Two weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to visit the Holy Land with my brother to attend the Consecration of the new ELCA Bishop of the Holy Land, Bishop Dr. Imad Haddad. My short journey was defined by profound swings of emotion and deep gratitude. It is a place that is steeped in the deeply spiritual and incredibly tragic at the same time.
I felt a heavy sadness when walking the cobblestones of the Via Dolorosa in old Jerusalem (Latin for the “Sorrowful Way” – the pathway Jesus walked to his crucifixion) and immense joy following the marching band procession as we weaved our way through the same streets to celebrate Bishop Haddad at the Church of the Redeemer. Or an extreme weight at walking through the Olive trees at the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed with his disciples before his crucifixion to the awe of standing where Jesus was born and cradled in Mary’s arms in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity. For any believer, these are not mere historical sites; they are walking where the Prince of Peace lived and shared the message of God’s love to all, especially those who are marginalized.
As we moved between the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem and the holy sites of Jerusalem, we were also forced to confront the modern reality of the Palestinian people. Daily life is burdened with slow, intrusive checkpoints with armed guards and the random, intentional closing of checkpoints that forces hours of rerouting. Families that have lived on the land for generations are treated as outsiders. It is heartbreaking to pray at the site of the Nativity while knowing that, just outside the door, many Palestinian Christians and Muslims face systemic displacement, economic hardship, and a lack of basic independence.
I understand that the history and conflict in the Holy Land is deeply complicated and tragic on many levels, but experiencing this once seemingly far away land has been eye opening. I have so much more to learn and am filled with gratitude for this opportunity. I pray that this experience in the footsteps of Jesus—in the places he lived, preached, and was crucified under Roman occupation—deepens my empathy and understanding of those who are marginalized and oppressed, both in places we can’t see and right at our doorstep.
We can’t honor the Jesus of the past if we are indifferent to the realities of the present. Pray with me that our hearts and minds are opened to paths of peace, empathy, action and love as Jesus’ life and ministry teach us.
Always learning and growing with you,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation