A reflection on Iran and Israel

Update: This was written before the news was published that the United States had bombed Iran.

A reflection on Iran and Israel

The missiles and the death and destruction they are wreaking are making my head and spirit tremble. Tempers are rising and emotions are running very high. Obviously, no one will listen to, let alone take heed of, the lone voice of a cleric at this time who wants to shout from the mountain-tops: STOP! STOP!!

In fact I feel as if I am in that Old Testament passage when the prophet, Elijah had fled to Horeb, the mountain of God, and was hiding in a cave, saying all the other prophets had been killed and now their killers were after his life too. (1 Kings 19:10b)

But here in Glion, Switzerland, overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps, learning about mediation and ceasefires emboldens me to get out of the cave and speak again, even if inaudibly: Please, please, give peace a chance! Please cease firing at each other and destroying the environment. We are human beings and the one distinct gift we have is the ability to communicate with one another.

Where are the prophets? Where are the diplomats? Where are the experts from all the other sectors who can join at least in saying: “Stop! Whoever you are, cease your fire in Gaza, in Israel, in Iran, in Ukraine, in Russia, in South Sudan, in Sudan and in the Sahel and other parts of God’s world. And especially, in Israel and Iran, cease your fire!”

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba