learn about one another to equip grassroots leaders who are knowledgeable and creative.

But I am a worm, and not human;
Scorned by others, and despised by the people.

Photo is from an exhibit, "Christ in the Palestinian Context"

After five members of a settler family were murdered in Itamar, near Nablus, Israeli authorities approved plans to build an additional 400 homes for the settlers. Itamar is an illegal settlement in the West Bank, wedged between Palestinian towns, villages and the refugee camps where Palestinians fled from the soldiers in 1948 and 1967. Itamar has taken land from these Palestinians to build their sprawling settlement, destroying olive groves and other agricultural land. Settlers from Itamar attack Palestinians, beating, occasionally torturing, and sometimes murdering Palestinians of all ages; they burn Palestinian crops, and hack down their groves of olive trees, the livelihood of many Palestinian villagers. Hundreds of these trees, have been destroyed by rampaging Israeli settlers. (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/media/itamar.html)

Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
You kept me safe on my mother’s breast.

Many Jews in Israel and in the US oppose Israel’s policies and are working to end the occupation. Jewish Voice for Peace has mounted a campaign supporting a shareholder resolution to request TIAA-CREF to engage with corporations in its portfolio, such as Caterpillar, Veolia, and Elbit, that operate on the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with the goal of ending all practices by which they profit from the Israeli occupation.

Do not be far from me,
For trouble is near
And there is no one to help.

In March, Israeli authorities demolished 70 Palestinian homes and other buildings, including a mosque.

For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me.

From Defense for Children International (DCI): On 8 March 2011, a 15-year-old boy from Beit Ummar village, West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers from his family home at 1:00 am: Hands tied tightly behind his back with a single plastic tie - made to walk for an hour to the settlement of Karmi Zur - soldiers kicked him in the legs along the way - on arrival at the settlement he was made to sit on the ground for an hour in the cold and reports being slapped and punched - after an hour he was pushed into a military vehicle and transferred to the settlement of Gush Etzion for interrogation - interrogated by two men - "Sharif" and "Dawoud" - shouted at and confessed because he was 'scared' - signed a document written in Hebrew - taken outside and waited until 7:00 pm before being transferred to Ofer Prison - hands were tied so tightly behind his back that he began to scream in pain and they became swollen…

But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Deliver my soul from the sword,
My life from the power of the dog!
Save me from the mouth of the lion!

Holy Week - Good Friday

Psalm 22

Do not be far from me,
For trouble is near
And there is no one to help. (Ps 22.11)

Sixty-three years ago this month, the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin was the scene of a massacre by Jewish paramilitaries. It was April 9, 1948, just before Israel declared its independence on May 15. There have been many accounts of what happened that day—for many years Israelis denied that a massacre had taken place, but in recent years, as government documents were made available, it has become clear that the Irgun and the Lehi Zionist paramilitary groups, fanatical offshoots of the Hagannah, were responsible for the killing of more than 100 villagers, including women and children.

Dr. Masin Qumsiyeh, who spoke in Denver I March, wrote this poem on the anniversary of the Dei Yassin massacre, as he returned home from his US visit: http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/a-poem-for-juliano/

Deir Yassin to Gaza
by Mazin Qumsiyeh, written in honor of Juliano Mer Khamis, who was killed in Jenin April 4. Learn more about him on my April 8 blog post.

My kind old mother laments
Decades of memory that transcends
Fake Gods and fake peace offers
who bless nichsayon and slaughter
our eyes fail to see or just lament
blood of a child licked off a pavement
By stray thirsty cats
with more morals than army brats
Our ears fail to hear
voice of Dr. Izzeldinne echoes
"I shall not hate" his anguished cries
After three beautiful daughters
With a tank shell and in a niece in a slaughters
Our noses fail to smell
The whiff of death mixed with gun powder
Or the vomit of our tortured
Our hearts fail to feel
the punctured womb by the old home
the severed girl's head by the mosque dome
Mutilated,
dismembered,
disconnected
Our fingers fail to touch
an anguished young mother
Looking for a child
Jews, Christian, Muslims wail
The lost humanity to no avail
the generals must have their joy
to test their newest toy
in Gaza white phosphorous back in use yesterday
impunity from war crimes thanks to the US of A
billionaires must make more dollars
zealots must sacrifice children at altars
Gabriel can stay a knife but not drones
And hate can murder a thousand Julianos
While the apathetic multitude watch TV
Obliviously focused on their shopping spree
Bypassing love and responsibility
Chasing gadgets, hate, and vanity
Next news bulletin.... get the experience
Next anniversary..awaken the conscience?

Poem also published by Palestine News Network:
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9865&Itemid=

[You can read a detailed and well-documented description of what is believed to have happened at Deir Yassin on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deir_Yassin_massacre with pictures. Ilan Pappe writes about it in his book, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.]

Holy Week - the Passover Seder

Exodus 12.1-4 [5-10] 11-14

Tonight, Monday of Holy Week is the first night of the Jewish Passover, a week of commemoration of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. It is a time for reflection on a miracle—when God enlisted Moses’ help to plead for the freedom of the Israelite slaves and sent ten plagues to persuade Pharaoh to let them go. The tenth plague was the slaughter of the firstborn in every Egyptian household. God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb so that the angel of death would “pass over” their homes. They were also instructed to prepare to flee their captivity in Egypt. Indeed, they left their homes in such a hurry that they had to grab their bread before it had risen. In remembrance of their hasty flight to freedom, Jews do not eat any leavened bread during Passover. Hence the plentiful supplies of matzo in the supermarket lately!

Passover, along with Shavuot and Sukkot, is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, when Jews were required to be present at the temple in Jerusalem. Holy Week is also a week of remembrance—when Jesus and his disciples, all good Jews, traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover was arrested, tried and killed.

God’s instructions to Moses and Aaron for observing Passover are the first lesson we read on Maundy Thursday because Jesus’ last meal with his disciples was the Passover meal.

Tonight, Monday in our Holy Week, Jews all over the world will be sharing a special meal, the Passover Seder. Jewish Voice for Peace offers this seder as a way to reflect on the Jewish exodus through the experience of the Palestinians who have been forced to pay the price for the existence of the State of Israel.

As Rabbi Alissa Wise of Jewish Voice for Peace explains, “This Haggadah takes our responsibility to be part of the ongoing evolution of Jewish culture and ritual seriously, by re-imagining and re-creating rituals to speak to our highest ethical values and political lives and commitments. You will find in this Haggadah, inspired by the tradition: olives on the seder plate, ten plagues of the Israeli occupation, four cups of wine dedicated to education, solidarity, the BDS movement, and community, and feminine and non-gendered blessing formulations.”

Or click here for the Jewish Voice for Peace Haggadah

Prayer: Even if you don’t read the whole Haggadah, please use the prayer of repentance, Nakba Dayenu, on page 15.

[Passover news from Palestine: Israel’s military is preparing for the Passover by announcing a "general closure" of the West Bank which will last for ten days. The closure will prevent Palestinians with work permits, from entering Israel and Jerusalem until 11:50 p.m. on 26 April. An exception is the few Palestinians who were granted permits to visit the holy sites in Holy Week (story, “Jewish Freedom Holiday Restricts Palestinians,” Ma’an News). Israel is also closing entrances to Gaza during Passover (see story, Ma’an News). Read Maria Khoury’s article about Christian access to Jerusalem in Palestine Network News. Dr. Khoury was in Denver in February and spoke at a Sabeel program.]

Lent 6, Palm Sunday, Matthew 27

Palm Sunday, Matthew Matthew 27.11-54

Now, THIS is a god Palestinians can identify with! This god, on trial before Pilate, convicted by the mob, spit upon, mocked, taunted with the vile-tasting wine, totally abandoned as he hung there dying—When Christians in Bethlehem read this story, they know what Jesus is facing. They have been there, arrested by Pilate’s soldiers, waiting in Pilate’s prison and standing in his courtroom.

They, too, have been betrayed by their leaders—their own leaders and their military rulers, the Israelis. They have sat forgotten in Israeli jails, where they have also been beaten—young and old alike. They have been mocked at checkpoints, taunted by soldiers who make them lift their shirts. They have suffered the indignity of a pat-down every time they want to leave their town. They have stood impotent as the soldiers beat their children. They have stood for hours in the hot sun, at the whim of a 19-year-old in a green uniform pointing an AK47 at them. They have been abandoned by the international community that created Israel out of their villages and olive groves.

On March 29, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons launched a hunger strike, protesting the inhumane treatment they have received and Israel’s violations of international law. In the US, we don’t hear much about Israeli prisons, but for Palestinian prisoners, Israeli prisons serve as educational institutions. The prisoners meet together, the older ones teaching the younger ones. They learn about the history of the Palestinian people and they read Gandhi and Martin Luther King. The prisons are a school for non-violent resistance to Israel’s occupation.

Sami Al Jundi was a teenager when he was sentenced to ten years in prison after a bomb he was building exploded, killing his friend. His new book, The Hour of Sunlight, co-written with Jen Marlowe, is his story of transformation in these prison schools. After his release, he founded an organization bringing together Palestinian and Israeli youth.

His is not the experience of all Palestinian prisoners and not everyone embraces non-violence. And, as Mazin Qumsiyeh pointed out during his visit to Denver in March, Palestinian non-violence is often met by violence on the part of the Israeli soldiers. But Sami’s story inspires others in their non-violent work and the work multiplies—I have seen for myself some of the non-violent work being done all over Israel and Palestine, for example, Sulha, the group I met with last year in Jerusalem. Photo shows Sulha youth and their leader, Elad. See part of that story on my blog: http://apilgrimstales.blogspot.com/2010/05/peace-is-road-that-takes-you-somewhere.html

Watch an intereview on GRITtv with Sami Al-Jundi and Jen Marlowe http://www.blip.tv/file/4976052

O God, you know the life of a prisoner. You stood before the greatest military power of your time, on trial for your life. Help us to stand with prisoners everywhere—both in Israel and with the people in our own prisons right here in Colorado. Amen.

Lent 6, Palm Sunday, Isaiah - Sustaining Words

Isaiah 50.4-9a
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. (Is 50.4)

Read what our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers call us to do to support them during Holy Week—

Position of the Local Palestinian Christian community on Restrictions on Religious Rights (and especially during Holy Week)

For Christians, Holy Week in Jerusalem has a special spiritual connection. The Old City, its gates and roads, the Mount of Olives, Via Dolorosa and The Holy Sepulchre Church, where pilgrims from all over the world journey to, are equally important to the Palestinian Christians of Gaza and the West bank, who want to join their Jerusalemite Christian brethren in the liturgical events leading to the resurrection, the holiest celebration in Christianity.

In every country that respects and implements freedom of worship, worshippers of different faiths live their faith and express their prayers without restrictions from the governing authorities. In Jerusalem, and for the past decade, this has not been the case. The occupying power is denying free access to Holy places of worship to both Christians and Muslims on several important occasions. Photo: Bethlehem residents who were denied permits, protesting at the Bethlehem checkpoint, Palm Sunday, 2010.

Last year, Israel restrictions prevented Palestinian Christians from attending the Holy Fire Saturday in Jerusalem. Israel allows only 8000 pilgrims and few hundreds of locals to enter the city on Holy Fire Saturday where the Holy Sepulchre Church and its surroundings become off limits for Christians through a complex network of walls, checkpoints, and security apparatuses.

A tradition dating long before the creation of the state of Israel is observed by Palestinian Christians on that special day. Local Christians wait for The Holy Light on the roof of the Patriarchate and at the Church of Saint Jacob, adjoining the Holy Sepulchre. The local faithful insist on preserving this right no matter what it takes. They see that the restrictions made against them are violations of basic human rights and religious freedom as well as a violation of the Status Quo and centuries of religious traditions for the indigenous Christians of this land.

On the occasion of the celebration of Easter the “The Moment of Truth Document” that unites Christians in a word of Faith, Hope and Love in a call for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, would like to emphasize on the follow:

• The right of entry to Jerusalem for West Bank and Gaza Christians. On the occasion of Easter, Palestinian Christians living outside of Jerusalem in the West Bank and Gaza are required to apply for permits to access their holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem. It is estimated that of those, only 2000 – 3000 Palestinian Christians receive permits. Muslims have also difficulties in accessing their Holy sites. However, Jews do not have to apply for permits!

• The permit system instated by Israel is in obvious violation of the ICPRR, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants and treaties to which Israel is a signatory. Regardless of the number of people from the local congregation allowed toparticipate in the celebrations, we reject the imposition of a permit/quota system to access our churches and shrines.

• During Jewish holidays, Palestinian areas are put under military closure in the West bank and acquired permits are automatically cancelled. The heavy presence of Israeli Police and Military forces (around and in the Old City and surrounding the holy sites) preventing Christians from accessing the Holy Sepulcher Church and the Old City disturbs the spiritual atmosphere of Easter, especially when Israeli commanders are around and inside the Tomb of Christ.

• Excuses being used by the Israeli police regarding our ‘own security’ are not acceptable. In addition, our prayers and holding of candles are signs of peace & should not threaten the might of the Israeli Police. There is no need or justification for a fully charged army & police force. Actions taken against Palestinian Christians, the first and oldest Christian community in the world, attack not only the Palestinian people and their rights in the occupied city of Jerusalem, but in reality, the whole Christianity.

We call on all our leaders, friends, brothers and sisters around the world to continue exerting pressure on Israel, to end its military occupation on this land and to respect international law and human rights. Practical steps to take:

Support local Church leaders not to submit and accept the conditions that deprive indigenous and international worshippers of the joy of celebrating Easter.

Write to your political representatives to pressure Israel by political means to end its restrictions in this field In Colorado: (for other districts, please see: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd) Senator Michael Bennet: http://bennet.senate.gov/contact/ Senator Mark Udall: http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=contact_us Representative Diana DeGette: http://www.house.gov/formdegette/Legislative_Contact_Form.shtml Representative Jared Polis: https://polis.house.gov/Forms/WriteYourRep/ Representative Doug Lamborn: https://lamborn.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=138 Representative Mike Coffman: http://forms.house.gov/coffman/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm Representative Ed Perlmutter: https://forms.house.gov/perlmutter/webforms/contact.shtml

Write directly to the Israeli Ambassadors in your countries complaining against such actions Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren: Email: info@washington.mfa.gov.il Telephone: 202.364.5500 Kairos Palestine, The Christians Palestinian Initiative c/o Dar Annadwa, P.O.Box 162, Bethlehem, Palestine • Phone +972-2-277 0047 • Fax +972-2-277 0048 Email: info@kairospalestine.ps • www.kairospalestine.ps Jerusalem , Bethlehem, 3.04.2011

Lent 6, Matthew - Palm Sunday in Jerusalem

Matthew 21.1-11

On Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, crowds still gather on the Mount of Olives and process into Jerusalem. This centuries-old tradition draws pilgrims from all over the globe, who walk the streets where Jesus rode the donkey, a tradition perhaps tracing its roots as far back as the fourth century.

Last year, a story in the New York Times reported: “Hundreds of Christians from around the world marched from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem to mark Palm Sunday, retracing the steps of Jesus 2,000 years ago….A few dozen Israeli police stood by, a small fraction of the forces on duty in recent weeks because of Palestinian unrest.”

“Unrest?” An interesting way to describe protests against the announcement of even more settlement construction in the Palestinian West Bank.

“Unrest?” An odd word for protests against Israel’s refusal of permits for people from Bethlehem to travel to Jerusalem for the procession, a denial of their centuries-old tradition.

“Unrest?” Christians from around the world didn’t need any permits to walk Jesus’ route; they just showed up by the busload on the top of the Mount of Olives. You and I would not need a permit. Our American passports would do the trick. But the locals, the descendants of those who waved palm branches for Jesus, were required to get permits to be there. And then their permit requests were denied. Even though the Mount of Olives is in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian part of Jerusalem.

No wonder there was “unrest.” For the residents of Bethlehem, in the West Bank, permits are required to travel to East Jerusalem, another part of the West Bank, because Israel has set up checkpoints at every road leaving Bethlehem. No one enters or leaves Bethlehem without a permit, without waiting in a long line, submitting to searches and questioning.

You’d think that Palestinians traveling from a West Bank town, through the West Bank, to another town in the West Bank, would not have to go through Israeli checkpoints. But the settlements have been built between all the towns of the West Bank and so Israel has set up the checkpoints to protect them from the Palestinians, whose land was taken for the settlements.

(the blue areas on the map are Israeli settlements, between Palestinian towns in the West Bank).

In fact, if Jesus were traveling today, from Jericho to the Mount of Olives and into Jerusalem, he would have to pass through at least two checkpoints and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adummim. Then, just before getting to the Mount of Olives, he would bump up against Israel’s 25-foot-high wall at Abu Dis (see photo), where it cuts off the road from Jericho to Jerusalem and divides this Arab village in two. Jesus would be able to go no further—not even a checkpoint here; no travel. Period.

Even though Jesus would never leave the West Bank, he could not make it to Jerusalem.......even in the unlikely event that a rabble-rouser like him would be granted a permit.

The map shows how the settlements (blue) break up the West Bank and make travel between Bethlehem, East Jerusalem, and Jericho (to the right, off the map) so difficult.

God, you sent your son to bring good news—your dreams for our future, of hope, health and abundant life. But we are too afraid to let go of the life we know to follow your way. As we remember Jesus’ life death and resurrection this Holy Week, embolden us to be good news for your people today. Amen.

Lent 5, John – Raising the Dead

John 11.1-45

Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again? (Jn 11.8)

It’s dangerous, this healing work. Jesus’ disciples are incredulous. Does Jesus really intend to go back up to Jerusalem, the place where the "Jews" are planning to stone him? (Jn 10.31)

This power to bring life out of death is hazardous. Lazarus himself became the target of threats (Jn 12.10). The world fears this life-giving power.

We’ve seen it in Tahrir Square, as freedom protesters were attacked and killed. We’ve seen it in Libya, in Bahrain, in Yemen. And this week we see it again in Palestine, in Jenin, a refugee camp famous for its refusal to accept Israel’s theft of land, its fences and walls and iron gates. Jenin is well-known for its uprisings against Israel’s cruelty.

This week, one of Jenin’s leaders was killed, five bullets to his head, gunned down outside the theater he created in the hopelessness of this refugee camp. Juliano Mer-Khamis was the co-founder and director of the Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp. It is not yet known who killed him, but he was most definitely a man of peace and freedom. Watch this 8-minute documentary by Jen Marlowe which tells Juliano’s story, in his own words—a man breathing new life into a community under occupation.

God of resurrection, you bring healing out of illness, life out of death. Today, your steadfast presence still inspires visions of the possibility of life in a world where death seems victorious. Give us courage to stand with those who have seen the vision you have given us, even when death threatens. Amen.

Lent 5, Romans - God is Waiting

Romans 8.6-11 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Rom 8.9)

This poem from Joan Chittister’s new book, The Monastery of the Heart, came to me this week via her weekly email, Vision and Viewpoint. It perfectly describes the work of Compassionate Listening, and expresses what I have seen and heard when I meet people on the ground working for peace and reconciliation in Israel and Palestine. Jamal Muqbel and his family, for example, embody this work in Beit Ommar (see Friday, Apr 1 post). And there are hundreds more…hearing God’s spirit dwelling in their hearts and joining God’s creative work, in their own lives and for the future of the world.

Listen with the ear of your heart…Prologue of The Rule of Benedict

It is a gentle, tender invitation,
this call to create within ourselves
a Monastery of the Heart.
It is the call to go down deep
into the self
in order to find there
the God
who urges us;
to come out of ourselves
to do the work of God,
to live in union with God
in the world around us.

It is not punitive, this call.
It is not demanding,
not harsh and unforgiving.
It is, instead, the daily guarantee
that, if we will only begin the journey
and stay the road—
listening to the voice of God
and responding to it
with all our gifts and goodness—
we will find that God stands waiting
to sustain us,
and support us,
and fulfill us
at every turn.
God is calling us lovingly always,
if we will only stop the noise within us
long enough to hear....

The Prologue to Benedict's Rule
demands of us
that we "Listen."
Listen to everything.
Because everything in life is important.
Listen with the heart:
with feeling for the other,
with feeling for the Word,
with feeling for the God
who feels for us.
Listen to the Word of God,
the Rule says,
"and faithfully put it into practice."
Most of all,
know that to seek God
is to find God.
In a Monastery of the Heart—
in the riches of the tradition it offers
and the treasures to which it leads,
and in company with others who are seeking, too—
find a loving spiritual guide
to encourage your journey,
to refresh your faith
when life is dry and dark,
when the days are long and draining,
when you are inclined to forget
that God is with us
for the taking.

Most of all, every day
start over again.
Remember that life is
for coming to see,
one day at a time,
what life and God
are really all about.
Life grows us more and more—
but only if we wrestle daily
with its ever-daily meaning for us.
God is calling us to more
than now—
and God is waiting
to bring us to it.
"Listen," the Rule says.
"If you hear God's voice today,
do not harden your hearts."

God, whose breath formed our very lives, your Spirit still breathes through us this day. Soften our hearts to find you there, in our very created essence. Give us courage to heed your invitation to work with you, bringing in your kingdom of justice and peace. Amen.

Lent 5, Ezekiel - Breathing Life into Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37.1-14

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil…. (Ez. 37.11)

Near a busy intersection and trendy shopping area in West Jerusalem (the Israeli side), our Compassionate Listening stopped for lunch near a large park, much of it hidden from view by a tall fence of corrugated metal. I could hear bulldozers at work, but I couldn’t see what was going on in there. This is Mamilla Park and we were told that construction was beginning on a Museum of Tolerance, built by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, based in California.

Sounds beautiful, does it not? Just what is needed in this border area where Israeli West Jerusalem meets Palestinian East Jerusalem, where Jews, Christians and Muslims fight over land and human rights—a perfect spot for a tolerance museum, to bring people together.

This story of hope, however, has a dark underside. Mamilla Park was built on top of a Muslim cemetery, and, as construction proceeds on the Museum of Tolerance, graves are being bulldozed, the bones scattered…dry bones, ancient bones of the ancestors of today’s Palestinians, living nearby in East Jerusalem or in refugee camps in Jordan or Lebanon, or in America or anywhere around the world where they have found refuge.

Some of the bones were simply piled into cardboard boxes, unidentified, unmarked, without notifying the families or anyone in the community. The construction of the “Museum of Tolerance” has been opposed by Israeli archaeologists, historians, human rights advocates, to no avail. Construction is proceeding this very moment. Photo: my view of Mamilla Cemetery in 2010 Take a few minutes to hear about the controversy:

• Interview on Democracy Now, explaining the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s reaction to the Palestinian protest and an interview with Rashid Khalidi and Michael Rattner, explaining Palestinian objections to the building (9min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDssmI-EnHo&feature=related


• More pictures of the cemetery (2 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am0MyyjPYyU

What would express God’s desire for Israelis and Palestinians? “I will put my spirit within you and you shall live, and I will place you on our own soil.” God of creation, your breath gave life to humankind. In times of suffering, you sent your spirit and then your son to bring your people hope for new life. Today we bring you our own hopes for the future of your people. Grant us courage to carry out our part in your life-giving work. Amen.

Lent 4, John - Born Blind

John 9.1-41 (including Jesus’ explanation of this sign in 10.1-21)

…he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. (Jn 9.3)

Sometimes when I tell people what I have seen and heard in Israel and Palestine, I feel like the man born blind.

When I come back to the US with all these stories that don’t fit with what we have always believed about Israel and Palestinians, I get the questions—Aren’t the Palestinians encouraging violence? Aren’t their leaders corrupt? After all, don’t they want to see Israel “driven into the sea”? How do you know you haven’t been duped into sympathizing with the Palestinians? Is it possible you have been brainwashed? Like the blind man, I have seen something so powerful that I can’t keep it to myself. I feel compelled to tell everyone about it. Like the blind man, I’m not sure what it means, but in telling the story I am slowly finding the meaning.

This week in Beit Ommar, the Israeli army closed the city’s only entrance, the small dirt road that passes under the 50-foot-high guard tower. The people of Beit Ommar, fed up with Israel’s ongoing confiscation of their lands, have been demonstrating against the occupation. With the “unrest” all over the West Bank, Israel is clamping down on protest.

Jamal, in Beit Ommer (the name of the town, like most Arabic place names is spelled many ways in English – I have usually written Beit Ummar) wrote on Wednesday (his English is MUCH better than my Arabic, but I’ve done a little editing to make it clearer):

“Now the Israeli soldiers closed Beit Ommer; it's like a big prison, no one can use the car to go outside, also they arrested a lot of people (young men). Despite of that I continue working for peace. I invited Israelis to my house, I visited Sderot, in the south of Israel where Hamas rockets come through Gaza, I talked to people there, I faced dangers there, some people made a protest against me and other Palestinians who were there; they used bad words.

Photo is of Jamal and Margee, from our Compassionate Listening delegation last May, taken by Ellen Greene.

Also there were 4 women from Cyprus; I invited them to my house with Israelis. I coordinate with the Mayor of Beit Ommer; we invited many people to the Muncipality to screen a film about the conflict in Cyprus. Then we discussed with the Israelis; many shared and asked questions; it was a wonderful meeting. Last Monday the Compassionate Listening group visited us; we invited Israelis to the meeting, also Palestinians; they heard from both sides. Saddiye [Jamal’s wife] and the children help me in all my activities; they give me courage. It's not easy for me to continue without their support; sometimes Saddiye becomes afraid when I visit Israelis area because there is a lot of hate to Palestinians. Also my work with Israelis caused problems in my job [Jamal is a barber] because I lost many customers, because many people don't accept the idea that I deal with Israelis, but I want to continue what I started. We think of our children’s future; we want them to live on peace without fear , it's a big challenge.

Also last week we met with an Israeli family from Sedrot; they have 4 kids; our children shared playing with them; we shared a meal. It was really nice meeting. The plan was to visit them in their house but the soldiers didn't let us go to Sedrot even we though had permits, but this family come next to the checkpoint. We spent 4 hours together, this means a lot to us; we feel we break the wall between us.”

God, you know the desires of our hearts—longings for peace and security, for freedom and a future for our children. Help those of us who have been given these gifts to use them for the work of your reign of justice and peace. Amen.