Anglican Communion News Service

"Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 40:4-5)

We live in a tumultuous and restless time.  The post-September 11th world has left many fearful for their security and uncertain about the future.  The words 'terrorism' and 'terrorist' have become routine in people's conversations.  Suspicion and doubt about others are becoming all too common.

For those of us living and working in the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), such fears and uncertainties about the future are not new.  We live in a land plagued by injustice and where terror exists in many different forms.  The acts of Palestinian suicide bombers, whether against Israeli civilians or soldiers, are publicly and swiftly identified and condemned as terror by the world community.  But, unfortunately, Israeli actions inflicted upon a predominantly unarmed civilian Palestinian population - confiscating land, shelling residential areas and refugee camps, bulldozing agricultural lands, demolishing houses, assassinating political leaders and activists, expanding settlements, torturing political detainees, killing children - are too seldom acknowledged or condemned as the acts of terror they are.  For Palestinians living in the Holy Land, this silence by the Israeli and international public compounds the experience of loss and destruction, creating feelings of abandonment, resentment and despair.

To begin to rid the world of violence and terror, we must be willing to name and condemn all their manifold forms.  Whether Palestinian or Israeli, American or Afghani, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist, we all yearn to live in a world free of terror, suspicion, injustice, poverty, hunger, oppression and occupation.  Only as we strive to lift-up the dignity of every human being and the well being of all creation can we hope to build a world of peace and security.

As we begin the season of Advent, there is no greater need than for us to create such a world.  As people who are living in the midst of despair and hopelessness, we know this is no easy task.  Yet, the words of Isaiah 40 quoted above provide us with courage to face the hard work ahead, reminding us that the world as we know it will one day be changed and aligned fully with God's will and purpose for all creation.

Advent is a time for Christians to reflect, prepare and anticipate, as we await the return of Christ and celebrate his birth.  It is a time for us to get 'our house in order,' both personally and as a community. We are called to believe in and strive for God's reign of justice, mercy and peace on earth as it is in heaven.  In this first Advent of the new millennium, there may be no more important task before each of us than to wrestle with what we must do to help bring peace on earth.

In response to the uncertainty in the world following the attacks on 11 September, there appears to be an emphasis on 'bombing' our way to security and peace.  Here in this land of Palestine/Israel, we have seen the folly of trying to obtain either through just such measures.  For us, another prophet of this land calls us to a different way.  Is it not through living as the Lord requires - doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with our God - that we bring hope and life to our broken world and obtain true peace and security for all God's creation?

This Advent, many Palestinians, Internationals and Israelis will join together to end the occupation through acts of non-violent resistance.  This Advent, many Christians in the US will join in Ecumenical Prayer Vigils for a just peace in this region.  This Advent, many people the world over will ask their elected officials to move beyond empty rhetoric to real acts of solidarity with the outcast, the poor and the oppressed.  It is these acts that will fulfill the call to do as the Lord requires.  It is these acts that may begin to bring about Peace on Earth.  We pray wherever you are in the world, you will find ways to join such movements of God's spirit in order that 'the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together....'

Revd Alex & Brenda Awad, East Jerusalem Baptist Church (GBGM-UMC)
Douglas Dicks, Presbyterian Church (USA), Partnership Liaison - Jerusalem
Nancy J Dinsmore, Development Officer Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
Dean & Mrs Ross Jones, St George's College Jerusalem
Robert May GBGM - United Methodist Church Worker
Kathi McDonald, Warden, St. George's College Jerusalem
Catherine Nichols
Edward B Nyce, Mennonite Central Committee
Revd Sandra Olewine, United Methodist Liaison - Jerusalem General Board of Global Ministries
Revd Michael Thomas & Revd Susan Thomas Pastors, English-speaking congregation Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Alain and Sonia Epp Weaver, Country Representatives Mennonite Central Committee