JAÉN, Spain.
On January 26, members of TA Rajab Project Jaén met with a large group of believers from different religions with the intention of invoking the name of God to "bring about sanity, common sense, PEACE, collaboration, brotherhood and, above all, show the possibility that the face of God has a place among Muslims, Orthodox, Jews, and Christians."
"A beautiful opportunity to demonstrate to skeptics, the many indifferent people, the new atheists who say they believe in something, that God continues being present when two or more are gathered, regardless of color or religion." "How easy it was to pray even if we didn’t understand the language, how easy it was to come in contact with God even if we didn’t know what the song said, that invocation prayer of Muslims, of Orthodox Christians, the reading of Mormons praying for peace... It was easy because everything was moved by the great love of which Paul speaks in his letters."
"A beautiful opportunity to demonstrate to skeptics, the many indifferent people, the new atheists who say they believe in something, that God continues being present when two or more are gathered, regardless of color or religion." "How easy it was to pray even if we didn’t understand the language, how easy it was to come in contact with God even if we didn’t know what the song said, that invocation prayer of Muslims, of Orthodox Christians, the reading of Mormons praying for peace... It was easy because everything was moved by the great love of which Paul speaks in his letters."
"We have further understood that faith moves mountains, we have understood that we are all on the same planet with our differences and diversity, but with a unique message. Here we all fit because we are children of the same father. On the contrary, in this world there would be no place for anyone if selfishness, power, prestige, and fanaticism would take away the very reason for existing."
Alongside this shared experience of Unity and Peace, in our minds there was the image of a blade-topped fence that separates us from one another, a fence which, as in Ceuta and Melilla, separates brethren, opens gaps and undermines the dignity of people.
Unfortunately, many times we lock ourselves in our little things, in our circle of justification and amenities ... and therefore a prophetic denunciation of many situations of injustice and suffering of our immigrant brothers and sisters is much needed. And against this situation, which is real among us Christians, the Pope has harsh words: "One does not live better if he escapes from others, if he hides, if he refuses to share, if he refuses to give, if he is enclosed in comfort. This is nothing more than a slow suicide."
I go away with a feeling expressed by a good Muslim woman at the end of the celebration as she thanked all those present for inviting her to this interfaith prayer, after living in Jaén for 18 years. For her, the prayerful moment meant to connect, from the heart, with each and every one of those present: "I know some of you from my Spanish classes, from tutoring my children, but now I really know you in truth. I know the heart of God. Thanks." she said.
The TA Rajab Project Jaén, the Migration Secretariat of the Diocese, and the Pastoral ministry of the Marist school in Jaén prepared this prayer. It was a gift working together and sharing dreams and ideals. We will continue networking and working every day more intensely because God yields the fruits and these are evident.
Our goal is to generate a spirituality of eyes and hearts wide open to others that may move and fill the hearts. And this is our task: "When we live out a spirituality of drawing nearer to others and seeking their welfare, our hearts are opened wide to the Lord’s greatest and most beautiful gifts. Whenever we encounter another person in love, we learn something new about God." (Evangelii Gaudium).
Juan Cózar Olmo