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Give peace a chance

17 May 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

"The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power," this Sunday's psalm intones. Pope Benedict XVI is calling for the power of peace and reconciliation on a tour of nations in the Middle East this week. In Israel on Monday he called on both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to work toward saving the fragile peace process. "I come, like so many others before me, to pray at the holy places, to pray especially for peace--peace here in the Holy Land, and peace throughout the world," the pope said. "I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of the outstanding difficulties, so that both peoples may live in peace," Benedict said. The pope's visit to Bethlehem Wednesday took on increased significance as he endorsed the idea of a homeland while standing on Palestinian soil. With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his side, Benedict said, "Mr. President, the Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbors, within internationally recognized borders." To get to Jesus' traditional birthplace of Bethlehem, the pope crossed through the towering concrete slabs of the separation barrier Israel has erected to wall off the West Bank's Palestinian areas. On a visit to a nearby refugee camp, he expressed regret over Israel's construction of the separation barrier. He also urged young Palestinians to "have the courage to resist any temptation to resort to acts of violence or terrorism." While Benedict's trip was intended to boost interfaith relations, it has been fraught with political land mines. Israelis have criticized the German-born pope for failing to adequately express remorse for the Holocaust, while Palestinians are pressing him to draw attention to the difficult conditions of life under Israeli rule. Source: Articles by United Press International and Mohammed Daraghmeh and Diaa Hadid for Associated Press

Peace israel palestinians benedict xvi middle east mahmoud abbas bethlehem
Peace of two minds?

24 May 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The Ascension reading from the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of the effort to preserve unity "through the bond of peace." Those working for peace in the Middle East hope that this week's U.S. visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would further the cause. Netanyahu spent three days meeting with President Obama and high-ranking members of Congress and the administration. Obama encouraged Netanyahu Monday to stop expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank and to grasp the "historic opportunity" to make peace with the Palestinians. Thus far Netanyahu has refused to agree to the creation of a Palestinian state and has announced plans to continue building up settlements. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters Tuesday she had reiterated the U.S. commitment to a two-state solution and its demand that Israel halt construction of settlements. After meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Netanyahu glossed over differences between his stance and Obama's, saying that the U.S. and Israel were working together to resume Mideast peacemaking and "bring other elements in the Arab world into the process." Source: An article by Amy Teibel for the Associated Press

Peace middle east palestinians israel barack obama Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
To tell the truth

07 Jun 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

"We are all children of God," Saint Paul reminds us this Sunday in the reading from the Letter to the Romans. In interviews previewing the speech he will make Thursday in Cairo to the Arab world, President Barack Obama suggested he will encourage Muslims, Christians, and Jews to work together to find common solutions to the problems in the Middle East. "I think the most important thing I want to tell young people is that, regardless of your faith, those who build as opposed to those who destroy I think leave a lasting legacy, not only for themselves but also for their nations," Obama said in an interview with Canal Plus, a French television station. In an interview with the New York Times, the president said another key part of his message would be to "stop saying one thing behind closed doors and saying something else publicly." The president said he hoped to persuade the Arab people and ultimately their leaders to work with the United States."There are a lot of Arab countries more concerned about Iran developing a nuclear weapon than the 'threat' from Israel, but won't admit it," Obama said. There are a lot of Israelis "who recognize that their current path is unsustainable, and they need to make some tough choices on settlements to achieve a two-state solution--that is in their long-term interest--but not enough folks are willing to recognize that publicly."There are also a lot of Palestinians, he said, who "recognize that the constant incitement and negative rhetoric with respect to Israel" has not delivered a single "benefit to their people and had they taken a more constructive approach and sought the moral high ground" they would be much better off today--but they won't say it aloud. "We have a joke around the White House," the president said. "We're just going to keep on telling the truth until it stops working--and nowhere is truth-telling more important than the Middle East." Source: An article by Reuters and a blog posting by Jeff Zeleny for the New York Times

Truth barack obama israel palestinians middle east arabs iran
Pope urges action to avoid further Middle East bloodshed

13 Jun 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

During the time of David, Israel lived among hostile neighbors such as the Ammonites mentioned in this Sunday’s reading from 2 Samuel. Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cyprus late last week just after the killing in Turkey of Catholic Bishop Luigi Padovese, who had been scheduled to meet with the pontiff during the trip. The pope appealed for greater freedom for Christians in the Middle East and said that urgent international action is needed to prevent “greater bloodshed” in the region. Before departing Cyprus Monday, the pontiff presented Catholic bishops from the Middle East with a working document for a special assembly of Middle East bishops due to take place in October in Rome. “The Middle East has a special place in the hearts of all Christians, since it was there that God first made himself known to our fathers in faith,” Benedict told the bishops gathered in Nicosia. Cyprus, an island divided between ethnic Turks and Greeks, is viewed by the Vatican as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. Source: Articles by VOANews.com and Ecumenical News International

benedict xvi middle east cyprus
Bishop has some choice words for Israel

31 Oct 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The psalmist this Sunday promises to bless God’s name forever and ever, and Jesus points out in this Sunday’s gospel that despite his less than reputable profession, Zacchaeus, too, is a “descendent of Abraham.” Whether God still considers descendents of Abraham to be the "chosen people,” however, has been called into question by a U.S. bishop in controversial remarks. Presenting the final document of a month-long Vatican synod of Middle Eastern bishops, Greek-Melkite Bishop Cyrille Salim Bustros of Newton, Mass. rejected the idea of a biblical rationale for Israel as a Jewish state, sparking immediate criticism from Jewish spokespersons. Speaking at a news conference last Saturday, Bustros said that for Christians, “The concept of the promised land cannot be used as a base for the justification of the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of Palestinians.” The advent of Jesus, he said, meant that Jews “are no longer the preferred people, the chosen people; all men and women of all countries have become the chosen people.” Bustros added that “sacred scripture should not be used to justify the occupation by Israel of Palestine.” Bustros’ remarks sparked condemnation from Israel and Jewish organizations. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) protested what it called “shocking and outrageous” comments. “By stating that God’s covenantal promise of land to the Jewish people ‘was nullified by Christ’ and that ‘there is no longer a chosen people,’ Archbishop Bustros is effectively stating that Judaism should no longer exist,” ADL National Director Abe Foxman wrote in a letter to the new Vatican official in charge of Catholic-Jewish relations, Cardinal-elect Kurt Koch. “This represents the worst kind of anti-Judaism, bordering on anti-Semitism.” The Vatican’s chief spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, responded to the criticism by distancing the synod from Bustros’ remarks. He said Monday that personal comments by individual synod participants “should not be considered as the voice of the synod in its entirety.” The final document, or “Message,” was the only text that expressed the approval of the full synod, Lombardi said. The Message mainly dealt with the plight of Christians in the Middle East, but it devoted a section to Israel and Jews. Calling for a furthering of Jewish-Catholic dialogue, it condemned anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism, noted “the suffering and insecurity in which Israelis live,” and affirmed Israel’s right to live at peace within its “internationally recognized borders.” But it also noted “the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the whole region, especially on the Palestinians who are suffering the consequences of the Israeli occupation. It went on to say that “. . . we see that a just and lasting peace is the only salvation for everyone and for the good of the region and its peoples.” Source: An article by JTA.org

israel chosen people cyrille salim bustros promised land anti-defamation league abe foxman christians middle east federico lombardi jews palestinians synod of bishops
A thaw in Mideast relations?

04 Aug 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The psalmist this Sunday calls on the Lord to "prosper the work of our hands" while encouraging all who hear the Lord's voice to "harden not your hearts." The first significant peace talks in years between Palestinians and Israelis began this week in Washington after Israel announced it will release 104 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry brokering the discussions, negotiators on all sides are hoping that hearts hardened by years of animosity can begin to thaw so that peace may prosper.In a brief appearance at the U.S. State Department on Monday, Kerry said his goal was to pursue “reasonable compromises” of some of the Middle East’s most intractable issues. “I know the negotiations are going to be tough, but I also know that the consequences of not trying could be worse,” he said.In making the revival of Middle East talks his top priority, Kerry is not only challenging the status quo in the region but also taking on the conventional wisdom in much of the American foreign policy establishment. The prevailing narrative among the skeptics, including more than a few experienced Middle East hands, is that while the Israelis and Palestinians may have sent their negotiators to Washington to placate Kerry, neither side appears remotely prepared to make the hard calls needed to cement a lasting peace.In recent weeks, however, Kerry and his aides have outlined several basic arguments for why his efforts might bear fruit. Perhaps the most important one, which Kerry advanced almost from the moment he was picked for the State Department post, is that the United States does not have the luxury of staying on the sidelines.Kerry extracted a commitment that the two sides would give the negotiations at least nine months, so at least there will be time to explore ideas without fears of a walkout. And more than 100 prominent Jewish Americans with varying religious and political viewpoints have thrown their support behind the Israeli government’s decision to participate in the talks.Homily hint: "Waging peace" is much more difficult for adversaries than waging war, but in many ways the activities require similar strength, focus, and perserverence. The Middle East has seen a lot of hostility in recent decades. Isn't it time all sides gave peace a real chance? Keep this peace effort and all who work for peace in your prayers and petitions this weekend. Sources: Articles by Michael R. Gordon and Isabel Kershner for theNew York Times and Michele Chabin for Religion News Service

mideast israel palestinians middle east peace talks john kerry
Mideast peace muddle

23 Mar 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

We are encouraged in the reading from the Letter to the Romans this Sunday to trust that "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith." It’s hard to have much faith in Mideast peace prospects right now, as the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian talks appear on the edge of a breakdown.As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited the White House this week, a new obstacle to peace emerged: Israel’s demand that Palestinians not only recognize Israel but recognize it as a Jewish state—something that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says is at the foundation of any Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. Abbas responded on Monday that the Palestinians have already recognized Israel and that’s sufficient.Even the U.S. has struggled to strike a consistent message on the issue. Several weeks ago peace envoy Martin Indyk told U.S. Jewish leaders that Palestinian recognition of a Jewish state would be part of the “framework” peace document that the U.S. is trying to get both sides to go along with.But last week it seemed that the U.S. might be shifting its position on the Jewish state demand, with Secretary of State John Kerry telling the House Foreign Relations Committee that Netanyahu’s repeated focus on the issue is a “mistake” and that the Palestinians had conferred recognition already, a statement annoying many in Israel.Further complicating the picture, the Palestinians threatened Wednesday to resume their campaign for international recognition at the United Nations if Israel calls off a planned release of Palestinian prisoners. Israel pledged to release 104 long-serving Palestinian prisoners in four stages at the outset of the current round of talks last July. The fourth and final release was set to take place by March 29. But in recent days Israel has signaled it may not carry out the final release.Homily hint: A lasting Mideast peace has eluded the world since at least the time of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The 50th anniversary of that conflict in only a few years away; maybe it’s time to invoke the biblical tradition of declaring a Jubilee year of forgiveness and reconciliation every 50 years; “a year of favor from the Lord.” The cause of peace could use all the favors it can get right now. Sources: Articles by Joshua Mitnick for the Jewish Week (New York) and Melanie Phillips for the Wall Street Journal

israel palestinians middle east mahmoud abbas benjamin netanyahu peace negotiations john kerry martin indyk statehood
Are warring parties willing to make the peace?

20 Jul 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

God’s justice is tempered by mercy and kindness, this Sunday’s readings instruct us. Israel feels justified in continuing its intense bombing campaign in Gaza given the number of rockets being fired by Hamas at Israel and Hamas’ rejection of a ceasefire proposal from Egypt. But pressure to end the conflict increases daily given the extensive humanitarian crisis unfolding for civilian Palestinians, who account for about 80 percent of fatalities according to a U.N. report. Nevertheless, the conflict seems to be deepening. A senior Israeli military official said Wednesday the likelihood of a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip was “very high,” and that “if you want to efficiently fight terrorism you must be present, boots on the ground.” Meanwhile, Catholic leaders in the Holy Land called for an end to the cycle of violence and criticized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its collective punishment of Palestinians. "Using the death of the three Israelis to exact collective punishment on the Palestinian people as a whole and on its legitimate desire to be free is a tragic exploitation of tragedy and promotes more violence and hatred," said a statement from the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. The Ordinaries, who include Catholic bishops and the Franciscan religious superior (custos) of the Holy Land, called the situation in Gaza "an illustration of the never-ending cycle of violence in the absence of a vision for an alternative future." "We must find leaders who are clear-sighted and courageous enough to face the urgency of the present situation and to take the difficult decisions that are needed, leaders who, if necessary, are ready to sacrifice their political careers for the sake of a just and lasting peace,” they said. “Such leaders have the vocation to be healers, peacemakers, seekers of justice, and visionaries of the alternatives to the cycle of violence," they said, recalling Pope Francis' separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during his May visit to the Holy Land and "his incessant call for justice and peace." Homily hint: Violent confrontations never lead to peace, only sow the seeds for further reprisals. But as this Sunday’s gospel demonstrates, the smallest seed can grow to the largest bush, with faith. Let us be sowers of peace, beginning in our own neighborhoods. With faith, the harvest will be plentiful peace. Source: Articles by Catholic News Service, Reuters, and Jodi Rudoren and Anne Barnard for The New York Times

middle east israel and palestine justice and mercy
Mideast peacemakers meet resistance

24 Aug 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The psalmist is grateful to the Lord for having “heard the words of my mouth.” The words of war dissenters in both Gaza and Israel, however, seem to fall on deaf ears for the most part. In fact, dissent is quashed on both sides of the conflict, leaving peacemakers marginalized or silenced.Exhausted by a month of pounding by Israel's military—on top of seven years of stifling closure of the tiny Mediterranean coastal strip—harried residents of Gaza have quietly begun to question Hamas' handling of the crisis and the wisdom of repeatedly going to war with Israel. "We do not want to be bombarded every two or three years. We want to lead a good life: Sleep well, drink well, and eat well," said Ziad Rizk, a 37-year-old father of two. He stared at the damaged apartment building where he lived. His sofa and a blue baby carriage were perched precariously on a tilting concrete slab that was his floor.It is impossible to say how widespread such discontent is among Gaza's 1.8 million residents. Under Hamas rule, it's rare and dangerous to share even as much as a hint of criticism of the government with outsiders.Still, his boldness in voicing his opinions points to how desperate many Gazans have become. More than 2,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians, nearly 10,000 wounded, and some 250,000 displaced since the current fighting started July 8.For its part, in Israel dissent against the war in Gaza is forcefully quashed. The few who speak out complain of being harassed, intimidated, or even sacked from jobs. Liberal newspaper Haaretz decried Friday what it called a "witch hunt" against leftists and civil rights organizations after the director of the national service administration, Sar-Shalom Jerbi, told rights group B'Tselem it was being blacklisted as an employer.The rights group denounced the move as an attack on Israeli democracy, and asked supporters to sign an online petition to support freedom of expression and democracy. Yizhar Beer of the Keshev Centre for the Protection of Democracy in Israel says it has never been more difficult to voice dissent in a country that prides itself on being the only democracy in the Middle East.Homily hint: Truth is the first casualty of war, the saying goes. Perhaps the second casualty is tolerance, especially for those who resist the war effort. Some say dissent in a time of war is disloyal, but consider this: If everyone dissented, there would be no one left to pull the trigger or drop the bomb. Do we dare to work for such a day? Do we dare not to? Source: Articles by Jennie Matthew for Agence France Presse, Hamza Hendawi for Associated Press, and BBC News

Peace middle east war and peace peaceful dissent
Israeli plan for segregated buses is a bust

24 May 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The risen Lord brings the gift of peace, we hear in this Pentecost Sunday gospel. In a sign that the gift of peace is sorely lacking in Israel, the government briefly implemented a program that mandated separate buses for Palestinians and Jews in the West Bank. Soon after announcing the plan, however, the government suspended it in response to a wave of domestic outrage that included comparisons to apartheid-era South Africa. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, whose department created the plan, said he was still determined to enact it after making revisions. Homily hint: How to rebuild trust that has deteriorated? The challenge plagues nations but also may haunt us when betrayal has damaged a personal relationship. Prayer can lead to healing and even with time perhaps to reconciliation, or at least peace. This should be our goal both on a personal and a political level. Pray for peace—in your heart and in the world. For more on the Israeli busing plan, see: Israel enacts, then suspends, plan for West Bank bus segregation

middle east peace trust and reconciliation

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