Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! ~Matthew 23:37
We pilgrims have been sent into the Old City of Jerusalem to explore without a map. We wander through stone streets between crumbling walls, eventually stumbling across the Monastery of the Flagellation. This holy site was built to honor the place where Jesus was beaten.
A young man in European dress approaches us and offers to be our guide. He makes this offer in multiple languages — English, German, French — rapid-fire.
A member of our small group asks him: “Are you a Christian?”
The young man spits a reply: “I was born in Bethlehem to Muslim parents. Now I believe nothing. How can I? Here? Religion is good for nothing but hatred.”
His words pierce me because they are incisive.
Standing in the place where Jesus was beaten, I understand why some would ask what religion is good for. Actions performed in the guise of religion are too often spurred by religious hatred, not love. It’s apparent that this hatred has pierced the young man in front of me.
How would you respond to the young man?
Prayer: O Spirit, help me wrestle with painful questions.
This material is adapted from my book, Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land.
The photo is mine, taken at the Monastery of the Flagellation in 2005.
Leave a Reply