Article #97
Subject: Prayers for Peace in the Holy Land
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 2/19/2009 09:17:59 AM

Dear God who created (and loves and protects the best interests, human needs)
of Jews and Gentiles, Christians and Muslims, believers and non-believers,
the people of the United States, the people of Europe and Asia, the people of
the Middle East, please help us, your creations, bring an everlasting Peace
to the Holy Land and the Middle East. We confess unto you we, with our own
human efforts, have not done an acceptable job in accomplishing this for you.
We do not know how to uphold your good and Holy name in a way that helps us
all and not just some of us any better than we have. It is a deep mystery.
Please help us! Please help us, now... before more of us have to suffer for
to have this happen. May we all say Amen. God Bless.

Article #135
Subject: prayers to God and all of us from Jerusalem
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/12/2009 08:59:30 AM

Prayer posted May 12, 2009, by Pope Benedict XVI
at the Western Wall of our Holy Place

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
send your peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East.




God of all the ages,
on my visit to Jerusalem, the "City of Peace",
spiritual home to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike,
I bring before you the joys, the hopes and the aspirations,
the trials, the suffering and the pain of all your people throughout the
world.
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
hear the cry of the afflicted, the fearful, the bereft;
send your peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East,
upon the entire human family;
stir the hearts of all who call upon your name,
to walk humbly in the path of justice and compassion.
"The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him!" (Lam 3:25)

Article #137
Subject: Recent prayers of the faithful congregated in the Kidron Valley
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/12/2009 08:40:43 PM

May 12,2009
recent prayers heard on ETWN HDTV as part of a Eucharistic Papal Mass
(covering the times of the 1st 2000 years since Jesus Christ has been with us)
Valley of Josephat (the valley of Josephat is situated in the Kidron Valley
between the Mt. of Olives and below it from where we are looking up... as
Jesus did when he was in the garden of Gethsemane... at the large Eastern
walls of our former Temple Mount)

a prayer in French "For the Christians in the Holy Land" ..that they live
long and prosper

a prayer in Hebrew "For all those who suffer in the Holy Land"

a final prayer "For those who died in hope of Christ".

Article #138
Subject: Prayers of the faithful, Holy Mass, Manger square, Bethlehem, Israel
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/13/2009 07:14:03 PM

Prayers of the faithful, Holy Mass (presided over by Pope Benedict XVI),
Manger square, Bethlehem.
May 13, 2009

We pray for those that believe so we may work together to build a more
faternal world.

(in French)
We pray for all the families of the world, so that they may know how to
Christ into the center of their lives.

We pray for all the children of the world, that there rights be recognized,
in particular for the children of Gaza, that they not live in fear.

Article #139
Subject: Prayers of the Holy Spirit for the faithful
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/14/2009 11:24:51 AM

notes by Andrew
from witnessing thanks to
http://www.mfa.gov.il over the
intenet
a Holy Mass of the Pentecost season
Mt. Scopius
(which near the home town of Jesus, Mary, Andrew, Peter
...and also, some believe, the archangel Gabriel,
in the town of the annuciation, Nazareth, Israel)
, May 14,2009
(near the Church of the Beatitudes in the Holy Land
and also available, through the shared help and blessings
of 3000 years
of our hard
learned scientific (physics,mathematics,
computer science,computer programming) knowledge and the
restablishment of the state of Israel, as well of the Holy See,
now having
been attained in all
of us men and women of God)

Gevurah of Yesod
Zeal
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
, for they shall find it."
3rd day of the weekly count, 38th day of the omer count

Tiferet of Yesod
Cleanliness
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy."
4th day of the weekly count, 39* day of the omer count
(from a posting of an omer count three years ago at
http://www.ourprayergroup.blogspot.com )
Andrew

The Holy father gave a short sermon in English, which was
translated into to several other languages...Hebrew,Arabic,
etc.,
on the importance that we
respect the divine (according to scripture)
sancity of marriage for the sake of all of us.

* the number 39 is One mystical name of Holy Spirit
that helps us remember its three times threefold
form as it appears to be the actual expression of itself
through its impersonal nature of absolute consciousness in us...
although, of course, all the time remaining
as an eternally risen and free personal being existing, along with
God, outside of
all of us.

Let us pray,
(if it is within your belief system, I encourage you
to keep a true Pentecost, Shavuos eterrnally, this
year with us)

"Help us to live as a Holy family united in respect
and love, (to build bridges and be a leaven among those in our communities
of respect and love and to keep ourselves far from anger and hatred which
kills
our souls before it kills our bodies)
united in our Lord Jesus Christ who lives
and reigns with you, One God, forever and forever."
"May the Mother of God guide and sustain us through her prayers/"
"Dear Lord strengthen us and all the bishops and clergy and entire
people of your Church. In mercy and love unite all your children wherever
they may be. Welcome in love all our brothers and sisters to us in your
friendship."

Benedict XVI

Peace be unto our people,
Behold the Holy Spirit among us,
Thank you Lord...
omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient Lord...
Lord of Truth, who is certain to always uphold
and represent this Truth for us,
by the working of the Holy Spirit you gather people
among us to you, so that they may help you and us glorify your name in us,
Do this in remembrance of me,
Take this bread which is my body to be broken among you,
Drink this blood, it is the blood that
will be shed among you on the foundation stone of my
presence inside of you of an everlastingly new covenant,
for your good and the good of all of us,
Do this in remembrance of me,
Glory to God in the Highest.
"Deliver us from all evil
as we wait in joyful hope for our Saviour, Jesus Christ"
"This is th Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World."
"Happy are those who are called to His supper."
Benedict XVI

"I leave you(give you) Peace My Peace I give you."
"In the name of the Lord of the Lord of all,
the name of the Patris, Spiritius Sanctius, and Filius.
(and also of the Son, the Father, the Holy Spirit)."
"World without end Amen."
Jesus Christ

Article #140
Subject: more notes on the Interreligious dialogues during the Pope's visit
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/15/2009 08:41:25 AM

March 14,2009
(continuation of notes on Pope Benedict XVI’s
Visit to Israel, 2009)
Addresses by members of an interreligious group of religious leaders
In the Gallilee region…Muslims (Druze),
Christians, Jews at Nazareth, Israel
As part of an interreligious dialogue in the lower level of
A complex of religious sites there …in an auditorium
next to the Church of the Annunciation.
These sites have been keep by the Franciscan monks since the
16th century.

Remarks of the representative of the Druze community
In the area, Judge Mohammed:

“We believe in God and what was bestowed upon us
From him by Moses, Jesus and the Prophet.”
“We honor you our guest and bestow Peace upon you.”
“God has created us as One people unbiased to anyone.”
“We are taught to cherish only God and to respect all
The heavenly prohets as brothers in faith. Islam was launched
As a message of Peace.”
“Hating the Jews for just being…
God will not forgive us if we let the World be led by that evil.
It is unwise to dig up historical differences. But, it is wise to
Restore relations. May the Churches and the Mosques help to keep
Each other in Peace. That will send a message that our hearts are open
To goodness. May Peace be upon you with God’s mercy and glory.”

Remarks of Sheik Mohammed, representative of the Muslim people
In the area:

“Let me start by mentioning the mercy of God… and, to thank God
Who made his followers love Him. May I welcome the People to the land
Of Love and Peace which also contains the paths (pathways) of the prophet
Mohammed. You are a most welcome guest. All believers in the
Semetic religions believe in One God and a day of judgement.
We call for brotherhood and reject violence, emphasizing the
Positive aspects of life. We have to be careful of those who make
Use of religions for political purposes and personal reasons.
We should share each other’s holidays and religious occurances
Which we work hard to maintain. This visit will have a great
Effect of Peace in the region. We wish you all the best.”

Remarks of Rabbi David Rosen,
These remarks were made in Hebrew. Unfortunately neither I
(listening on Israeli internet and ETWN)
Nor the Vatican Radio person were able to translate them.
(although, from the videos, the participants appeared to have translations
available
Through earphones)
The Franciscan monk on ETWN who lived in Israel for 30
Years might (should) have been able to help us here…but he didn’t
volunteer.
Rabbi Rosen said something about the purpose of this afternoon, in retracing
The steps of Jesus…and commented that the Mass on Mt. Scopius
Of about 25,000 – 50,000 was as far as he knew the largest ever
Held in the Holy Land.

Rabbi Rosen has an internet site and hopefully he will post an
English translation of his remarks there later.

Remarks of the Pope

“He believes that far from being a result of fate,
our best understandings of the World is a gift of God to us
(a perspective),
three major religions share a belief that God has and continues to
Manifest himself in history in order to give it meaning.

Peace is a gift of God.
But, it cannot be achieved without human endeavor.
In order to achieve it, we cannot do whatever we choose,
There are laws inscribed by the creator upon the Universe,

And we must pattern our acts, our lives after spiritual models
given to us by God.
Different religions have a powerful potential to promote Peace by
Working to achieve an understanding of their common humanity.
We need to pray to God to safeguard children from
Violence and help us prepare them to be builders and better citizens of the
World.
It follows from this that we need to protect places of worship such as those
found here
In Nazareth (where we Christians believe that God became flesh among us).
May the light of Truth, Peace, and Goodness continue to forth.
God bless you all.”

Prayer Song offered up at this point, requesting God’s help to achieve
Peace.

Lord grant us Peace.
Dona nobis Pacem.
Salam, Shalom.
Lord grant us Peace.
Dona nobis Pacem.
Shalom, Salam
Lord grant us Peace.
Dona nobis Pacem.
Salam, Shalom.
Salam, Shalom.
Oh, Lord grant us Peace.

Address/prayer by Pope Benedict XVI
given at the Cathedral of the Annuciation,
Nazareth, Israel May 14,2009

We give thanks and praise to God for the marvels he has
Done for us.
I pray tribute to the friars for their care shown over the centuries
Of our place of worship.
I greet the Hebrew speaking Christians who, in themselves,
safeguard the Jewish roots of our faith.
The miracle of the incarnation continues to challenge us of God
(of his desire to be united with us and for us to share in his
Divine Sonship).
Saint Mary speaks for us all,
Through God’s creation,
“Let it be done to me according to your Word.”
When we reflect on this mystery it give us joyful hope.
By this hope we are encouraged dto open our hearts
To let the Word of God inside of us.
Like Mary we have a part to play in
God’s creative plan…to be united in order to brfing
God’s hope into the World.
Our Unity in Faith, Hope, and Love is the fruit of the
Holy Spirit.
“God is ever mindful of his mercies.”
Dear friends, be assured that I constantly remember you
In my prayers and I ask you to do the same for me.

Amen

Article #141
Subject: notes on the final day of the visit
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/15/2009 11:03:42 AM

Here, at this point, I confess a mistake in yesterday’s posting. I posted the
place of the wondelful outdoor Holy Congregation or Mass near Nazareth as Mt.
Scopus, it was at the Mt of the Precipice.

The following information is courtesy of www.biblewalks.com
According to Catholic tradition, Mt. Precipice is the site where Jesus leaped
from the hill after being chased away from the synagogue.
Luke 4, 29-30 “and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was
built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the
midst of them went his way.”

From wikepedia.com we have the following:
Mount Scopus (meaning Lit. Mount "Look Out") is a mountain (elevation: 826
meters above sea level) in northeast Jerusalem, Israel. Overlooking
Jerusalem, Mount Scopus has been strategically important as a base from which
to attack the city since antiquity. A Roman Legion camped there in 66 CE
Again in 70 CE Mount Scopus was used as a base to carry out a siege of the
city by the 12th, 15th and 5th Legions (the 10th legions position being on
the Mount of Olives).[2] The Crusaders used it as a base in 1099.[citation
needed] As a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, parts of Mount Scopus
became an UN protected Jewish property exclave within Jordanian-occupied
territory until the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, Mount Scopus lies within the
municipal boundaries of the city of Jerusalem.

Excepts from the remarks of the Pope after praying at the Holy Sepulchre in
Jerusalem, Israel,
(text courtesy of http://www.mfa.gov.il)
May 15,2009
Dear Friends in Christ,

The hymn of praise (the Te Deum) which we have just sung unites us with the
angelic hosts and the Church of every time and place – “the glorious company
of the apostles, the noble fellowship of the prophets and the white-robed
army of martyrs” – as we give glory to God for the work of our redemption,
accomplished in the passion,death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Standing in this holy place, and pondering that wondrous event, how can we
not be “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37), like those who first heard Peter’s
preaching on the day of Pentecost? Here Christ died and rose, never to die
again. Here the history of humanity was decisively changed. The long reign of
sin and death was shattered by the triumph of obedience and life; the wood of
the Cross lay bare the truth about good and evil; God s judgement was passed
on this world and the grace of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon humanity.
Here Christ, the new Adam, taught us that evil never has the last word, that
love is stronger than death, that our future, and the future of all humanity,
lies in the hands of a faithful and provident God.

The Gospel reassures us that God can make all things new, that history need
not be repeated, that memories can be healed, that the bitter fruits of
recrimination and hostility can be overcome, and that a future of justice,
peace, prosperity and cooperation can arise for every man and woman, for the
whole human family, and in a special way for the people who dwell in this
land so dear to the heart of the Saviour.

This holy place, where God’s power was revealed in weakness, and human
sufferings were transfigured by divine glory, invites us to look once again
with the eyes of faith upon the face of the crucified and risen Lord. May it
help us to overcome, by the power of that same Spirit, every conflict and
tension born of the flesh, and to remove every obstacle, both within and
without, standing in the way of our common witness to Christ and the
reconciling power of his love.


As the new Adam, Christ is the source of the unity to which the whole human
family is called, that unity of which the Church is the sign and sacrament.
As the Lamb of God, he is the source of that reconciliation which is both
God’s gift and a sacred task enjoined upon us. As the Prince of Peace, he is
the source of that peace which transcends all understanding, the peace of the
new Jerusalem. May he sustain you in your trials, comfort you in your
afflictions, and confirm you in your efforts to proclaim and extend his
Kingdom. To all of you, and to those whom you serve, I cordially impart my
Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of Easter joy and peace.

A final note after following the events this week of the Pope’s visit. Are
Jesus Christ and his Apostles , who are still among, us and, even now, also
overwatching us with risen souls and spirits in heaven, not pleased with it?
I think so. And, since, I believe the Holy Spirit which is still speaking
through us and the people of Israel and Palestine and also, Pope Benedict XVI
is not planning to leave the Holy Land behind any time soon I have not
recorded any notes on the departure speeches.

Sincerely, Yours,

Dr. Andrew W. Harrell

Article #247
Subject: Text of President Obama's Nobel Prize lecture
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/10/2011 09:35:58 AM

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished Members of the Norwegian
Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:

I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award
that speaks to our highest aspirations — that for all the cruelty and
hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter,
and can bend history in the direction of justice.

And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable
controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is
because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world
stage. Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this
prize — Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela — my accomplishments are
slight. And then there are the men and women around the world who have been
jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian
organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet
acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened of cynics. I
cannot argue with those who find these men and women — some known, some
obscure to all but those they help — to be far more deserving of this honor
than I.

But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is
the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of a nation in the midst of two
wars. One of these wars is winding down. The other is a conflict that America
did not seek; one in which we are joined by 43 other countries — including
Norway — in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further
attacks.

Still, we are at war, and I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of
young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill. Some will be
killed. And so I come here with an acute sense of the cost of armed conflict —

filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and
peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.

These questions are not new. War, in one form or another, appeared with the
first man. At the dawn of history, its morality was not questioned; it was
simply a fact, like drought or disease — the manner in which tribes and then
civilizations sought power and settled their differences.

Over time, as codes of law sought to control violence within groups, so did
philosophers, clerics and statesmen seek to regulate the destructive power of
war. The concept of a "just war" emerged, suggesting that war is justified
only when it meets certain preconditions: if it is waged as a last resort or
in self-defense; if the forced used is proportional; and if, whenever
possible, civilians are spared from violence.

For most of history, this concept of just war was rarely observed. The
capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved
inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look
different or pray to a different God. Wars between armies gave way to wars
between nations — total wars in which the distinction between combatant and
civilian became blurred. In the span of 30 years, such carnage would twice
engulf this continent. And while it is hard to conceive of a cause more just
than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a
conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number
of soldiers who perished.

In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it
became clear to victor and vanquished alike that the world needed
institutions to prevent another World War. And so, a quarter century after
the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations — an idea for which
Woodrow Wilson received this Prize — America led the world in constructing an
architecture to keep the peace: a Marshall Plan and a United Nations,
mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights,
prevent genocide and restrict the most dangerous weapons.

In many ways, these efforts succeeded. Yes, terrible wars have been fought,
and atrocities committed. But there has been no Third World War. The Cold War
ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall. Commerce has stitched much of
the world together. Billions have been lifted from poverty. The ideals of
liberty, self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly
advanced. We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations
past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.

A decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the
weight of new threats. The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war
between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of
catastrophe. Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a
few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.

Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within
nations. The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts, the growth of
secessionist movements, insurgencies and failed states have increasingly
trapped civilians in unending chaos. In today's wars, many more civilians are
killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are
wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed and children scarred.

I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war.
What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision,
hard work and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades
ago. And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just
war and the imperatives of a just peace.

We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth that we will not eradicate
violent conflict in our lifetimes. There will be times when nations — acting
individually or in concert — will find the use of force not only necessary
but morally justified.

I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King said in this same
ceremony years ago: "Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no
social problem: It merely creates new and more complicated ones." As someone
who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King's life's work, I am
living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. I know there is nothing
weak, nothing passive, nothing naive in the creed and lives of Gandhi and
King.

But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be
guided by their examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand
idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil
does exist in the world. A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler's
armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaidas leaders to lay down their
arms. To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism — it
is a recognition of history, the imperfections of man and the limits of
reason.

I raise this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence
about military action today, no matter the cause. At times, this is joined by
a reflexive suspicion of America, the worlds sole military superpower.

Yet the world must remember that it was not simply international
institutions — not just treaties and declarations — that brought stability to
a post-World War II world. Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is
this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for
more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our
arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted
peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take
hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we
seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest —
because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we
believe that their lives will be better if other people's children and
grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity.

So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the
peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another — that no matter how
justified, war promises human tragedy. The soldiers courage and sacrifice is
full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause and to comrades in
arms. But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such.

So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly irreconcilable
truths — that war is sometimes necessary, and war is at some level an
expression of human folly. Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task
that President Kennedy called for long ago. "Let us focus," he said, "on a
more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in
human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions."

What might this evolution look like? What might these practical steps be?

To begin with, I believe that all nations — strong and weak alike — must
adhere to standards that govern the use of force. I — like any head of state —

reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation.
Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards strengthens those who
do, and isolates — and weakens — those who dont.

The world rallied around America after the 9/11 attacks, and continues to
support our efforts in Afghanistan, because of the horror of those senseless
attacks and the recognized principle of self-defense. Likewise, the world
recognized the need to confront Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait — a
consensus that sent a clear message to all about the cost of aggression.

Furthermore, America cannot insist that others follow the rules of the road
if we refuse to follow them ourselves. For when we don't, our action can
appear arbitrary, and undercut the legitimacy of future intervention — no
matter how justified.

This becomes particularly important when the purpose of military action
extends beyond self-defense or the defense of one nation against an
aggressor. More and more, we all confront difficult questions about how to
prevent the slaughter of civilians by their own government, or to stop a
civil war whose violence and suffering can engulf an entire region.

I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in
the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war. Inaction tears
at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later. That is why
all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear
mandate can play to keep the peace.

America's commitment to global security will never waver. But in a world in
which threats are more diffuse, and missions more complex, America cannot act
alone. This is true in Afghanistan. This is true in failed states like
Somalia, where terrorism and piracy is joined by famine and human suffering.
And sadly, it will continue to be true in unstable regions for years to come.

The leaders and soldiers of NATO countries — and other friends and allies —
demonstrate this truth through the capacity and courage they have shown in
Afghanistan. But in many countries, there is a disconnect between the efforts
of those who serve and the ambivalence of the broader public. I understand
why war is not popular. But I also know this: The belief that peace is
desirable is rarely enough to achieve it. Peace requires responsibility.
Peace entails sacrifice. That is why NATO continues to be indispensable. That
is why we must strengthen U.N. and regional peacekeeping, and not leave the
task to a few countries. That is why we honor those who return home from
peacekeeping and training abroad to Oslo and Rome; to Ottawa and Sydney; to
Dhaka and Kigali — we honor them not as makers of war, but as wagers of
peace.

Let me make one final point about the use of force. Even as we make difficult
decisions about going to war, we must also think clearly about how we fight
it. The Nobel Committee recognized this truth in awarding its first prize for
peace to Henry Dunant — the founder of the Red Cross, and a driving force
behind the Geneva Conventions.

Where force is necessary, we have a moral and strategic interest in binding
ourselves to certain rules of conduct. And even as we confront a vicious
adversary that abides by no rules, I believe that the United States of
America must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war. That is what
makes us different from those whom we fight. That is a source of our
strength. That is why I prohibited torture. That is why I ordered the prison
at Guantanamo Bay closed. And that is why I have reaffirmed America's
commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions. We lose ourselves when we
compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. And we honor those ideals
by upholding them not just when it is easy, but when it is hard.

I have spoken to the questions that must weigh on our minds and our hearts as
we choose to wage war. But let me turn now to our effort to avoid such tragic
choices, and speak of three ways that we can build a just and lasting peace.

First, in dealing with those nations that break rules and laws, I believe
that we must develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to change
behavior — for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the
international community must mean something. Those regimes that break the
rules must be held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price.
Intransigence must be met with increased pressure — and such pressure exists
only when the world stands together as one.

One urgent example is the effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons,
and to seek a world without them. In the middle of the last century, nations
agreed to be bound by a treaty whose bargain is clear: All will have access
to peaceful nuclear power; those without nuclear weapons will forsake them;
and those with nuclear weapons will work toward disarmament. I am committed
to upholding this treaty. It is a centerpiece of my foreign policy. And I am
working with President Medvedev to reduce America and Russia's nuclear
stockpiles.

But it is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and
North Korea do not game the system. Those who claim to respect international
law cannot avert their eyes when those laws are flouted. Those who care for
their own security cannot ignore the danger of an arms race in the Middle
East or East Asia. Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm
themselves for nuclear war.

The same principle applies to those who violate international law by
brutalizing their own people. When there is genocide in Darfur, systematic
rape in Congo or repression in Burma — there must be consequences. And the
closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice
between armed intervention and complicity in oppression.

This brings me to a second point — the nature of the peace that we seek. For
peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based
upon the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be
lasting.

It was this insight that drove drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights after the Second World War. In the wake of devastation, they
recognized that if human rights are not protected, peace is a hollow promise.

And yet all too often, these words are ignored. In some countries, the
failure to uphold human rights is excused by the false suggestion that these
are Western principles, foreign to local cultures or stages of a nation's
development. And within America, there has long been a tension between those
who describe themselves as realists or idealists — a tension that suggests a
stark choice between the narrow pursuit of interests or an endless campaign
to impose our values.

I reject this choice. I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are
denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please, choose their own
leaders or assemble without fear. Pent up grievances fester, and the
suppression of tribal and religious identity can lead to violence. We also
know that the opposite is true. Only when Europe became free did it finally
find peace. America has never fought a war against a democracy, and our
closest friends are governments that protect the rights of their citizens. No
matter how callously defined, neither America's interests — nor the worlds —
are served by the denial of human aspirations.

So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different
countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are
universal. We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung
Sang Suu Kyi; to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the
face of beatings; to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently
through the streets of Iran. It is telling that the leaders of these
governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of
any other nation. And it is the responsibility of all free people and free
nations to make clear to these movements that hope and history are on their
side.

Let me also say this: The promotion of human rights cannot be about
exhortation alone. At times, it must be coupled with painstaking diplomacy. I
know that engagement with repressive regimes lacks the satisfying purity of
indignation. But I also know that sanctions without outreach — and
condemnation without discussion — can carry forward a crippling status quo.
No repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an
open door.

In light of the Cultural Revolution's horrors, Nixon's meeting with Mao
appeared inexcusable — and yet it surely helped set China on a path where
millions of its citizens have been lifted from poverty, and connected to open
societies. Pope John Paul's engagement with Poland created space not just for
the Catholic Church, but for labor leaders like Lech Walesa. Ronald Reagan's
efforts on arms control and embrace of perestroika not only improved
relations with the Soviet Union, but empowered dissidents throughout Eastern
Europe. There is no simple formula here. But we must try as best we can to
balance isolation and engagement, pressure and incentives, so that human
rights and dignity are advanced over time.

Third, a just peace includes not only civil and political rights — it must
encompass economic security and opportunity. For true peace is not just
freedom from fear, but freedom from want.

It is undoubtedly true that development rarely takes root without security;
it is also true that security does not exist where human beings do not have
access to enough food, or clean water, or the medicine they need to survive.
It does not exist where children cannot aspire to a decent education or a job
that supports a family. The absence of hope can rot a society from within.

And that is why helping farmers feed their own people — or nations educate
their children and care for the sick — is not mere charity. It is also why
the world must come together to confront climate change. There is little
scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, famine
and mass displacement that will fuel more conflict for decades. For this
reason, it is not merely scientists and activists who call for swift and
forceful action — it is military leaders in my country and others who
understand that our common security hangs in the balance.

Agreements among nations. Strong institutions. Support for human rights.
Investments in development. All of these are vital ingredients in bringing
about the evolution that President Kennedy spoke about. And yet, I do not
believe that we will have the will, or the staying power, to complete this
work without something more — and that is the continued expansion of our
moral imagination, an insistence that there is something irreducible that we
all share.

As the world grows smaller, you might think it would be easier for human
beings to recognize how similar we are, to understand that we all basically
want the same things, that we all hope for the chance to live out our lives
with some measure of happiness and fulfillment for ourselves and our
families.

And yet, given the dizzying pace of globalization, and the cultural leveling
of modernity, it should come as no surprise that people fear the loss of what
they cherish about their particular identities — their race, their tribe and,
perhaps most powerfully, their religion. In some places, this fear has led to
conflict. At times, it even feels like we are moving backwards. We see it in
the Middle East, as the conflict between Arabs and Jews seems to harden. We
see it in nations that are torn asunder by tribal lines.

Most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the
murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great
religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan. These
extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God; the cruelties of the
Crusades are amply recorded. But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be
a just war. For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will,
then there is no need for restraint — no need to spare the pregnant mother,
or the medic, or even a person of one's own faith. Such a warped view of
religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but the purpose
of faith — for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is
that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Adhering to this law of love has always been the core struggle of human
nature. We are fallible. We make mistakes, and fall victim to the temptations
of pride, and power, and sometimes evil. Even those of us with the best
intentions will at times fail to right the wrongs before us.

But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still
believe that the human condition can be perfected. We do not have to live in
an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better
place. The nonviolence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have
been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they
preached — their faith in human progress — must always be the North Star that
guides us on our journey.

For if we lose that faith — if we dismiss it as silly or naive, if we divorce
it from the decisions that we make on issues of war and peace — then we lose
what is best about humanity. We lose our sense of possibility. We lose our
moral compass.

Like generations have before us, we must reject that future. As Dr. King said
at this occasion so many years ago: "I refuse to accept despair as the final
response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that
the 'isness' of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching
up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him."

So let us reach for the world that ought to be — that spark of the divine
that still stirs within each of our souls. Somewhere today, in the here and
now, a soldier sees he's outgunned but stands firm to keep the peace.
Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her
government, but has the courage to march on. Somewhere today, a mother facing
punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, who believes that
a cruel world still has a place for his dreams.

Let us live by their example. We can acknowledge that oppression will always
be with us, and still strive for justice. We can admit the intractability of
deprivation, and still strive for dignity. We can understand that there will
be war, and still strive for peace. We can do that — for that is the story of
human progress; that is the hope of all the world; and at this moment of
challenge, that must be our work here on Earth

Article #276
Subject: prayers for Purim 2012/5772
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 3/3/2012 12:35:37 PM

May He whose name (YHWH) inside of the left shoulder and right shoulder of a
man of God bless us (“For I AM the eternal God and underneath are the my
eternal arms which support us all” verse from the Book of Genesis). May he
whose name YHWH means Jeremiah “I will raise you up on the last day” help us
to do this. May He whose name means Isaiah, Jesuhua, Jesus “I will look down
upon you and save you’ help us to do this. May He help our countries of the
U.S. of A. and to Israel bring a lasting peace among us. May He do this
through peaceful means using his faith in the righteousness and justice he
knows and will always hope dwells in the souls of the people of all the
countries and religions of the Middle East.

Article #297
Subject: Rosh Hashanad 2012 Apostolic Journey to Lebanon
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 9/17/2012 03:27:38 PM

Notes from Pope Benedict XVI’s journey to Lebanon for Peace in the Middle East
We thank God for this trip by His Holiness at this critical time in our long
time
prayers for Middle East Peace.

Broadcast to us thanks to the Catholic television channel ETWN of Birmingham,
AL, USA. And Vatican Radio from Rome.

Holy Mass and Angelus, Beirut City, Waterfront
Sept. 16,2012
Crowd of about 300,000 people

His Holiness Benedict said his prayer wish and intention which we join with
Him in praying for: “May God grant to your country, to Syria and to the
Middle East the
Gift of peaceful hearts, the silencing of weapons and the cessation of all
violence”

In Lebanon Christians account for about 1/3 of the population [source Wall
Street Journal article]. The Christian community in the Middle East, despite
its ancient origins is dwindling in many countries due to fears of unreast,
rise of Islamism and economic hardships. The Arab Spring has exacerbated
these sentiments, with Islamic parties rising to power and a still-unclear
picture of the future.
Many attendees of the Sunday Mass had travelled from all corners of Lebanon
from early morning hourse and walked several miles to reach the area. Syrian
Christian refugees taking shelter in the villages in the Bekaa Valley were
bused to the event through church organizers. Saturday the Pope met with
thousands of Christian youth, He said he admired their courage and asked them
to pass a message to Christians inside Syria that he hasn’t forgotten them.

The pope, wearing green vestments, sat on an altar with a backdrop of a giant
stylized white Cedar tree, the symbol of Lebanon, which also appears on the
nations flag. Most of the lay people in the crowd were dressed in white [I
noted especially their beautiful sea of white baseball style caps like the
ones I like to wear sometime].

Prayers were offered, theme of visit “I give you peace” taken from the Gospel
teachings of Saint John 14:22

Purpose of visit to sign post-synodic Apostolic Exhortation

“We look to you, O God, that we feel the working your mercy with the Spirit
of Jesus Christ forever and
forever”

Biblical Readings (sung by choir and soloists)

Isaiah 50, 5-9 “Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me?”

Psalm 114 4-6, 8-9 “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

New Testament reading from St. James 2 14-8
“What good is faith without works? What good is it to say you will do
something and not do it?”
As Saint Paul has said, “For some the Gospel is foolishness. But, for those
who believe it is salvation
And the power God.”

Gospel Reading St. Mark 8:27-35
Chanted according to the Melkite style
“Who do you say I AM? Peter answered “You are the Christ” [my thoughts, ie
not just God and Christ, but God in Christ]

“the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be killed.”

“Get behind me Satan”
“Whosoever wishes to serve must take up His cross and follow.”

“Whosoever will save his life will lose it, But, whosover loses it for my
sake will save it.”

“Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

His Holiness Benedict then said:

“I greet the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches Latin and Greek Bishops
Churchs and all other religious traditions with great affection as you join
the successor of Peter celebrating Jesus Christ crucified, dead, and
resurrected .”

And followed with a short homily

“In this passage the Gospel asks us about the true identity of Jesus.”
“At the moment He asked this question Jesus was facing a central, decisive
point in his life. The Church was getting ready to be born.”
“Only those willing to follow Jesus on His path can go truly deeply into His
heart and understand His true identity.”

“As a servant He will obey His Father’s will, even unto death and rebirth.”


“Choosing to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, requires Biblical study
in order to grow in fidelity to the Christ Jesus Gospel.” [my thoughts and
also in the Jesus God in Christ Gospel]

“walking in His footsteps requires concrete action”

Service must also be at the heart of the life of the Christian community
itself. Every ministry, every position of responsibility in the Church, is
first and foremost a service to God and to our brothers and sisters. This is
the spirit which should guide the baptized among themselves, and find
particular expression in an effective commitment to serving the poor, the
outcast and the suffering, so that the inalienable dignity of each person may
be safeguarded.
Dear brothers and sisters who are suffering physically or spiritually, your
sufferings are not in vain! Christ the Servant wished to be close to the
suffering. He is always close to you. Along your own path, may you always
find brothers and sisters who are concrete signs of his loving presence which
will never forsake you! Remain ever hopeful because of Christ!
And may all of you, my brothers and sisters who have come to take part in
this celebration, strive to be ever more fully conformed to the Lord Jesus,
who became the Servant of all for the life of the world. May God bless
Lebanon; may he bless all the peoples of this beloved region of the Middle
East, and may he grant them the gift of his peace. Amen


“This is how God shows His love, giving Himself to us on the cross.”
“In a world where violence leaves behind its grim tale of destruction it is
essential to serve each other for the common purposes of our callings from
God, and that through peace and respect of each other the inalienable dignity
of each person be safeguarded.” [my paraphrase]”


Prayers was then offered by local representatives:

“We pray to God for the people of the Middle East, may the Spirit of God open
the hearts and minds of the people of the Middle East, that it may develop
may the Middle East be in order to be reconciled with itself
And men and women be able to affirm with their own acts and realize justice
and peace.”

“We pray that by the Holy Spirit we will have a clear vision to insure their
well-being and cohesion, we pray to thee O Lord.”

“We pray for all efforts toward reconciliation, justice and peace, that they
may find a happy outcome and that the efforts are not discouraged before they
find faith.”

“ A prayer for all our brothers and sister who are suffering different trials
and difficulties throughout the Middle so that they may experience the
tenderness of the Good Shepherd.”

“We pray that our unity may be strengthened and we be intrepid witness to the
Lord.”

His Holiness Benedict then said: “O God who hears all mankind give these
prayers answers and joy to those who offered them”

Then before the Eucharistic ritual, some nicely dressed local representatives
of the people then were permitted to bring gifts forward to the spiritual
representative of God the Father, the Son and his disciples, and the Holy
Spirit of God in many of us praying together in preparation for the arrival
of This Holiness [at That Time]. Some kneeled but all during their approach
received bountiful spiritual gifts and plentiful thanks and blessings in
return from Him.

The mass was said in Latin. Here, I repeat a short version of the Apostle’s
creed in English.

“We believe in one God, maker of all things in Heaven and Earth, His only
Son, Jesus Christ, Light from Light [Light inside of Light, Light with Light]
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified dead and
buried. The third day He rose from the death, ascended into heaven, where He
sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. We believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life, resurrection of the body, the communion
of saints, forgiveness of sins.” Amen


A 2nd celebrant was Cardinal Bertoni, Secretary of State, Vatican.
And other celebrants were the Patriarchs of Eastern Church

The Holy Father prays, “Deliver us from all evil…grant us peace in our days.”
“May we look not on our sins, but on the face of our church.”
“May the Peace of Christ we with us all days.”

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World. Happy are those
who are called to the supper of the Lamb. “

At this point, the beautiful sounding choir sang Alleluias. My thoughts upon
reflection here: Praise God. thanks be that His worldwide glory that
transfigures you and me dwells in us and His Church in us this beautiful and
peaceful and joyful way.

After some beautiful Georgian chanting and reflection on the communion,
His Holiness Benedict prayed, “ May the working of these Holy gifts and their
Holy Spirit take possession on our minds and bodies so that its effects and
not our desires always prevail in us through Christ our Lord. “
Amen

Then before the commission being given spoke
Archbishop Nicola Eterovic, Secretary of the organizing synod of Bishops.

“We praise God in freedom and gratitude. We are united in praise with the
Holy Father. You are the Christ. A heartfelt thanks for choosing our country
to make public the fruit of the synod of Bishops. The Christian life lived in
unity and commitment is the most eloquent witness Christians can give for
peace. We give particular honor to Judaism with which we share great books.
Christians wish to be citizens with equal rights in their countries and are
prepared to honor these rights in others and to help sustain us all in these
areas in the areas of education and welfare. In particular we implore God’s
blessing on our efforts in Iran and Turkey.”

His Holiness then addressed the Bishops of the Middle East

“We thank the Lord for the gifts of the special synod of the Middle East. Now
the company of those who believe are of one soul. I am pleased now to present
this signed document to all the Churchs of the Middle East …so that everyone
will find new joy in their mission and the pastoral aspects of this
exhortation. I hope that this exhortation will be a guide, may communion and
faith, hope and joy be strengthened in you in the various Churchs. Dear
church in the Middle East, draw from the source salvation, follow in the
footsteps of you faith and look for examples that will inspire us to walk
toward the Heavenly Jerusalem where God will wash away our tears. May the
Gospel continue to resonate as it did two thousand years ago, and may He live
forever.”
Then the angelus address, the Angelus Dominus:
“Let us now turn to Mary of Lebanon, let us ask Her to intercede in the
problems in Syria and neighboring countries for peace. Sadly the din of
weapons makes itself heard, violence and hatred invade peoples lives and
women and children are the first victums. Why so much horror? Why so many
dead? I appeal to the Arab countries respecting the rights of all. Those who
must build peace must seek out help from others. It is not easy to build
peace. But, yet this is necessary if eternity is to survive. Let God grant us
peaceful hearts and the silencing of weapons and all violence. May men
understand that they are all brothers. May we, with God’s help, be converted
to establish the peace. I place the Middle East under Mary’s eternal
protection. Ave Maria, Thank you, Santa Maria, pray for our sins, now and at
the time of our death, hear our prayers, Glory to the Father and Son, Glory
to the Father of the World,” Amen

Expanded text downloaded from wikepedia:
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ.
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et
benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis
nostræ. Amen.
V. Ecce Ancilla Domini.
R. Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum.
Ave Maria...
V. Et Verbum caro factum est.
R. Et habitavit in nobis.
Ave Maria...
V. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus: Gratiam tuam quæsumus, Domine,
mentibus nostris infunde;
ut qui, angelo nuntiante,
Christi Filii tui Incarnationem cognovimus,
per passionem eius et crucem,
ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur.
Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
[edit] English text
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the power of Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our
death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to your Word.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our
death. Amen.
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our
death. Amen.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts,
that we to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the
message of an angel, may we by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory
of His resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glory be...
His Holiness then gave the Holy Benediction in Latin
My interpretation of the words as I heard them in English
In nomen Benedictum (myself), for our Lord God, I bless and benedict (speak
and bring by my acts good news) to you while we both walk in light and are
dwelling in the Pater, Kyrios (Christ), Son, and Holy Spirit the Spiritus
Sanctos for God’s glory. Amen


More thoughts:
Thank you again His Holiness Benedict and our friends in the Vatican for this
very timely and helpful visit and the worldwide proclamation of our Gospel of
Jesus Christ to those who faithfully believe in it and the are mindful with
us of the critical need of it in these current days of Middle East turmoil…
the expression of which is hopefully waning as we choose to move forward
together, with God, helped by God’s peace, helped from God’s Peace, and
helped and led toward God’s Peace through its temporary uprising.