Meditations on the Poster at the Bethlehem Checkpoint: “Come and Feel the Glory” (picture of priests at Gethsemane Basilica, Mount of Olives)

Come and feel

the cold of sitting

on a cardboard mat

in the wee hours of the morning,

the daily humiliation

of metal detectors,

permits accepted or denied,

identity cards

with worn out black strips.

Don’t turn away from

pants slipping down

as belts are removed.

Feel the glory, O Israel

your people enslaved

in a matrix of control

at best

at worst

a systematic daily strip search

of human rights.

Don’t turn away from

the sound bomb going off

the tear gas discharging

rubber bullets flying

Feel the pain, O Christians

Jesus in the garden

praying for deliverance---

the cup to pass

the strength to continue the journey

Don’t turn away

stay awake, stay awake

See the glory, faith delegations

the extreme patience,

even good humor

at this prolonged dark hour,

65 years of grinding humiliation

waiting for an end---

the right to return home

stay in your home

build a new home

Come faithful ones

get on your knees

and pray with Christ at the Checkpoint

pray with the ones touching their heads to the ground,

pray for forgiveness---

for your sins of omission, commission and indifference

pray for the glory to come

to catch even a glimpse

now

Loren McGrail

March 16,2011