Jews, Christians, and Muslims working together

Being Peacemakers

June 2, 2008

Lights went on in my head at the recent Jewish-Christian-Muslim Association Conference in Melbourne. I am still inspired to act, to go beyond dialogue and on to active peace-making. Or as Dave said, to go “beyond tolerance”. I’m keen to work out what it means to transform ourselves so we move past the violent forms of language, to go beyond stereotypes, to actively call people in all our faiths to stop telling lies about each other. How can we have peace when there is no justice?

Peacemaking will be hard work. I want to be ready for the next time violence breaks out in Melbourne. If the US decides to bomb Iran, and people start burning synagogues, mosques, and any churches with Arabic signage, I’d love to see groups praying and surrounding each place to prevent the madness. I know it will take a lot of work to build such active ready-response networks, but for the first time in awhile I feel optimistic.

I was challenged at the conference by the stories of the (Christian) Berrigan brothers and their protests against war, and their connection with (Jewish) activist and mystic Abraham Joshua Heschel, while “Pakistan’s Gandhi”- (Muslim) Badshah Khan, also connected with the real (Hindu) Gandhi. I wonder what would happen if all 4 met in the same room? In 2008? In Jerusalem? What would they do… Hmm. May we learn to be peacemakers.

A few final inspiring quotes from Abraham Joshua Heschel: “All it takes is one person… and another… and another… and another… to start a movement”. “God is of no importance unless He is of utmost importance.” “In regard to cruelties committed in the name of a free society, some are guilty, while all are responsible.”

Fr. John

Related posts:

1. Abraham Conference on reconciliation at Australian Catholic University
2. Dialogue Australasia 2009 Conference

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