Rana and Hila
Grace to you and peace from God our Creator, from our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and from our Sustainer, the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Where would Jesus find the poor in spirit today? “Blessed are those who mourn.” Where would Jesus find those in mourning today? “Blessed are the meek? Where would Jesus find the meek today? “Blessed are the merciful.” Where would Jesus find the merciful today? “Blessed are the peacemakers? Where would Jesus find the peacemakers today? Finally, “Blessed are those who are persecuted…” Where would Jesus find those who are persecuted today? Where would he find those who are hated today?
Back then, in the time of our gospel reading, Jesus, as always, took the time to find those very people – as he always did. Not only did he search out and find those who were hurting, those who were less than, those who were marginalized, those who were hated, he tended to attract them like a magnet. This time he found those very people in Galilee, so he climbed a mountain in Galilee sat down and began to teach the people of Galilee.
The image of Jesus ascending a mountain mirrors the image of Moses ascending Mount Sinai to receive the tablets, the Ten Commandments. A new law. A new way of being. That was then. This is now – a new teaching, a new way of being, and new way of God blessing those whom God chooses to honor – the meek, the grieving, the merciful, the peacemakers and the reviled.
Where would Jesus sit down today to bestow such honor – to bestow such blessing? Where would Jesus find the grieving, meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and the reviled? Would Jesus find them in Lewiston, Maine – a community shell-shocked by gun violence and unspeakable grief? Surely, he sits down with them there today and bestow upon them the honor of his blessing – his unconditional love.
Where would Jesus sit down today to bestow such honor – to bestow such blessing? Would Jesus find the grieving, the meek, the merciful and the reviled in the Be’eri Kibbutz in Israel – a farming community that became the scene of that horrific massacre on October 7 at the hands of Hamas militants? At least 130 people were killed including women and children. Yes, Jesus finds them, the Jewish people (Jesus himself a Jew) at Be’eri Kibbutz in Israel and bestows upon them the honor and compassion of God’s blessing – of God’s unconditional love.
Where would Jesus sit down today to bestow such honor – to bestow his blessing? Would Jesus find the grieving, the meek, the merciful and the reviled at al-Fakhoora School in Gaza run by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees where yesterday at least 15 people were killed including women and children and scores were injured? Yes. Jesus finds them, the Palestinians (Jesus who grew up in Palestine) at al-Fakhoora school and bestows on the grieving, the meek, the merciful and the reviled and bestows upon them the honor and blessing of God’s compassion – of God’s unconditional love.
In Lewiston, Maine, in Israel and in Gaza and finally in Los Angeles, we find the meek, the merciful, the grieving, the peacemakers and the reviled in the likes of two women – one, Rana who is Palestinian and the other, Hila who is Israeli. They are co-workers, friends at Southwestern Law School in LA and they are members of an international organization called the “Alliance for Middle East Peace.”
Recently they wrote an opinion piece for the LA Times. Here is a bit of their background:
We are two American women living in Los Angeles, spending our days working at one of the city’s oldest law schools. One of us, Rana, is Palestinian. The other, Hila, is Israeli. We are both profoundly worried about our beloved family members in the Middle East — Jewish and Arab — who are neighbors and are all currently suffering greatly as rockets keep falling and more violence looms.
Our hearts are broken by the brutal Hamas terror attack…and by the prospect of additional deaths and misery in our respective communities. We want to say loud and clear that we condemn the cruel murder of kids, youths, parents and grandparents by Hamas. At the same time, we support the rights of Palestinians to live in peace and with dignity, just as every human being deserves.
The two American women, one Arab and the other Israeli then go on to describe their first meeting after the horrific attacks on October 7. I invite you to listen for the blessing – the gift they are to one another. I invite you to listen for how they act out – actually live the beatitudes Jesus taught on the mountain in Galilee so long ago. Listen to their story of their first meeting after the October 7 attacks:
A few hours (after we texted each other), we saw each other for the first time since it all started. We hugged. It was a long hug. One of those in which you hold the other, feeling their body and heart against yours. And then came the tears. We cried about the children who came to this world for such a brief time only to be killed by hate. We wept because we were so afraid of what was to come. We are still scared.
We also experienced a brisk sense of relief. Without words, we somehow knew the other understands exactly how it feels to have your roots in this corner of the world. So we just held each other a second longer, mourning the losses.
Do you hear the blessing they are to one another? Two people from two different faiths, two different cultures, two different languages, two different political realities “know each other and understand each other.” They have spent countless hours getting to know one another, listening to each other and the blessing of such a gift is love – love for one another.
Listen, again, to how they assess what has happened to them – as friends when the world wants and expects them to be enemies, when the world wants and expects them to hate each other.
Of course, our close connection does not mean we agree on all aspects of this catastrophic situation. But we feel grateful that our true care for each other has at least allowed us to unite around two things. One relates to the present: the value of mourning together all loss of innocent human life. The other relates to the future: the belief that humanity on both sides is key to breaking the vicious circle created by hate.
Mourning together the loss of innocent life, which is what we do on this All Saints Day. Breaking the vicious circle of hate, which is what we are called to do every time we gather as a people of God. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted…Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”
From our second lesson in I John chapter 3: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God and that is what we are.” All of humanity- children of God, and that is what Rana and Hila are to one another and to us today. “See what love the Father has given us – see what kind of love is possible – in this world (not just in heaven) – in this world torn apart by war and hate and violence. “See what love the Father has given us – you and me – everyone gathered here today – that we –WE – should be called children of God – and that is what we are! We are the children of God. We are the peacemakers. Let peace begin today. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God. Amen.
Source: LA Times October 17, 2023
Gospel
In the Beatitudes, Jesus provides a unique description of those who are blessed with God’s favor. His teaching is surprising and shocking to those who seek wealth, fame, and control over others.
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 5th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.