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.

Lent 4, Ephesians - In Darkness

Ephesians 5.8-14

For once you were in darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. (Eph 5.8)

So much of what has happened in Israel/Palestine over the course of the twentieth century has been hidden in darkness. Instead of living by what can be seen in the light, I have discovered that I have lived by myths that flourished in the darkness. One myth I believed was that Palestine was an empty land, waiting for industrious Jewish farmers to “make the desert bloom.” And that Palestinians rock-throwing started the violence. History teaches otherwise.

Today, March 30, is Palestinian Land Day, "Yom al-Ard," —a day commemorating the Israeli military's 1976 killing of six young Palestinians as they protested the Israeli government's seizure of Palestinian land. The day has since become a symbol of Palestinian resistance to land theft, colonization, occupation and apartheid.

The stories of Palestinian non-violent protest are hidden to most Americans. Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh’s new book, Popular Resistance in Palestine, is one of many recent books bringing this hidden history to light. He writes about the careful organizing that led up to the events of Land Day (pp 112-113), and shared them on his blog yesterday:

“Away from politics, grassroots efforts were functioning. The increased mobilization among Palestinians inside the Green Line took a dramatic and bold step forward with a large meeting in August 1975 in Nazareth attended by 110 individuals to defend the land. At this meeting, a committee was selected, headed by Anees Kardoush, to prepare for an even larger meeting. This meeting, held in October 1975, included about 5,000 activists from many factions and created the Committee for Defense of the Land (Lajnat Al-Difa’ An Al-Aradi) with 100 members and an eleven-member secretariat.

It began by protesting against the confiscation of 22,000 dunums in the Galilee and the declaration of an even larger parcel of land belonging to three villages (in the Al-Mil area) as closed military zones, with the intention of building nine Jewish settlements in this closed zone. A meeting was held in Nazareth on March 6, 1976. This included 48 heads of municipalities and local village councils and called for a day of protests and strikes on March 30, 1976 should Israel go ahead with its land confiscation policies. When it appeared the strike would take place, many areas outside of the Galilee joined it, including in the West Bank. Photo: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh being arrested, Al Walaja, 2010

This became known as ‘Land Day’ throughout Palestine. The events actually started on March 29, when a demonstration against the Israeli army’s provocative mobilizations in the village of Deir Hanna. Later that evening, the village of Araba Al-Batoof demonstrated in solidarity and a young man, Khair Muhammad Yassin, was killed by Israeli soldiers. He was the first martyr of the 1976 Land Day. More martyrs fell over the next 24 hours.

The events were well organized and participation was high. The Israeli authorities reacted violently. Many were injured, six nonviolent protesters killed and hundreds arrested. The events coincided with the secret Koening Memorandum which laid out plans for further discrimination and ethnic cleansing to ‘make the Galilee more Jewish’. The Israeli government condemned the leaking of the memorandum, but no government official repudiated its racist content.12 After this successful popular event, differences arose that weakened the organizing committee and yet, the movement continues strongly to this day.”

As you can see, non-violent protest is an inaccurate description. Non-violence is often met with violence. Tomorrow in Palestine, Israeli soldiers protect the bulldozers clearing Palestinian land for the building of the wall; people protest; and some may be killed.

God of light, open our hearts to the light. Then give us courage to be your partners in this illuminating work; help us be your merciful light, shining on the dark places of your world. Amen.

Lent 4, Samuel - Leading

For the Lord does not see as mortals see...” (1Sam 16.7)

It’s not easy being a leader—prophet OR king. Saul learned the hard way. Enjoying God’s favor, battle after battle, he became more and more impressed with himself, finally claiming sacrificial leadership that did not belong to him. He forgot that his success was not his own, that everything he had achieved depended on God and on Samuel, God’s messenger. Samuel loved his protege–king, even when Saul arrogantly took over Samuel’s job. When God abandoned Saul, Samuel grieved.

As I read about poor Saul, I recalled the strange scene at the Colorado legislature on Friday, March 18, when first the Senate and then the House, interrupted their business to give Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren a standing ovation and a resolution of uncritical support for the state of Israel.

Everyone I’ve told about this asks, Why is the Colorado legislature passing resolutions on foreign policy? Introducing the resolution with laudatory praise for Israel, the legislators explained that it was the $36.6 m Colorado companies make, selling things to Israel. The resolution was our state’s thank you to Israel, a “democracy” that “shares our values,” and is such “ a good partner.”

I, too, have believed that Israel shares our democratic values....until 2008, when I met Dr. Abdul-Latif, a hydrologist who lives surrounded by Israel’s wall in the village of Jayyous in the West Bank. He showed us the wall and told us about his brother-in-law, Dr. Ghassan Khaled, a lecturer and professor of commercial international law at Al Najah University in Nablus, who had been arrested a few months before, on January 16. He was released for lack of evidence, rearrested and held under “administrative detention” for 20 months; then released and arrested again in August, 2010.

“Administrative detention” means that they can hold him without charges...for however long they like. Like most universities, Al Najah is a place where ideas are developed and debated. As a Palestinian university, a big topic of conversation is Israel’s occupation and strategies to end it. As a teacher of international law, I can imagine that Professor Khaled has spoken and written about Israel’s own violations of international law in continuing its occupation and discriminating against its own Arab citizens and the Arabs in occupied areas like Nablus. There have been many demonstrations against Israel’s occupation.....Is this why he is considered a security risk and held in prison for the last three years? Photo is Dr. Khaled's sister-in-law and niece, 2008

Or does his arrest have something to do with his father, Sharif Omar Khaled, who is one of the popular leaders of the peace demonstrations against the Apartheid wall built on the land of Jayyous? His own fields – like most, in that area – were incorporated into Israel by the wall, and he is required to present a permit in order to cultivate them.

We can only guess, because, since the original charges were dismissed in 2008, for lack of evidence, Dr. Khaled has never been charged with anything, only imprisoned. Dr. Khaled is not the only one. Today here are 214 Palestinians held in “administrative detention.” Are these the values we share with Israel? Is this even democracy?

God of Samuel, Saul and David, we are stubborn, and slow to learn your ways; we do not listen to your prophets or submit to your will. But we are quick to assume power. Help us learn humility, to conform our lives to your desires for us, to let go of our desire for control, to live into our baptism with the gifts you have given us. Amen.