The Second Coming?! :)

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     Throughout history and to the present, we can learn and see that leaders of various faiths have worked tirelessly for the purposes of building inter-faith dialogues. To create mutual understandings between religions. These efforts are often disrupted because individuals that belong to different religions desire to prove that one is right and the other is wrong. When we move to this frame of mind, we are led to dichotomous ways of thinking. Where one forgets and ignores the efforts that have been made, to build human bridges for peace. This is also quite natural because as humans, we want to defend what we believe, and why wouldn't we want others, to do as we we? Or believe as we do? Something as complex as religion is not quite as simple. There are many layers that interact with religion. Such as politics, culture as well as regions of the world. But this is not to say that efforts should be diminished, or completely erased. As humans: whilst in their differences, we desire harmony. Harmony for self and with others. A plain fact. 

    Humans have to live and interact. Within a familial space or publicly. Rather that thinking of right / wrong, we could utilize socratic thought. Where one is inclined to turn the gaze of the soul. In this way we are more inclined to desire mutual understandings. Allow each and every hum to flutter in their own greatness. These thoughts especially came to mind when I reflected upon Muslim and Christian relations / faiths. Whilst to this day we do see divisions; with the public outcry from Muslims and the silent, cruel persecutions of Christians. What unites the two is much more profound than what separates. 

     It only makes sense for Christian's and Muslims to strengthen mutual understandings. As they both believe in the second coming of Jesus - The Messiah. A point which is non-negotiable for the two faiths. So what baffles me is why we fail to focus upon this point? A point that unites two major faiths / religions. We could say: simply to continue to create divisions, or even politically constructed for the sake of division? Everyone should feel free to believe as they so choose to. Without hurting or harming the other, because that's when extremism comes to play; What will happen after the second coming of Jesus - The Messiah, is really in God's hands, not humans.

​     Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to those who spoke of love, peace, unity in a recent faith dialogue that I attended with regards to the St. Frances and the Sultan, who was considered the Apostle of Peace. I was particularly reflective upon the attempt to continue the efforts for peaceful dialogues, that truly did uplift the spirt. I was grateful that there are individuals who truly do desire: unity, love and peace, especially from the divides that stem from religion. Let us hope that words and attempts such as these can create a loving embrace for all kinds of religions / faiths. The believers and non-believers.

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St. Francis and The Sultan.

1912 - Artist Depiction of St. Francis and the Sultan.

"In 1219 St. Francis and Brother Illuminato accompanied the armies of western Europe to Damietta, Egypt, during the Fifth Crusade. His desire was to speak peacefully with Muslim people about Christianity, even if it mean dying as a martyr. He tried to stop the Crusaders from attacking the Muslims at the Battle of Damietta, but failed. After the defeat of the western armies, he crossed the battle line with Brother Illuminato, was arrested and beaten by Arab soldiers, and eventually was taken to the sultan, Malek al-Kamil.

Al-Kamil was known as a kind, generous, fair ruler. He was nephew to the great Salah al-Din. At Damietta alone he offered peace to the Crusaders five times, and, according to western accounts, treated defeated Crusaders humanely. His goal was to establish a peaceful coexistence with Christians.

After an initial attempt by Francis and the sultan to convert the other, both quickly realized that the other already knew and loved God. Francis and Illuminato remained with al-Kamil and his Sufi teacher Fakhr ad-din al-Farisi for as many as twenty days, discussing prayer and the mystical life. When Francis left, al-Kamil gave him an ivory trumpet, which is still preserved in the crypt of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi.

This encounter, which occurred between September 1 and 26, is a paradigm for interfaith dialog in our time. Despite differences in religion, people of prayer can find common ground in their experiences of God. Dialog demands that we truly listen to the other; but, before we can listen, we must see the other as a precious human being, loved by God. There is no other path to peace in this bloody 21st century.

The flames behind Francis and the sultan have a dual symbolism. In Islamic art, holy persons are shown with balls of flame behind their heads. The second purpose of these flames is to disarm a later medieval legend in which Francis challenged the Sufis to step into a raging fire to prove whose faith was correct. In this icon, the flames represent love. The text at the bottom is from the beginning of the Koran: "Praise to God, Lord of the worlds!"

Reference: 
Lentz, R. (n.d). Retrieved from https://www.trinitystores.com/artwork/st-francis-and-sultan

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on August 9th, 2019.
​Image 1 - Web Link
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