Bishops of the EvangelicalLutheran Churchin America have beenin the Holy Land since Jan. 6,and will return (God willing) January 13. This is their annual academy which is theirtime for theological study and reflection. A number of years ago I was honoredto be asked to bring a homily to this gathering that focused on the call to ecumenism.We gathered at St. Mary's by the Lake, a beautiful and serene location near Mundelein, IL. This year's academy is a somewhat more challenging endeavor.The 45 bishops have planned meetings with religious, political and communityleaders in Israel and the West Bank.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the EvangelicalLutheran Church in America (ELCA), said, "The United States government needs totake a more active role in stopping the conflict in Gaza. Stopping the conflictneeds to be a top priority, and it must be accomplished as soon as possible." Hanson,who served here in Minnesotabefore being elected to the presiding bishop post, also serves as president ofthe Lutheran World Federation (LWF). He went on to say, "Israeli troops mustwithdraw from Gaza, Hamas must stop rocketattacks on civilians in Israel,and negotiations must be restarted for "a permanent peace with justice anda two-state solution."

Daniel J. Lehmann reported on the blog about the trip thattoday that the rocket attacks in northern Israel during "the early hours ofThursday threw the day off course. Several high-ranking Israeli leaders,including the president and foreign minister, canceled their time with thebishop. As events settled down, private consultations with the ministers of theInterior and Tourism were held as planned.
"After being given a special tour of the Yad Vashem memorial, Presiding BishopMark S. Hanson of the ELCA, National Bishop Susan C. Johnson of the ELCIC andBishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and HolyLand placed the flowers at the memorial for the 6 million Jews killed by theNazis in World War II.
"From there they held an abbreviated meeting with Israel's top rabbis, Yona Metzgerof the Ashkenazi and Schlomo Amar of the Sephardi branches of Judaism. Bothrabbis devoted much of their address to explaining Israel'sincursion into the Gazastrip as necessary to stop rocket attacks on civilians in the southern portionof the country. They mourned civilian deaths in Gaza, but said military leaders showed themevidence Hamas fighters were positioned in schools and other publicinstitutions.
"Hanson stressed the two North American church's 'rejection of violence.' Hesaid the current conduct of the campaign by Israel raised just war theoryquestions, especially 'proportionality and killing of innocents.'
"'If we can't have this kind of exchange,' Hanson said, '. . . thenfanatics will win.'"
"The trip is to stress accompaniment with the EvangelicalLutheran Churchin Jordan and the Holy Land, raise awareness of regional issues and boostadvocacy for peace."

The time after Epiphany is a season that is all aboutfinding God in unexpected places. Jesus illuminates the way, even in hard timesand difficult situations. Peace be with them.