March 1, 2026.

Dear Friends,

We will gather together remotely for our Badaliya and Peace Islands Institute faith sharing on Sunday, March 1, 2026 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Please join us on Zoom, or in spirit, as we encourage Inter-faith relations and pray together that the hearts and minds of those perpetrators of violence be transformed from revenge-seekers into peace-seekers. Let us pray that the root causes of the many humanitarian crises in our world leading to so much trauma and human suffering be addressed. We are especially mindful of the dilemma of diminishing numbers of Christians due to the occupation, oppressive restrictions, and war and violence facing the "living stones", witnesses to 2000 years of Christian presence in Bethlehem and throughout the Holy Lands. At the same time, let us continue to support one another as a diverse faith sharing community faced with unprecedented challenges that threaten our many immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and the legal, educational and health systems in the United States. We especially hold in our hearts and prayers the families of Renee Goode and Alex Pretti, protesters needlessly killed in Minneapolis, and for an end to violence in our cities. May we turn our prayers into action to the best of our abilities and address the most pressing issue of our time; the human induced climate change that has increased natural disasters all over the world and is destroying too many lives, along with the earth we are privileged to share with them.

Today we have the opportunity to share our experience of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in a special way, as Christians have begun the six week season of Lent and Muslims are in the midst of the month of Ramadan. The Christian readings, beginning with the Hebrew scripture passage for the Morning Prayer are a rich source of inspiration for both our communities as we journey together toward a deeper experience of the Divine calling in our lives. With our Muslim friends, we share our reverence for the ancient prophet Elijah, known as Ilyas in Islam. In all three Abrahamic faith traditions, Elijah's Divine mission was to prevent idol worship by confronting those who had turned away from belief in the one God of the ancient patriarch. We have come to recognize that we can make an idol out of many "things" in our modern lives, from wealth and power to consumerism and possessions. But the story of Elijah in this morning's prayer and the Qur'anic verses invite us to enter into another aspect of the prophetic mission and a more contemplative experience of our Lenten and Ramadan journeys.

In the Qur'an Surah al-Saffat (37:123-130), Ilyas is revered as one sent as a messenger to the people by Allah. Behold, he said to his people, "Will you not fear Allah? Will you call upon Baal and forsake the best of Creators? Allah, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?"

In the Hebrew scriptures, (1 Kings19:9-13), the Lord poses a question to the prophet, who has sought refuge in a cave on a mountain: "Why are you here, Elijah?" He answered: "I have been most zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, but the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have destroyed your alters and murdered your prophets by the sword. I alone remain, and they seek to take my life." Then the Lord said: "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord - but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake - but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire - but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When Elijah heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance to the cave."

The Catholic Liturgy follows this beautiful encounter with the Divine on a mountain with another remarkable experience by three disciples of Jesus on the mountain called Mount Tabor. There they witness Moses and Elijah appearing to them and conversing with Jesus when "a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him" When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid," And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone."(Matthew 17: 1-9)

It is a dangerous and even frightening experience to journey up the mountains of encounter with the Divine and discover that we too are called to be the much needed prophetic voices in our world today. It is a silent, whisper within us that urges us to speak even though we are afraid. "They have forsaken your covenant, destroyed your alters and murdered your prophets ..." is not only about the idol worshipers of Baal in an ancient time, but a clarion call to see the destructive behavior in our own land and around the world and spend these weeks of fasting and prayer listening to where we are being sent while praying for the courage to respond. "Be not afraid" because I AM with you.

I am choosing to share with you this beautiful poem written by Dr. Abdelfattah Absrour, founder of the alRowwad Arts and Cultural Center in the Aida Refugee camp in Bethlehem. May his courage and hopeful message be the inspiration we need during the Lenten and Ramadan seasons and beyond.

Shared Resistance and Rebirth
By Abdelfattah Abusrour

Together we rise from the ruins of sorrow,
Planting the seeds of a brighter tomorrow.

Your hand in my hand, our voices entwine,
A chorus of dignity, steadfast, divine.

We thank you for walking this path side by side,
No master, no servant, just hearts open wide.

You lift me with courage, I lift you with song,
In each other’s strength, we both belong.

We share in the struggle, we share in the flame,
Justice reborn shall be freedom’s name.

You teach me resilience, I teach you the same,
Hope is a covenant none can tame.

Shoulder to shoulder, we carry the weight,
Turning oppression to gardens of fate.

We weave our tomorrows with threads of embrace,
Stitching together a fabric of grace.

Thank you for standing when storms tried to fall,
For answering love’s eternal call.

Thank you for planting in soil that was bare,
For watering roots with a tender care.

We celebrate justice reborn from the dust,
Freedom arising, a promise we trust.

No chains can contain us, no walls can divide,
With dignity shared, we walk side by side.

Our children shall witness the dawn that we sow,
A harvest of peace where wildflowers grow.

Thank you for courage that shines in the night,
Together we kindle the world into light.

And when occupation dissolves into past,
Love, hope, and *sumud* shall triumph at last.

Blessed Lent and Ramadan Mubarak,
Dorothy

See www.dcbuck.com for all past letters to the Badaliya and Peace Islands