A Message from Your Rector,

 

June 14 , 2007

Dear Parish Family and Friends:

I'd like to thank you all for the warm welcome I received after my return from the Middle East. When I left for my trip I had a suspicion it would be a powerful experience, but it was more than that. Being in the Holy Land, in the midst of people working for peace, was a gift I will never forget. As you know, it pains my heart that religion has played a negative role in promoting violence. However, at the same time, it filled my heart with hope to experience the powerful witness of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in that part of the world who have understood the true value and wisdom of their respective faiths, and reach out to each other, laying down the foundations for a future peace with justice between Palestinians and Israeli's.

It is my belief, drawing from Jungian psychology, that we all have a "shadow side" and that this shadow side is operative in all aspects of human endeavors. Sadly, religion does not escape this reality since we bring our shadows with us into the practice of religion. Fundamentalist religion, characterized by intolerance and exclusion, is a sign of the operative shadow that thrives in religion today, turning extremist forms of religion into tools for destruction. Fundamentalist extremists abound; thankfully, the opposite is also true. Most of us are inspired by our Abrahamic religions (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) to build new and hopeful realities that celebrate humanity, and remind us that we are all connected; there is no separation between us, because we were all created by the same God that remains our source of life, and binds us together. I have to confess that to be a witness to Palestinians, and Israeli’s who by the power of love, and a yearning for peace move beyond a place of hatred, and suspicion to a place of cooperation, and willingness to see the other’s pain was a true gift. When that happens the shadows lose their power, they are diffused, and a wonderful harmony begins to emerge. During my trip I could sense the despair and feelings of hopelessness in the general populations, and our group of 7 (3 Jews, 3 Christians, and 1 Muslim) experienced many emotional ups and downs, but the gift of meeting people who “walked the talk” made it all worthwhile. Among the different groups and individuals that we met and came in contact with were: Rabbi’s for Human Rights, Parents Circle, People from the Middle Way, Neve Shalom – Wahaat Al-Salaam (Oasis of Peace) Alternative Voice in the Galilee, Mar Elias School, and others including representatives from the Anglican church, and a visit to Anglican churches in the West Bank behind what many call the “Apartheid Walls.”

With this letter I am attaching a photograph I find is very compelling. As many of you know I am a very passionate photographer. The boy in the picture lives in a refugee camp inside of Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord. Bethlehem is a Palestinian city encircled by one of those hideous apartheid walls akin to the Berlin Wall. Palestinian access to life beyond the Wall is strictly controlled by the Israeli’s. In the picture below the boy was playing hiding sandwiched between two walls. How ironic I thought that he was sandwiched between two walls, in a city surrounded by walls. Sadly, this photograph serves as a metaphor for life in the Palestinian territories. Unless the situation changes, this boy will have no opportunity to visit or see Jerusalem, an Israeli territory that is only a 20 minute drive away.

Israeli’s live in fear of terror, and certainly Hamas is a violent extremist organization that represents danger for the State of Israel, but neither the guns of Hamas, nor the powerful arsenal of the Israeli Defense Forces, can bring the cycle of violence to an end. I’m convinced after my trip that when peace finally comes to the Holy Land, it will be because of those brave individuals who were willing to risk chastisement from their own communities for the sake of peace, and an end to the madness of violence. These are individuals often inspired by their religious faith, Jews, Christians, and Muslims. These are also individuals and organizations we hardly ever hear about here in the U.S. where the mainstream media only focuses on violence and statements from government leaders that do little to promote a true and just peace. As difficult as the situation may be, I returned hopeful that what is good, sacred, and holy in all people, will in the end become the norm. It appears to be a hopeless situation, and for those who have to endure the hardships it is an intolerable situation, but the seeds have been planted, and beginning to germinate, peace will come!

Last Sunday we heard of miraculous events both in the readings from 1 Kings (17:17-24) and the Gospel according to Luke (17:11-17). Both readings included stories of “Resurrection” and “Life.” These stories are reminders that with God all things are possible. Inspired people behave differently, they seem to march to the tune of a different drummer, and they seem to see a vision others fail to see. I’ve been gifted with something I will treasure: a renewed vision and hope, and it is my expectation that my experience in the Middle East will become the experience of others as the seeds continue to spread. The work ahead seems impossible but our God is a living God. Please continue to offer your prayers for peace in the land from where our faith was born, and remember our Diocese in Jerusalem. Thank you all for your support of my trip, your concerns for my safety, and your prayers. Thank you especially for a warm welcome upon my return.

Shalom/Salaam

Wilfredo Benitez +
The Rev. Wilfredo Benitez,
Rector

 

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