As we celebrate World Mission Sunday this weekend, I want to remind you all to be generous. As in the past, our monthly 5% tithe of our adult offerings in October will be going to the World Mission fund. But you can also donate directly yourself. And remember as you give more to the parish, we will be giving more to the World Missions.
And as we think about needs all over the world, I want to make sure that you understand the facts about what is going on in Israel. Israel is a country on the west end of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s not a large country (about the same size as the state of New Jersey). Minnesota is 9 times bigger than Israel, which means we could fit 9 Israels into our state.
Now within the country of Israel is a region called Palestine. Actually Palestine has two regions, one called the West Bank and the other called Gaza strip (which is a strip of land along the sea). Both of those combined would be about the size of the state of Delaware.
Now when we talk about a Palestinian, we refer to someone living in Palestine, just like we say you are a Minnesotan, because you live in Minnesota. And just as you can be a Lutheran Minnesotan, or a Catholic Minnesotan, you can be a Lutheran Palestinian, or a Catholic Palestinian, even a Jewish Palestinian. Most of the people in Palestine are Muslim, but not all of them. In Israel it’s the same thing, you can be a Lutheran Israeli, or a Catholic Israeli. Most of the Israelis are Jewish.
Here’s where is gets complicated, the Israelis have been making life miserable for all Palestinians for decades. All you would have to do is visit Israel and witness the harsh treatment. I was there a year ago leading a pilgrimage. I lived there for 4 months in the 1980’s. For example Palestinians have to buy their water, Israelis don’t. Palestinians cannot travel on certain roads, Israelis can. There is one retired Catholic Palestinian who lives in Bethlehem and worked in Jerusalem, once he retired he is forbidden to enter into Jerusalem . . . he’s Roman Catholic. There is now a huge cement wall surrounding the Palestinian areas. As they said, “we feel like prisoners in our own country.”
And remember that most of the news that we receive here in the USA is pro-Jewish, so we must look at everything that is presented to us about Israel with some skepticism. Ok now for more complications . . . the West Bank region is governed by Fatah (previously known as the Palestinian Authority) and the Gaza Strip area is governed by a political group called Hamas. Here in MN we are currently governed by Democrats.
And recently Hamas did an incredibly awful killing of innocent Israelis on October 7 and has taken some hostage. And since then Israel has now retaliated by doing a number of awful killings of Hamas and innocent Palestinians. It’s complicated, each side is killing because of wrongs done to them. And from a political point of view these killings may seem justified.
Now look at the gospel. Jesus points out that a Roman coin has a picture of the emperor on it (Caesar was the emperor at the time). So if you think “only politically” then retribution and revenge could be justified. That is with the things that they hurt us, so we must hurt them. That’s a story as old as time.
But Jesus presents a different way. He looks at things not politically but with fairness and kindness. Jesus was always saying that things need to be different . . . that we must look at things with eyes of forgiveness, at turning the other cheek and treating all people (no matter where they live) with justice. If we don’t transform our pain, we will always transmit.
Again the situation in Israel is complicated. But we can all agree that killing innocent people is wrong and horrific. As the letter from Bishop Neary (that was sent to all of you on our email list) quoting Pope Francis, “war does not solve any problem: it sows only death and destruction, increases hatred, multiplies revenge. War cancels out the future. “
I understand this personally as comments about me were circulated this past spring. It took every ounce of self-control not to speak out and want to “get them back.” You all know this, especially when you’ve been attacked verbally by a family member or by someone on Social Media. The political coin says, “Yea, get them back, revenge.” The Jesus coin says there must be a better way.
Now, I am not advocating that we must become pro-Palestinian or become pro-Israeli, but let us be pro-justice, pro-Jesus, pro-forgiveness.
Pope Francis has asked all of us (around the world) to set aside this coming Friday, October 27 as a day of fasting, penance and prayers for peace in the world. Our daily Mass at 8:30am will be dedicated to prayers for peace. You can even join Bishop Neary for a noon-time Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud on Friday.
Bishop Neary ended his letter to us with wise words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr that apply to your own private area of hurt and also to big areas of hurt like in Israel, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can that.”
Join in praying for peace . . . especially this coming Friday