Reflections of Tantur
Father Mark Poorman, C.S.C.
What a blessing it is to be back in the Holy Land as part of the annual gathering of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute Advisory Board. I have been associated with the Board for ten years and have visited Tantur a number of times during that period. Each visit has its own special memories, but through the years, some experiences of this region of the world have been truly extraordinary and even transformative. For example …
- Particularly in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Jordan River Valley, Nazareth and around the Sea of Galilee, I've enjoyed having Biblical stories come alive in important new ways. So many believers and pilgrims remark upon visiting here that their hearing of the Scriptures is forever changed by knowing first-hand the land, the climate, the culture and the faith of the people. My own faith has been deepened by standing on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and envisioning Jesus calming its waves, by spending quiet moments on the hill where Jesus proclaimed "the Beatitudes," and by watching modern-day pilgrims come to the Jordan to be baptized in the same waters of Jesus' own baptism.
- I have been struck by the stark beauty of the desert, the blazing sun, the flowers, and vegetation that thrive near the sources of water that offer relief in the harsh landscape. It's no accident that so many of the stories of the Hebrew Scriptures as well as the New Testament revolve around the themes of the beauty and power of nature, the rhythms of the seasons, the lessons of agrarian culture, and the precariousness of depending upon the land and the weather.
- In all parts of this region—but perhaps most pronounced in the city of Jerusalem itself—I have been impressed by the pervasive international character here. Because it is a place of deep significance for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, Jerusalem is a point of convergence for an amazing array of nationalities, languages, customs, and faith traditions. As we are regularly reminded by media accounts, peaceful co-existence has been a constant challenge here because of that diversity. But the enduring ability of so many people to live day-to-day with such a wide variety of perspectives and experiences seems much more remarkable.
- Finally, I have once again been inspired in the past few days by the dedication of so many people associated with Tantur—those who provide steady leadership and direction for the Institute in the midst of immense political pressure; the faithful staff who serve Tantur's guests as cooks, managers, housekeepers, and others; as well as scholars, students, and visitors who devote themselves to advancing inter-religious dialogue and promoting peace.
Tantur is indeed a gift to the Holy Land, to Notre Dame, and to all people of faith and good will.
"For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls,
in your palaces, peace!" (from Psalm 121)
Father Mark Poorman, C.S.C.
Vice President for Student Affairs, University of Notre Dame
Member, Advisory Board, Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem
29 May 2007
