“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!” (Mt 23: 37)
Pope Benedict XVI has completed his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, pundits and analysts will be pouring over his statements, pulling the words apart. His every gesture and action will be examined, and each side will put their particular spin on it. Bottom line, he called for all sides to come together, lay down their arms and make peace. He asked for justice for the Palestinians, security for Israelis. Hardliners on both sides will ignore his words, statesmen and politicians will nod in agreement, but will think the Pope is naïve, or worst, irrelevant. The hatred remains, the distrust remains, the fear remains, and the blood will continue to fall on the soil all three monotheistic faiths call holy.
I pray that the Father will find some way to open harden hearts, so that people will open their fists and reach out to one another, and trust that God will watch over them all.
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