Sabbat Shalom

Card from the
Carmelites in
Stanley. Buddy bit
a hole at the bottom

Sincere thanks to the Caveros, the Carmelite nuns of Stanley (Hong Kong) and all others who have passed wishes, prayers, greetings and gifts. Deeply appreciate them all. It's been many years since I last served the carmelites in Stanley. I am grateful they still remember me. Their lovely homemade card, bookmarks and gifts are very special. And they should know that I never forget them either and offer Mass for them every Sunday here in the Holy Land.

Newspapers today are analysing the eulogies delivered at Shimon Peres' funeral yesterday. Everyone praised the presence of the Palestinian president ... and today is suffering the consequence of his courageous choice to attend the funeral : unknown persons shot at his house this morning. But the unexpected presence of this arab leader in the wake, brought forth cordial words from the PM privately and the PM's wife even invited him to attend dinner at their home. All the newspapers also mentioned the sincerity of Obama and Clinton in their confidence and friendship with Peres which they don't have with the present PM. Some newspapers sound almost like an indictment against the PM. One paper even said that the PM now stands alone ... with all his mistakes ... with no one to correct and admonish him like Peres did. The last of the founding fathers of modern Israel ... the last moral authority was dead.   http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Analysis-Conflicting-messages-from-the-Peres-funeral-469202  and http://www.timesofisrael.com/for-peres-a-funeral-as-memorable-as-the-man-himself/

Wisdom

But today life returns to normal. The VIPs have all left. The roads are reopened. People go back into the streets. But within 36 hours everything will close again. The jewish New Year begins on Sunday evening and will last for 3 days. No work is allowed, offices will be closed. In a way it's a boon for the arabs because shoppers will buy their food and other necessities from East Jerusalem. And that's exactly what everyone wants and everyone hopes: by not stirring up trouble and hatred, the "enemies" will quietly cross the line to do their shopping, and both sides benefit. If any one side rails and rants ... the fear and hatred will keep both sides apart: one side will go hungry with no food to buy, the other no money because nothing is sold. That's what Peres' funeral taught us. Too much talk impedes reconciliation. Just let things flow and everything will find its equilibrium. That is shalom.