Where the sea, the sky, and the Wall meet: letting the sacrament mediate

If you see religion as a sacrament, the point is not to believe in the sacrament;

the point is to live within the tradition and let the sacrament do its work within you,

Let the sacrament mediate the reality of the sacred to you.  

Marcus J. Borg

I believe in thin places, where the veil between the world is ripped or open enough that you can glimpse to what is on the other side, feel God’s holy presence. The border wall that extends about 50 feet into the water between Mexico and the US border is such a place. It was built in the 1980s as a way to stem the tide of migrants trying to get to the other side. Now it is a place of gathering.

It is here at this place, the line drawn in the sand, that people gather every Sunday at 1:00 pm to share a binational communion service. This was my first service at the border wall. It was my second with the Church at the Border, La Igelsia Fronteriza; the first was in Tijuana in an old building being renovated to provide services for the influx of new migrants.

It was powerful beyond words to break bread with those deported or waiting/hoping to enter on the other side. It reminded me of the day the Catholic priest and I came to the table in Beit Jala to pray and stop Israel  from uprooting trees to complete its wall around the Bethlehem area. Then I was praying to stop a wall. Now I was praying at the wall.

I invited myself to go with Pastor Seth David Clark to the wall to share in the weekly communion service on the US side of the wall at Friendship Park where families used to be able to gather and picnic from across the borders. When we arrived at the Imperial Beach parking lot, I watched Seth change into his walking shoes and gather his knapsack filled with only the essentials—the elements, a few photos, his bible and a cell phone. The cell phone allowed us to amplify our voices during the prayers and later make a small video. The trek to the sea and across the white sands is spectacular and the day was sunny and warm. We talked quietly on our approach.

The eucharist takes place at the top of the hill where the gate can be opened between the two walls just under the watch tower. At 1:00 we are allowed to enter and approach the steel meshed wall. Seth set up our humble table on the ground. I peered through to the other side and saw familiar faces from the last communion service. Guillermo and one of the deported vets was leading. Seth translated. At the far end of the wall, a man spoke in hushed tones in Spanish to a woman on the other side. His wife? His mother? Lover? Most of those gathered this day did not participate in the communion service. They were using their time to talk with their loved ones. They had only one hour.

Seth told me that that during the prayer of confession we would put our hands on the wall and when we heard the words of assurance, we would raise them up. What he didn’t tell me, because how could he know,  is that I would well up with uncontrollable tears. Touching the hard metal of the barrier that is separating families while confessing our sins was like, well touching both the wounds of Christ and the sharp edge of empire at the same time. Plus, on the other side someone stood opposite me touching the same wall. We were mirror dancing a prayer. And just when I thought I would burst, we raised our hands to that heavenly blue sky and asked for forgiveness. Yet more tears.

Seth told me that we passed the peace by sticking our pinkies through the meshed wall. We could only touch just the tips of our smallest finger. Peace is that dangerous that it must be regulated. Yet it was enough. On the Mexican side, people lined up behind each other to touch my tiny pinky. It was its own communion.

Seth and I followed and translated the call to the table for all to come and receive because God knows no boundaries. He translated the blessing of the elements, and the words of institution. Somehow it was right that we were translating into English. I lifted the small ceramic cup. Seth broke the roll. We fed each other while a Mexican singer on the other side sang about God’s goodness and love. The families at the wall continued their hushed conversations.

Jesus prepared a meal for the multitudes to remind us that we feed people

not because we believe they deserve it, but because they’re hungry.      

John Pavovitz

Only 10 people were allowed at the wall so I pulled away to distract the border patrol agent so he wouldn’t notice. Not knowing what to say, I asked if they, the border patrol, ever wanted to participate in the communion service? He looked surprised and somewhat pleased by the invitation. I was surprised by what came out of my mouth, “This is Christ’s table. It is open for all.” He smiled and thanked me. The people at the wall had a few more minutes and I invited the Other to the table.

On the trek back across the sand by the edge of the ocean, I thanked God for this humble ministry of sacramental presence, for allowing us to know Him not only at the table but through the Wall in song and prayer and most especially through the touch of peace.

For more information about the Border Church including videos of the services go to facebook:
The Border Church, La Iglesia Fronteriza

What is Unacceptable?

I realize that if I wait until I am no longer afraid to act,

write, speak, be, I'll be sending messages on a Ouija board,

cryptic complaints from the other side.

   Audre Lorde

On March 7^th I took a break from my work with refugees and asylum seekers to go down to Chula Vista with fellow activists to denounce Representative Juan Vargas’ tweets against Ilhan Omar but also criticizing Israel.

           Tweet 1: Israel has and remains a stalwart ally of the United States 

because of our countries shared interests and values. 

I condemn her remarks and believe she should apologize for her offensive comments.

          Tweet 2: It is disturbing that Rep. Omar continues to perpetrate hurtful
 anti-Semitic stereotypes, that misrepresent our Jewish community. 
Additionally, questioning the support for US Israel relationship is unacceptable.

The email about the Press Conference came early in the morning, forwarded from a Jewish Voice for Peace activist, to another friend who has deep interest in Palestinian rights. As a former mission co- worker who has lived in Palestine and seen up close what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people, I felt a moral duty to show up.  It occurred to me that it might be good idea to have some kind of statement. As an outsider to San Diego and to Vargas’ district, I felt what I wanted to say had to address the anti-Semitic part of his comments and the charge that we cannot question the US Israel relationship. I searched high and low for a statement from my church, the UCC, and found nothing. I then found Churches for Middle East Peace statement and thought. Yes, but its way too long so I chose the paragraph about how Congress should include Islamophobia and racism. I particularly liked their bringing forward the concept of weaponizing anti-Semitism.

As Congress considers a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, CMEP calls on leadership not only to repudiate all forms of bigotry, but to be clear in differentiating between actual hate speech and critiques of policy. While we affirm the desire to denounce anti-Semitism, Congress cannot speak with integrity on this issue if it does not also make clear its opposition to Islamophobia and racism as well. If Congress fails to distinguish between anti-Semitism and valid critiques of the government of Israel, they are playing into the hands of those forces who wish to weaponize anti-Semitism. Doing so harms everyone by suppressing free speech and undermining open debate about a major U.S. foreign policy issue; and by singling out, as in recent instances, people of color and vulnerable populations while remaining silent when privileged others express clearly bigoted sentiments.

Full statement:  https://cmep.salsalabs.org/3719publicstatement?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2a24984e-6eb4-4ba2-b1fe-626531524248

I put on my uniform, my clerical collar, my black skirt and shirt, and my blue embroidered Palestinian jacket that a shop keeper saved for me because he said it had crosses on it and I should have it. When I arrived, there were just a handful of Muslim and Jewish activists. Then my friend Rebecca showed up in her collar and T-shirt saying I Stand with Palestine. We stood around waiting for the press to show up and took pictures of ourselves with our homemade signs. The Muslim American Society came with a podium and a microphone. The press conference went on without the press. Each speaker was so eloquent. Some spoke about the attacks as a form of Islamophobia, others directed themselves to the Tweets themselves and the implications of Vargas trying to silence debate about US and Israel’s special relationship.

As I listened to the moving speeches, I felt my prepackaged statement didn’t quite hit all the notes I wanted, and I would have to trust the Holy Spirit to let me embroidery before and after the statement. I realized standing there on a street corner in Chula Vista that I had finally found my people in San Diego and that we were all vulnerable or under threat for just being there. I also realized as a person who has been called an anti-Semite for my Lenten Reflections of all things, and almost asked not to speak at an Interfaith Gathering because a Jewish Zionist member of the Coalition read about my attack and wanted to use it as an excuse for why I shouldn’t come, that I was the perfect person to speak. Furthermore, I know what it feels like to get a death threat for speaking out.

Gatherings like this are what interfaith work looks like on the ground. I was proud to represent not just my church but The Church, to add our voice to the mix calling out Vargas to recant or rescind his statement.  Here is a copy of the statement from the Muslim American Society of San Diego responding to the Vargas’ disturbing comments:

                 The Muslim American Society- San Diego chapter is deeply disturbed by recent comments made by Congressman Juan Vargas in stating that “Questioning support for the U.S.-Israeli relationship is unacceptable.” To assert this notion that our support for a foreign country is above reproach is unacceptable in and of itself and sets a dangerous precedent. No nation-state should ever be above criticism and no nation-state    should ever receive blind unquestioning support from members of Congress.

            Representative Ilhan Omar has been consistent in her critiques of the impact of special interest groups in Washington, whether those interests represent Israel or Saudi Arabia. The Congressman’s comments comes    at a time that Representative Omar is facing blatant Islamophobic, anti-black racist attacks and threats to her life. These constant attacks and framing of any Muslim’s critique of U.S-Israeli relationship or special interest groups such as AIPAC as anti-Semitic is a decades’ old Islamophobic stereotype itself. Americans, including Muslim Americans, should be able to criticize American policies towards Israel and hold elected   officials accountable on how American taxpayers’ money is spent domestically and abroad.

            “Representative Vargas’ comment is an attempt to silence political commentary and a much- needed debate on U.S.-Israeli relations,” said MAS San Diego President Tareq Purmul.”   This censorship is counter to our democratic values of freedom of political expression.”

                  MAS condemns these comments by the Congressman in light of the upcoming resolution that will be put forth by House Democratic leaders, originally intended to rebuke and reprimand Representative Omar. We call on our representatives to produce a resolution that condemns anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and religious bigotry and hate of all kinds.

After the speeches, members of the community went into the office and delivered this statement and spoke in front of the lone camera crew that showed up. As of Friday evening, Vargas has not rescinded his statement or apologized to his constituents. The House voted on a more detailed resolution about anti-Semitism, bigotry, White Nationalism, and racism and blurred the lines linking the critique of Israel to anti-Semitism but the ghost is still there in comments like Vargas' and thus, I think we all should be prepared to speak out when the next attack comes.

Here is the link to the facebook page where you can hear some of the speeches including mine: Press Conference Re Resolution Against Rep Ilhan Omar

https://www.facebook.com/events/412924532852008/

All of us, including us who identify as faith leaders, have a role in this ongoing conversation about what is or isn't racist or anti-Semitic. I challenge or invite my colleagues to develop their own statements of belief so when the next time comes, we can stand clearly on the side of justice.

The following is from a blog post from Ayman Refaat, a new friend and Muslim chaplain:

     Although Semites are people of the Middle East including the Hebrews (Jews) and Arabs, Why the term “Antisemitism” is used in the United States to refer to prejudice against Jews only? Should the term be “Anti Jews” or “Anti Hebrews”? Why does the term “Antisemitism” not include prejudice against Arab? Is that because the American society does not realize yet the prejudice against Arab? So do we need a new term such as “Anti- Arab” or “Anti Islam”? Is Islamophobia not Anti Islam? How can the American media call some Arabs “Antisemitism” although they are Semites?

     Although Semites is a race, why the term “Antisemitism” is used in the United States to refer to prejudice against the followers of the Judaism religion? Why do Americans think the race of Hebrews and the religion of Judaism are the same?

     But the biggest problem now is that the term “Antisemitism” is used to refer to any criticizes to the Israel politics. So, Semites is not the race, and even not the religion, but the state of Israel. So, as American you have the freedom of express to criticize the politics of your government and state, but you do not have the right to criticize the politics of Israel. I thought that America supports Israel, but actually it seems the opposite; It  seems as if Israel controls the United States.

It is unacceptable that we allow ourselves to not make the distinction between nation states and people, and accept that we must give up our First Amendment rights. It is unacceptable to remain silent. 

Resources

House passes resolution condemning anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim discrimination

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/07/politics/house-democrats-resolution-vote-ilhan-omar/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0QnJaR6846kGLXgH0kYVQOQ_176XMAv2KiHFOuXKaQU1RrPprgoWPlxNM

US: Orthodox Jews show solidarity with Omar

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-orthodox-jews-show-solidarity-with-omar/1411242?fbclid=IwAR3ag2xHogy1FKFDljOprQuhyNHOdJ40GGqHrHm9WIvOgCHGPwUBdlb1dZo

The Ilhan Omar controversy shows how little we care about Palestinian lives

https://www.vox.com/first-person/2019/3/7/18253521/israel-ilhan-omar-antisemitism?fbclid=IwAR1Kl9k_VM6tIvCxE5NZNBlvsZBbgWTat0pOrZ3EKBc2fBwcdjSryGeCHc8

Demonizing Ilhan Omar: Why the entire political establishment wants to crush one woman

https://www.salon.com/2019/03/08/demonizing-ilhan-omar-why-the-entire-political-establishment-wants-to-crush-one-woman/?fbclid=IwAR2daMHL71IU_-reue-TeQhvWKJhumiho61ctjuxsB683jpTsBxhFnykfdU

Ilhan Omar Has a Less Bigoted Position on Israel Than Almost All of Her Colleagues

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/03/ilhan-omar-alleggiance-resolution-democrats-anti-semitism-israel-palestine.html?fbclid=IwAR32soruywJzPgohVM5ckHz30F-H3bT0QCDQ2QDvJrHl7EAXhP_GwRfVh_I