St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church

13091 Galway Street

Garden Grove, CA. 92844

(714) 537-0604

1/11/09

Dear Parish Family and Friends of St. Anselm’s:

We are now in the season of Epiphany, a time of revelation. In our liturgical calendar the season of Epiphany starts with the celebration of the arrival of the Magi, three Middle Eastern wise-men guided by the glimmer of a star, to the birthplace of our Lord. The story of these three gentiles adds to the mystique of the birth of Jesus, and serves as a reminder to us that his coming was for all of humanity, and not restricted to his own Jewish people. According to tradition, when Herod heard of the birth of Jesus from the Magi, he was threatened by it, and instructed the Magi to let him know where he could find the child, so that he too could pay homage to him. Thankfully the Magi were warned in a dream not to return to the ruthless Herod, who in order to kill the infant Jesus, engaged in an episode of infanticide. Herod cared nothing of the lives he would destroy, the babies or the families that would be devastated by his barbaric behavior. To him it was of no consequence. Thankfully, according to the gospel, Joseph was also warned in a dream that he should take his family and escape to Egypt, where he and Mary would raise the child for over a decade. In effect, the Sacred Family became a refugee family from the land of Palestine.

When we think of the Middle East today we come to the realization that not much has changed. It is still a place of turmoil, a paradox of inspiration and hope; enlightened prophets and teachers, countered by cold-blooded self-absorbed rulers and politicians obsessed with power, cruelty, and domination. Too often these leaders use religion to promote their political agendas. But sadly we as American citizens cannot point the finger of blame for we too are culprits in the tragic history of the Middle East. We have become deeply entrenched in what happens there, mostly through the senseless war in Iraq, and our blind economic support of the Israeli military apparatus.

I think that many of us approached the New Year with a sense of optimism despite the desperate economic hardship our country is facing. In a matter of days we will have a new administration in office and a president that has promised change. But tragically, before the end of the year, while we were still celebrating the season of Christmas, the State of Israel launched a massive attack on the people of Gaza that has already killed over 1000 people, 300 of them children. Most of the casualties are civilians. Sadly, Hamas has engaged in the practice of firing primitive rockets into Israel, which have killed about a dozen Israeli’s over the last 8 years, and although this form of violence needs to be denounced, it is nothing in comparison to the suffering of the Palestinian people of Gaza who live in a virtual prison in a perpetual choke hold. Most of our citizens are oblivious to life in Gaza, and what the Israeli occupation means to the people forced to live in this walled prison. It sometimes feels to me as though we are entering a new period in the history of holocausts, only this time, it is not the Jews who are being singled out for humiliation and extermination. And like the first time around, when it happened to the Jews, most of us turn a blind eye to it, our churches and houses of worship are deaf to the cries of the dying children in Gaza. This is so incredibly tragic!

In the past week I have attended two prayer vigils and demonstrations in support of a ceasefire between the mighty Israeli Army and Hamas. The hopeful news is that I have joined Jews, Muslims, and Christians at these events denouncing the violence and calling to an end of the carnage. Jews are raising their voices against the actions of not just Hamas, but also of the Israeli government. Why there is little coverage of this in the media is beyond me? Perhaps it is because it is not in the corporate interests of the homeland; after all, there are billions to be made in the sale of arms to the Israeli’s, which in the end we the U.S. tax payer pay for, along with the bailout of the banking industry. What an insane way to fuel our economy. It is a vicious cycle.

This morning I joined a delegation of Muslims and Christians to meet with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and solicit her support in doing all in her power to end the lop sided blind support we give to the State of Israel. I hope our meeting with the congresswoman will have a positive outcome although I was discouraged by the recent vote by the House and Senate that approved a very lopsided resolution calling for a cease-fire (a ceasefire that was violated by Israel this past November 4, election day here in the U.S. when soldiers entered Gaza and killed 6 alleged members of Hamas). The resolution, blamed Hamas for the tragedy in Gaza. It made no mention of the carnage at the hands of the Israeli’s, and totally ignored what life under occupation means to the people of Palestine. This is akin to blaming the victim of spousal abuse for the violence she experiences at the hands of her spouse or partner. Linda Sanchez voted in favor of the resolution. Only five members of Congress had the courage to put humanity first, and not go along with the “blame” resolution introduced to the House by Israeli lobbyists. Loretta Sanchez was one of 23 members of the House that voted “Present,” which is the equivalent of an abstention. President elect Obama has remained silent on this issue although on other matters, he’s already acting as a president. Why won’t our political leaders put humanity first? Why do they tremble in fear when it comes to raising a single question regarding Israeli policy and tactics? Why does the Israeli lobby dominate the political agenda of the U.S.? I eagerly await the day when we can celebrate peace in the Holy Land, Israel and Palestine. Whether it is through a two state solution or a one state solution in the end it does not really matter. What is important is that we have a solution. The status quo is a losing proposition for all of us.

Over the last two Sundays, since the butchery in Gaza began, I have been wearing a black cincture as a sign of mourning. I have also been wearing my Jerusalem stole, which was stitched by Palestinian hands. This is a time of grief and despair, and not the best way to begin the New Year. I hope these symbols will bring some form of healing to the situation, at least in our hearts. At the very least it is a public and religious statement of mourning.

It is my prayer that somehow an Epiphany will emerge from all of this madness, and that we will come to the realization, the enlightened realization, that the Prince of Peace comes to bring peace, but not the kind of peace that ignores justice, and not the kind of peace that is imposed by siege. We are in dire need of an Epiphany that will awaken us from our stupor as a nation. That is my Epiphany dream for Gaza. Now more than ever we need an Epiphany of peace, an Epiphany that will stir us to the core of our being to live and practice peace with justice. The slaughter of the innocents has returned to the Holy Land, what is happening there is unconscionable. My heart goes out to the mothers that have lost their children in this open carnage. This is madness, it has to stop. Come Holy Spirit and awaken our hearts!

In the Hope of Peace, Shalom, Salaam…

Wilfredo Benitez+

The Rev. Wilfredo Benitez,

Rector