I stand
before this wall,
watching the people around me:
Priceless, ancient texts are being read - some listen, others speak,
plead, thank or praise.
Notes of pleas and requests stick inside the cracks between those
large stone blocks.
Much appears strange, unusual, foreign.
My thoughts wander to those statements of the bible concerning the
temple.
Who is this God who was worshipped in this temple and is still offerd
praise at this remnant ruin of a wall?
Do I know HIN?
Is it HE from whom Mary speaks in her "Magnificat"?
And Mary said: »My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From
now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those
who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up
the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich
away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.«
Luke 1, 46 - 55
The God of our "Fathers, Abraham and his descendents forever"?
The LORD had said to Abram, »Leave your
country, your people and your father's household and go to the land
I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will
make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will
curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.«
Genesis 12, 1 - 3
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and
said, »I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.
I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase
your numbers."
Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
» As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the
father of many nations.
No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for
I have made you a father of many nations.
I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings
will come from you.
I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between
me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to
come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give
as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you;
and I will be their God.«
Genesis 17, 1 - 8
The God of Jacob / Israel?
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled
with him till daybreak.
When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the
socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled
with the man.
Then the man said, »Let me go, for it is daybreak.«
But Jacob replied, »I will not let you go unless you bless
me.«
The man asked him, »What is your name?« »Jacob,«
he answered.
Then the man said, »Your name will no longer be Jacob, but
Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have
overcome.«
Genesis 32, 25 - 28
Blessed, yes blessed, is the name of him
whose help comes from the God of Jacob,
who does not allow himself to be cut off from his faith
und who trusts in Jesus Christ.
He who has this Lord for his Counsellor
finds the best advice for all he does.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Translation of Johann Daniel Herrnschmidts
German hymn "Selig, ja selig..."
(taken from Psalm 146).
The God whose name I have so often called in the Creed?
I believe in God the Almighty Father, Creator
of Heaven and Earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord ...
The God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Thomas said to him, »Lord, we don't know
where you are going, so how can we know the way?«
Jesus answered, »I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now
on, you do know him and have seen him.«
Philip said, »Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough
for us.«
Jesus answered: »Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have
been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen
the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is
in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is
the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is
in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I
have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because
I am going to the Father.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring
glory to the Father.
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.«
John 14, 5- 14
And then suddenly I am no longer a tourist, spectator, part of the
audience,
but find myself one with all those worshipping God, the father, here
before the wall:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ...
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