2015:5 - Ramadan Kareem!

The holy month of Ramadan is seven days old today. The moon is approaching half full out my window. In the month of Ramadan, pious Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day. In places like Egypt this also may mean that people work a shorter work day to preserve their energy during daylight hours. The fast is broken at sunset when the call to prayer comes from the local mosque. I’m told that it’s tradition to break the fast with a glass of water, a date and then your break-fast meal – iftar. Often shops close in the hour or so before sunset so that people can make their way home in time to break their fast with family or friends.

Today Rita, Linda and I headed out to run a couple of errands before dinner. We left the seminary at 6:30 pm forgetting, until we got on the main street, that it was likely the shops where we were headed would be closed. The sun sets just before 7 pm in Cairo these days. Rather than turn around, we decided to make our way to Road 9 just in case they were open. The street, normally bustling with cars and pedestrian traffic during rush hour, was quiet.

As we expected the first shop was closed. We headed to the market, which remained open, though we were the only customers. We made quick business of our shopping to allow the workers to break the fast in peace. But as we walked out of the market and onto the street, we saw workers gathered around an enormous pot of béchamel (in Midwest speak, hotdish with meat and a cheesy cream sauce). We couldn’t help but admire the delicious looking food when suddenly we were invited to join them in breaking the fast.

An enormous helping of béchamel was served and as the call to prayer began we spoke to each other the Ramadan words of greeting.

Ramadan Kareem

Alahu Akram

A generous Ramadan to you!

God is most generous!

Together we broke the fast with delicious food and tamarhindi (a sweet juice made from the tamarind plant). It was delicious. It was generous. It was pure hospitality. It was everything I have come to love about Egypt and Egyptians.

I may not share the same faith as my Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world, but I do share a faith in an ever-generous God who provides us with all life and sustenance. For a brief moment tonight on Road 9 in Ma’adi, we communed with a most generous God and shared one heavenly feast.

Al-hamdulillah! Thanks be to God!

2015:4 - Mary

Statue of Mary in the Dining Courtyard

I’ve always been a fan of Mary, but after eight summers of praying Mary’s song each day at Evening Prayer, eight summers of seeing Mary’s outstretched hands beckon to me and eight summers of gazing on Mary in icon form, a new respect and devotion is growing in me.

With apologies to my Catholic friends, I’m not sure that I’ll ever be able to say the words of “Hail Mary” without my eyes rolling. My Lutheran conviction that I don’t need anyone to intercede on my behalf is too strong. And yet, Mary’s “yes” to God’s call and her song of praise to God’s mighty deeds each day becomes a more powerful word of grace in my life.

Icon of Mary and Jesus in Chapel

Last Thursday after we had watched the movie Romero, I made my way with the students to the chapel before dinner for Evening Prayer. As I pondered Romero’s martyrdom in the fight for justice, I spoke Mary’s Magnificat while her eyes looked at me from my seat in front of her icon.

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord,

I delight in God my savior,

who regarded my humble state.

Truly from this day on

all ages will call me blest.

For God, wonderful in power,

has used that strength for me.

Holy the name of the Lord!

whose mercy embraces the faithful,

one generation to the next.

The mighty arm of God

scatters the proud in their conceit,

pulls tyrants from their thrones,

and raises up the humble.

The Lord fills the starving

and lets the rich go hungry.

God rescues lowly Israel,

recalling the promise of mercy,

the promise made to our ancestors,

to Abraham’s heirs for ever.

In that moment I was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears flowed from my eyes. Mary’s song give voice to the faith that God is rescuing us even now though we cannot always see how and calling  people like Mary, or Romero, or even me, to make God’s mercy and justice known.

In this world we live in where environmental destruction continues, innocent people are slaughtered and children starve, Mary’s song convicts me even as it calls me to add my “yes” – in words and deeds – to hers.

2015:3 - Practice

On Friday, the assigned gospel for the day was Peter’s confession of Jesus (Matthew 16:13-20). I’ve always thought the most important part of that text was Peter’s response to Jesus question, “You are Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.” But as I was pondering that text last week, in the midst of teaching responsibilities and watching the movie Romero, I began to wonder if the most important thing is not Peter’s response, but Jesus’ questions, “What about you? Who do you say that I am?”

Jesus is not asking these questions for his own benefit. He knows who he is. Jesus is also not asking these questions for the benefit of the reader of Matthew. Matthew tells us in the opening words of his gospel that Jesus is “Christ, the Son of David” and when Jesus is born, Matthew tells us that he is Emmanu-el – God is with us.

There’s something important to remember in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. He was their teacher and they were his students. In my years of teaching in Egypt one of the things that I’ve realized is that I often ask questions because I want my students to rehearse or practice their answers out loud. I want them to grow so comfortable with the vocabulary and the grammar of their response that it becomes a habit and not something they must continually think about.

What if Jesus is asking all of us who are his students – What about you? Who do you say that I am? – so that we too can practice our response and it becomes automatic, a habit, and not something we have to wonder about.

In the movie Romero, the priest is initially shown as someone who enjoys a close relationship with the rich and powerful of El Salvador, while other priests are toiling alongside the indigenous people of the country in a fight for land reform. When the Vatican selects Romero as archbishop, he is seen as a candidate who will keep the country’s rulers happy and not upset the status quo. But as Romero begins to witness first hand the torturing and killing of priests and activists, as he begins to see and experience the abuse and injustice of the people, he begins to understand that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God is in and with them.

I don’t know enough about Romero’s story to know what is fact and what is fiction, but the movie shows a student of Jesus who must first practice his response to the teacher’s questions – What about you, Oscar? Who do you say that I am? – before he himself is willing to stand with and for the people and speak against the powerful on their thrones. Romero must first practice seeing Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God in the people around him before he is willing to take up his cross and follow him. In the end, Romero was assassinated while presiding at the Eucharist. In March of this year, Pope Frances declared him a martyr of the faith.

I suspect that before any of us will be asked to take up our cross and follow Jesus, we are first asked to practice our response to our teacher’s questions: What about you? Who do you say that I am? Until I can see Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God in my neighbor, I will never be able join my neighbor in working for justice.  

So for today, when I see my neighbor, I am working to practice my response to my teacher’s questions. "You are Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God."

2015:2 - Home

I’m on Day 5 of my Egypt adventure and if I’ve been quiet it’s because my days have been full since arriving on Saturday. Sunday included a visit to the Ibn Tulun and Sultan Hossan mosques with my colleagues Rita and Linda. (Check out my Amy In Egypt

Ibn Tulun Mosque

Sultan Hassan Mosque

Facebook to read about the beautiful experience we had at the Sultan Hossan Mosque.)

I had a full teaching schedule on Monday and Tuesday and a half morning on Wednesday. In addition, I’ve preached the morning meditation in mass each morning and will do so for at least the next week. This morning is the first opportunity I’ve had to walk to my favorite coffee shop, order a cappuccino and sit, relax and begin to reflect on my return to Egypt after a nearly two-year absence.

I have enjoyed starting to know many new students. Because I was not here last year, there are two years worth of students – 12 out of a total of 20 or so - that are new to me. They are eager to learn and full of questions. Their curiosity brings a lot of energy and interest to class and makes meal times fun and engaging.

Last night after dinner, the students watched an animated movie called, “Home.” I did not watch it because I was in desperate need of sleep. So in class this morning I asked my students about the movie. I asked them what the idea of home was in the movie and then I asked them to tell me their idea of home. When they were finished talking one of my students turned the question on me: “What is your idea of home, Pastor Amy?”

I talked about my home being Minnesota, the place where I was born and grew up, where I went to college and met Hans and where my family still lives. I talked about home being anyplace where I am able to be with Hans. Finally, I said, home is also the place where I am able to be with my family and friends and the people I love, no matter where I am. So for me, Egypt is also home, even while I am away from my other homes.

I hope that wherever you are today that you are feeling like you are also home. 

2015:1 Prayers

(Candles representing prayers from a church in Coptic Cairo, July 2013). 

In the last few days, I've been with people who know of my history of travel in Egypt. Their words have been surprisingly consistent. The conversation goes something like this. 

"Are you going to Egypt?" 

"Yep!"
"When do you leave? And how long will you be gone?"

"I leave on Friday and I'll be gone through July 2." 

And then inevitably some variation of these words, "I'll be praying for you." 

The last time I was in Egypt was two years ago when Egyptians last took to the streets in large numbers and President Mohammed Morsi was deposed. It was a tense and uncertain time. Along with my teaching colleagues, we were trying to figure out the best plan for leaving early or staying through to our scheduled flights. Through all the turmoil, I remained amazing calm and collected. I know prayers sustained and strengthened me through those days. 

I have every expectation that my time in Egypt this summer will be considerably calmer and less eventful than my last visit. Nevertheless, I welcome your prayers ... for me, for my fellow teachers, for my students and the priests at the seminary where I will teach, and for Hans who will remain behind. 

Your prayers sustain me when I'm weary and give me strength when I grow tired of fighting the battles of a patriarchal culture. Your prayers surround me with the care of God's holy angels and keep me safe until I am brought back home. 

Your prayers are a gift. Thank you!

Grieving

As I read the news, see the pictures and hear from friends in Egypt my heart is heavy and I am grieving. I want to share with you some of what I have seen and heard.

A friend of mine who is now a priest was traveling by car on Wednesday when knife-wielding men saw him inside and moved toward the car to attack it. He was saved by a fast-thinking and fast-moving driver who speed out of danger and told him to remove his black cassock. Today this same priest told me that priests in Egypt fear being led like sheep to the slaughter. Lord have mercy.

Christians in Egypt are watching their churches, organizations, Coptic-owned businesses and homes being attacked, desecrated and burned while security forces do nothing. They wonder if the land that God sent the Holy Family to for protection and where Christians have lived for nearly 2000 years will continue to be a land where Christians are welcome, protected and cared for. Lord have mercy.

Photos of St. Teresa Church (Franciscan), Assiut, Egypt

Much of the violence has taken place in Upper Egypt (south of Cairo) where many of my students and their families live. I cannot imagine the fear, devastation and anger they must feel on this day of the Assumption, which is one of the great feast days in Egypt. Churches across Egypt canceled masses and celebrations today out of fear that worshippers would be attacked. Lord have mercy.

In my grief and sadness, here's what I'm doing:

Praying - I continue to pray for a return of safety, security and peace in Egypt. I also pray for my friends and their families that they will know that they are not alone, that they are held in the palm of God's hand and that their brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe are holding them close. I felt the power of your prayers when I was in Egypt earlier this summer and I believe that our prayers will be known by our brothers and sisters in Egypt.

Listening - I read, watch and listen to everything I can about Egypt, especially how our Christian brothers and sisters are being affected. I do this to gain information but I also do it try to expand my understanding. Here's one blog in English that has been attempting to document the extent of violence that has taken place against Coptic sites in Egypt. It's easy to become inured to the violence and destruction but when I see pictures of stunned faces, when I watch a video of a man trying to guard his church, when I hear friends say they fear being killed, I am reminded that this is not merely a "situation." Real lives are at stake. Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons are being killed and wounded and we cannot escape the impact of these actions even if we want to.

http://nilerevolt.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/1198/

Taking Responsibility -  I take great care to remind myself that what is unfolding in Egypt is not the responsibility or fault of Islam but the responsibility of those who corrupt their faith by replacing it with idols of power and control and scapegoating groups of people, regardless of their religion. I also work to understand the role that outside forces, including my own government, may have in shaping the violence that is unfolding in Egypt. In my Lutheran understanding of sin I must admit my own culpability and confess my sin in "thought, word and deed, by what I have done and by what I have left undone." How have I failed to understand the ways that America's foreign policy impacts others across the globe? How often have I settled for slow and unsatisfactory responses from my government rather than speaking about about what I know and believe to be true?

I hope you will join me in these activities. Frankly it would be easier if I asked you to give money (I am working on a way to do that and to offer assistance to those dioceses, churches and organizations that have been destroyed and burned). I know what happens when we open our ears to hearing the stories of our neighbors and open our eyes to looking at their bruised and broken bodies. When we do this we realize that we are gazing on Christ and our hearts and minds are opened in new ways as well and we are forever changed.

Today is the Feast of the Assumption, a widely-celebrated feast in Egypt. On this day the assigned gospel reading is Mary's song of praise to the Mighty One who has done great things. May Mary's song, sung in a moment of fear and uncertainty, ring in the hearts of all who grieve today.

"God's mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."