The name Gaza is familiar to most of us at the moment. It is a strip of land on the Mediterranean coast bordered by Israel and Egypt. It is the home of over two million Palestinian refugees and their descendants, displaced from their homes by the creation of the state of Israel. Currently, war rages in Gaza following the horrific massacre of 1,139 Israeli men, women and children on October 7th of last year by the terrorist group; Hamas. Some 250 Israeli men, women and children were taken as hostages. Israel is seeking to destroy Hamas and liberate the surviving hostages. Those of us who follow international news have been numbed by the scenes of loss of life, especially those of women and children, and the physical devastation of the Gaza strip. Both sides grieve the loss of loved ones.
What causes me to bring up Gaza today? Acts 8:26-40 begins by saying that “The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, ‘Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.'” The story continues of how Philip ended up converting the Ethiopian eunuch who was a court official of the Queen of Ethiopia. Prayerfully reflecting on this conversion story this morning led me to prayer for the conversion of heart of both Palestinians (especially Hamas) and Israelis. The land that we call holy has been bloodied down through history by many peoples. It remains so today. Conversion of heart is at the root of so many of our Easter stories. Jesus comes to bring peace and not war and racial/ethnic hatred. As we ponder these conversion stories of Easter time, may we pray for the people of Gaza and Israel and for their conversion of heart. War only begets more war and all loose. Conversion of heart is the only road to a lasting and harmonious peace.
Andre's Hearth 