Jeremiah 6:14
Peace on earth. Goodwill to men.
In the past four months since coming here, I have talked and thought about the concept of peace more than ever before in my life. Really, everyone here talks about peace, and strikingly often in tired tones, wistful, doubtful. "We have no peace here...There will never be peace here...Maybe one day we'll have peace, inshallah." We contemplate and talk about peace a lot, but as a wise person reminded us when we first arrived in Palestine: "'peace' is a cheap word."
Consider then the Christmas message to the shepherds that reaches through the centuries to our ears as well: Peace on earth! I find myself within an interesting paradox this Christmas-never have I been in a place where I felt closer to the reality of that holy child in the manger. This year I followed in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims before me who have found their way to that Little Town of Bethlehem to celebrate the Word made flesh. I didn't follow a star, though, I just took the No. 21 Bus from Jerusalem. In quite the opposite way, though, never before have I been in a place that made me question the verity and possibility of the Angel's proclamation more. While visiting Beit Sahour, the traditional site of the Annunciation to the Shepherds, perhaps I should have found a field to stand in, and challenged the Angel, shouting, "Really? Well, where is it? I don't see it here!"
Advent is traditionally considered a season of waiting and expectancy in the church, but last week I was reminded that the church is instructed and empowered to do much more than simply wait for Christmas, wait for the return of Christ, and wait for peace on earth. On Friday, December 11 I had the opportunity and privilege to witness the signing of the Kairos Palestine document, entitled "A Moment of Truth: A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering." Kairos is a greek word meaning "the right or opportune moment," and this document is similar in nature to the Christian theological statement issued in 1985 by theologians in South Africa under the oppressive apartheid regime. Steeped in liberation theology (check out Sabeel http://sabeel.org/ for more on this) the document speaks from the perspective of the Christian faith to Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals alike. In the document, the church takes a stand against the occupation, calling it a sin, and stressing the inclusivity and universality of God's promises for ALL people. Challenging the claim that the land is only for one group of people, and rejecting the use of the Bible to "legitimize or support political options and positions that are based upon injustice, imposed by one person on another, or by one people on another" the Kairos Document is striking in its response to Jewish and Christian Zionism, and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people.
I strongly encourage everyone to try and find time to read the Kairos document (http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/2009pdfs/Kairos%20Palestine_En.pdf)
Listen to the voices of our brothers and sisters in Christ in Palestine who believe that the peace on earth announced by the angels is "Good News" for them, too. I believe the document speaks directly to a belief that I hold close to my heart: that the gifts and promises of God are not the exclusive right of one group-Muslim, Jew, Christian, or any other. And though, I may not see peace right now, especially in this troubled place, the Kairos Document echoes my own feelings about hope: "our hope remains strong, because it is from God." Without Him as the source of hope, I believe Christians in this region would have given up long ago on this conflict, but they remain, strong and faithful, because He who has promised is faithful.
Right now especially, as we remember the one-year anniversary of the Israeli military invasion of the Gaza strip, which left 1400 Palestinians (including over 300 children), and 13 Israelis dead, and while the blockade of Gaza continues, I need to cling to the hope and promise found in the holy child in the manger. I'm believing, as hard as I can, that: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -John 1:5
Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men.
Amen.
