Luke 19:41-44New International Version (NIV)
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. "
Walking through the old city this scripture quote cannot help but come to mind.
Jerusalem is a city that is precious to so many, yet it's history is built on division after division for thousands of years.
What was striking for me was hearing about the moments where welcome of the other was present.
The above inscription is seen as soon as one enters Jaffa gate. It is in Arabic and proclaims that Allah is the eternal and his loved friend is welcome here. That friend is Abraham and all who follow him.
A moment of hope. We know to this day Jews live in the city, now partitioned.
The Mosque of Omar is another moment of hope.
The Muslims having won a war,one of many,were to give Omar the right to pray if the Holy Sepulchre he did not. If he had the Muslims could have said ,"Omar prayed here.", giving them the rite to enter the church and taking it from the Christians. Rather he prayed outside where a mosque. Muslims who come to pray in this mosque are mindful of the respect Omar paid the Christians.
More in the next blog on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as a place holy to many and divided into parts.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem.
This is my favorite one so far :). I think my peace just turned one.
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