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Looking back on a year of success, setback, and surprise

25 Dec 2016 - Preaching the News for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Cycle A

The Book of Isaiah brings “glad tidings” this Christmas Day, while the psalmist speaks of “wondrous deeds.” On January 1, the Octave Day of Christmas, the gospel of Luke tells us that “all were amazed” by the news they heard from the shepherds. As the historical year draws to a close and salvation history begins anew, 2016 will be remembered on the international stage for breakthroughs such as the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change as well as breakdowns such as the tragic Syrian civil war. On the domestic front, surprising levels of evangelical support contributed to Donald Trump’s presidential victory, and that support was voted the top religion story of the year. The most comprehensive international agreement ever to combat man-made climate change took effect November 4, less than a year after negotiators from more than 190 countries reached a final deal on the issue, a deed that many considered a wondrous breakthrough. The Paris Agreement commits participating countries to working to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and transparently reporting those results with the goal of keeping global temperature rise from pre-industrial levels below 2°C (3.6°F) by 2100. “This is our chance to set us on course toward a safer, more sustainable and more just future for all on a healthy planet,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said shortly before the milestone was reached. “Let us seize the moment and be true to the values and aims of our organizations.” The agreement represents a significant achievement for President Obama, who made addressing the issue on the international stage a top priority in his second term. In brief remarks from the White House in November, Obama called the achievement a “turning point for the planet.” The milestone was celebrated immediately by climate policy makers and advocates, but many pointed out that the deal is just a first step in addressing climate change. The Paris Agreement provides a framework for countries to develop and share their plans to address climate change, but scientists say the current plans fall short of the agreement’s target. The framework requires countries to reconsider their pledges every five years, hopefully to improve upon them, but experts say those improvements should start now given continued signs of accelerating global warming. Not all has been glad tidings on the international stage. The Syrian civil war looks to be entering a new phase after the fall of Aleppo, more than five years after the Arab Spring of 2011. The war gradually evolved into a complex set of overlapping conflicts that range from regional rivalry to religious conflict. President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, is opposed by the Islamic State and a web of rebel groups that are believed to be funded by Sunni powers in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. The United States has so far chosen not to act except in opposition to the Islamic State, but with a change of administration looming, that stance may change. A study by the Syrian Center for Policy Research released in February 2016 estimated the death toll of the war to be 470,000, with 1.9 million wounded (reaching a total of 11.5 percent of the entire population either wounded or killed). As of March 2015, Al-Jazeera estimates 10.9 million Syrians, or almost half the population, have been displaced. Close to 4 million have been made refugees. And tragically, no resolution is in sight. On the domestic front, Religion News Association (RNA) reports that its member journalists were amazed by the support Donald Trump received from white evangelical Christians in his election as president of the United States. That support was voted the top religion story of 2016 in the RNA’s annual Top 10 Religion Stories of the Year Poll. Trump's election alarmed many on account of comments in which the president-elect vilified Muslims and illegal immigrants and in which white supremacists enthusiastically supported him. But others said they voted for the GOP candidate because of his stances against abortion and illegal immigration and in favor of gun rights and conservative judicial nominations, as well as concerns over the economy and terrorism. In the first reading on the Octave Day of Christmas, Moses is called to speak to the Israelites. The RNA’s “Religion Newsmaker of the Year” honors are shared between Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Muslim Gold Star parents of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq. The Khans were called upon to speak at the Democratic National Convention this July, where they denounced Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the country as unconstitutional. Members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, who gained national attention while protesting a pipeline route through what they consider sacred lands, received honorable mention. This marks the first time in four years that Pope Francis hasn't landed at the top of the newsmaker list. He was voted Newsmaker of the Year three consecutive years beginning in 2013. Francis, however, is still going strong as he celebrated his 80th birthday on December 17. He celebrated the milestone by sharing breakfast with eight homeless people in the Vatican before heading to Mass. Lessons drawn from the readings Perhaps the psalmist says it best on the Octave Day of Christmas: “May God bless us in his mercy. May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation.” Let us hope and pray that the world might learn the works of salvation and lay aside the works of destruction this coming year. Final thought in light of the news Perhaps our hope and our prayers will be enough to tip the balance toward justice and peace this coming year. As you rejoice, rest, and regroup for a new year over the holidays, spend some time reflecting on small ways you can help tip the balance toward good this coming year. None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something. Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

paris agreement climate change global warming syrian civil war donald trump Pope Francis
Syrian war turns toxic

09 Apr 2017 - Preaching the News for the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Cycle A

As his disciples rushed to defend him from arrest in Palm Sunday’s gospel of the Passion of the Lord, Jesus warns them that, “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.” History has borne out the truth of the statement, and Syria’s agonizing civil war is no exception. In another dark turn, a suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria’s rebel-held northern Idlib province killed dozens of people on Tuesday. Observers described the attack as among the worst in the country’s six-year civil war. Hours after the chemical attack, a small field hospital in the region that was treating its victims was struck and destroyed, according to press reports and a civil defense worker in the area: “The entrance of the building was hit, bringing down rubble on top of medics who had earlier been seen dousing a steady stream of arrivals to wash away chemical residue.” By Wednesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group put the death toll from the gas attack at 72, saying there were many children among the dead. There was no comment from the government in Damascus in the immediate aftermath of the attack, which activists said was the worst since the 2013 toxic gas attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta that killed hundreds of civilians. That attack, which a U.N. report said was an attack by toxic sarin gas, was the worst in Syria’s civil war. In the wake of the 2013 attack, President Bashar Assad agreed to a Russia-sponsored deal to destroy his chemical arsenal and joined the Chemical Weapons Convention. Those weapons have been destroyed, but member states of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have repeatedly questioned whether Assad declared everything in 2013. The widely available chemical chlorine was not covered in the 2013 declaration and activists say they have documented dozens of cases of chlorine gas attacks since then. The Syrian government has consistently denied using chemical weapons and chlorine gas, accusing the rebels of deploying it in the war instead. The New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused the Syrian government of conducting at least eight chemical attacks using chlorine gas on opposition-controlled residential areas during the final months in the battle for Aleppo last year that killed at least nine civilians and injured 200. A joint investigation by the United Nations and the international chemical weapons watchdog determined the Syrian government was behind at least three attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving chlorine gas and that the Islamic State group was responsible for at least one, involving mustard gas. France's foreign minister called on Tuesday for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after what he said was a “disgusting” gas attack on Syria's rebel-held Idlib province. “A new and particularly serious chemical attack took place this morning in Idlib province. The first information suggests a large number of victims, including children. I condemn this disgusting act,” Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a statement. “In the face of such serious actions that threaten international security, I ask for everyone not to shirk their responsibilities. With this in mind, I ask for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council,” he added. France, Britain, and the United States in February put forward a resolution to impose sanctions targeting Syrian government officials over accusations of chemical weapon attacks during the six-year conflict. Russia, backed by China, cast its seventh veto to protect the Syrian authorities and Russian President Vladimir Putin described the draft resolution as “totally inappropriate.” Lessons drawn from the readings The prophet in the Book of Isaiah does not resist abuse in staying faithful to his prophetic mission: “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” Though few of us would be willing to pay that steep a price as part of our own faithful witness, we surely can add our voice to the call for peace and reconciliation. That call is urgently needed now. Final thought in light of the news Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the attack Tuesday has all the hallmarks of a regime attack because the Syrian government is the only party to the conflict equipped to deliver deadly chemicals. Rycroft called the attack “clearly a war crime” and indirectly criticized Russia and China for protecting Syria by vetoing previous council resolutions. The ambassador said he hoped for a different approach from the "Security Council members who have previously used their vetoes to defend the indefensible.” Rycroft said an emergency council meeting would “shine a spotlight on the heinous use of chemical weapons yet again” in Syria, rally support for action in the council, and put pressure on Russia and China “to hold to account those who used chemical weapons. We all must call for a different approach, on Syria and with other national and regional conflicts that seem to have morphed into proxy wars for world powers. We citizens of powerful nations have a responsibility to keep our leaders faithful to ideals that rise above geopolitical gain. Let’s turn to the example this Sunday of Jesus and the faithful prophets in speaking our truth to power as we say to the world, “No more war!”

syrian civil war chemical weapons chemical weapons convention bashar al-assad chemical attacks chlorine gas war crimes
Quote of the week

09 Apr 2017 - Preaching the News for the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Cycle A

“I saw a lot of victims. The hospital was filled with them. There were a lot of unconscious people. I tried to help the women, children and old men . . . . and then the hospital was attacked three times.” —Syrian Dr. Feras al-Jundi

chemical attacks war crimes syrian civil war chemical weapons