Seeking the Wisdom of Solomon

I hope you will pardon me for leaving the readings this weekend to write about our world and the war in Israel and Gaza. It is impossible to watch the news and not be sickened by all the tragedy. Emotion and passion are running high in many. We, in the Church, have heard in person, through calls, emails, and letters to the parish, that we are not vocal enough in our support of Israel and condemnation of Palestine. There have been complaints that our prayers of the faithful are not specific enough. We appear to be walking a middle ground and not going all in to support Israel. I will not directly address any calls or letters in this reflection. I will address the tragedy that is consuming us.

There is nothing that could ever warrant the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 against the innocent people of Israel. The actions of Hamas were barbaric, ruthless, and inhuman. Israel has not just a right but the responsibility to protect and defend her people.  

And yet, even knowing and firmly believing that we hold precious the innocent people in Gaza. The mothers, fathers, elders, children, and babies in Gaza who are dying by the thousands in Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Hamas are also blameless. These guiltless people did not invade Israel. They did not torture and mutilate families in a Kibbutz. They did not ruthlessly kill the Israeli people in their homes or the people at a music festival. They had absolutely no power or control over those who did. Innocent Palestinians are dying in the retaliatory strikes by Israel. How many dying and dead children need to be pulled from the rubble of bombed-out buildings? How many grieving parents need to cradle the dead bodies of their babies before it is enough?  

There must be a better way. There must be a way to hold Hamas responsible without becoming the monster that attacked first. Terrorists and terrorism are the monsters. Hamas is the monster. The monster is not children, elderly people, or simple families living day-to-day in their homes. 

The current war has been described as an echo of the Holocaust. And perhaps it is. The horror of that is appalling. But no number of dead Palestinians will ever even the score.

The Jewish people have been victimized for a long time. There is no justification for that. Even in our own country, where we claim we have religious freedom, the incidence of antisemitic violence has never completely ended. In the wake of the war in Israel, even here in the land of the free, those attacks are increasing exponentially. It is hard to be Jewish, the victim of the vicious bullying of others for what seems like forever. 

The desire to strike out with ruthlessness is understandable. But it is not the answer, and it will not end the bigotry and hatred. Continued violence will not make the situation better. More, bigger, and more powerful bombs will not end the war. The ongoing carpet bombing of Gaza will not make the violence done by Hamas right. It will only escalate the death and destruction. Continued violence gives oxygen to the fire of evil and hate that attacked on October 7.

For us, our churches, our communities, and most significantly, in our hearts, we pray for the blameless, whatever name they carry. We pray for those who live simple lives with their families and who are being victimized, whether they are in Gaza or Israel. We pray for a pause so that humanitarian aid can be brought to the innocents and assistance can be provided to those who want to escape the war. We pray never to allow ourselves to become the monster we fight, no matter how justified our actions. We pray for peaceful solutions and the wisdom of King Solomon, who once led the Israelites. We pray that in our words and efforts, we are guided by the understanding that either all lives are valuable or no lives are valuable. God help us all. 

In God’s Endless Love,

Gwen