History calling

Dear friends,

As weary and battered Palestinians trudge back up the road to their shattered cities, as green masked gunmen emerge from dark places to strut their stuff, as emotionally shredded Israeli hostage families weep with joy, as The President parades and preens, we wonder, “is this it?” Is this dreadful and appalling mess what history really looks like?  A cacophony of competing shouts, alternative interpretations, spin, sound bites, emotions, and exhaustion?

It would seem so. The history of both Jerusalem, (and indeed Gaza) has over the centuries been one of alternating civilisation and destruction. A thousand years before Christ, King David of Israel fled Jerusalem after a coup by his eldest son Absalom. He escaped to the Philistine city of Gath (“half way to Gaza”), famously having to feign madness before their King Abimelech after having been recognised. Gath today is no more than a heap of ruins: “Tel-es-Safi”, while David’s Jerusalem was itself to be destroyed by Nebechadnezzar in 586BC. A century later, Cyrus of Persia freed the Jews deported to Babylon (he always is treated as the good guy, but for all we know he may have expelled them…)  and permitted them to rebuild their ancient homeland under governor Nehemiah. In Christ’s era, the client King Herod rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem yet again, only for it to be torn down by the enraged Romans after the failed four year war for Jewish independence from AD 68-72. Both Jerusalem and Gaza (“Philistia”) were but specks between the hammer and the anvil of the regional superpowers – Egypt to the south, and Persia/Babylon to the north and east. Both little entities were in the end crushed by the simple geographical fact that, for Egypt to attack Babylon, or vice versa, their armies had to come through Israel/Palestine. And Israel/Palestine, historically, only ever “did well” when one or other of these superpowers was weak, and not interested in war. In our generation, the spectacular rise of Israel can be attributed not least in part to the Camp David Peace accords mediated by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, which has led to relative stability between Egypt and Israel since that time. And, indeed, one of the reasons that Egypt has been “quiet” about the Israeli actions in Gaza is  that Gaza is a “cat’s paw” for Egypt’s old enemy Iran – or should I say Babylon?

You only have to read the (very long) list of superpowers who have “occupied” (= attempted to govern) this part of the world down the centuries to see that, for all the pomp, and politics, and posture, one has to take each day’s triumph at face value, for it is a transient thing. But it is not insignificant that, in an even bloodier time of threat and menace the prophet Isaiah foresaw one whom he called “The Prince of Peace”, and that, when this One came, he was born not far from, and died, and rose again, in Jerusalem. Let us pray for a blessing for all people of peace, wherever they may be found. Let us pray too that all the doers and preachers of violence, along with their guns, will be muzzled.

Sunday 19th October

9.30am Informal Worship at St John’s Stoke Row with Canon Kevin Davies

11am Family Worship at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies. A return to school days with a selection of the best loved songs. Join us for “assembly bangers”!

Pray today

Do come along to the special family worship on Sunday at Checkendon. (by way of explanation, a “banger” in contemporary jargon is a “hit”, or “classic”.) Your prayers are asked for those in hospital or awaiting surgery, those being cared for at home, those struggling with age or frailty, those who have recently lost a loved one, and those who are close to the end of their time on this earth. May we all rejoice in the rest and peace that Christ gives.

Some words attributed to the German martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer (who was a pastor murdered by the Nazis in 1945) are very apposite for the peace building that must now be attempted.

Jesus, if I follow you I shall discover, there is no way to peace that is secure. Peace must be dared. I cannot have my safety guaranteed, for that would mean I distrusted those with whom I want to be at peace. By your Spirit, help me in faith and obedience to give myself entirely to your law of love; leaving the outcome in the Father’s hand; your Father and mine. Amen.

This might seem a little naive, but shines a theological truth; peace between two people(s) is based upon the realisation that despite our differences, we are both children of the same heavenly Father. It also reminds us that peace is God’s gift, which all must pray for. If two protagonists are able to at least acknowledge that the enemy too is a child of God, that therein marks a scrap of common ground, on which something may be built.

As we share in church at every communion service: “May the peace of the Lord be with you.” To which the response: “and also with you.”

Your Rector, Canon Kevin.