Something to think pray about
by Virginia M. Kimball, S.T.D.

In hatred there are no brothers, no sisters, no peace,

only roadside bombs blasting limbs piece to piece,

exploding minds, crushing hearts and hope.

Only loathing, Sunni for Shiite, stranger

for stranger, abomination, widow and legless child,

fear in abhorrence, mothers abandoned,

fathers terror-struck in faithless flight.

Faith? Where is the comfort of faith,

Christian turning on Christian,

Palestinians driven out in shame

from roadways to work, from homes

where children wait with pale faces

and huge, hollow, sleepless eyes?

Where is the loving mother, our shelter

who prays for silence, for men to forget

gun belts, caravans going nowhere?

Does she belong only to us,

is she only our guide,

only our protection,

only for devotion,

only?

Muhammad, prophet of Islam, revealed:

"There is nothing in the earth and the heavens

hidden from God. There is no god but He,

the all mighty and the all-wise." ^{Qur’ān, Surah 3}

Can it be that the One who loves mankind,

all mankind, reveals love and care

among earth's brothers and sisters?

Is Miryam, Christ’s mother, known

and does she wait, like all mothers do,

for brothers and sisters to be shown,

to see, to wonder, if this woman

reveals the way to be sealed

in God's peace?

"The angel said: 'O Miryam, truly God has

favored you and made you immaculate,

and chosen you from all women in this world.

... O, Miryam, God gives you news

of something new from Him. Rejoice! This

news will be named Messiah'." ^{Qur’ān, Surah 5}

"Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid,

Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Behold , you will conceive in your womb

and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus'." ^{Luke 2: 30-31}

Where is the prophetic voice for us today?

Perhaps our prophet is a mother to say:

"A voice cries out: in the desert prepare

the way of the LORD! Make this wasteland

right for the way of God. ... then the glory

of the LORD shall be revealed,

and all mankind will see it together." ^{Isaiah 40:3-5}

She cries out.

She mourns for her sisters and brothers.

She is mother.

She can ponder.

She loves with care,

and waits "for the word of God
... to stand forever." ^{Isaiah 40:8}