The Pope recalled the “urgent need to find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this land”.
The Patriarchate’s statement concluded with the prayer that God might “inspire world leaders in their intervention for the implementation of peace and concord so that Jerusalem may be a house of prayer for all peoples”.

Of course, it won’t happen, not that solutions don’t exist but we would prefer not to give anything of equal value for taking the heart of the three monotheist religions. Not that pacific demonstrations would change anything either.
Except a change of leaders, i don’t know how we could ever agree to exchange a part of our own territory for Israel.

First Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah (Is 5,1-7)(, because parables certainly didn’t started with the New Testament) :

Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard, on a fertile hillside ; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines ; within it, he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press.
Then, he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard :
What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done ?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes ?
Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard : take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled !
Yes, I will make it a ruin : it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers ; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it.
The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant ; he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed ! for justice, but hark, the outcry !

Second Reading from the letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Philippians (Phil 4:6-9)

Brothers and sisters :
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

From the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 21:33-43) :

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people :
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son’.
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance’.
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes ?”

They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times”.

Jesus said to them,
“Did you never read in the Scriptures :
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone ; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes ?
Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

Surah Al Imran(, i’ve talked about Joshua/Jesus yesterday, Imran is Joachim) (3:134-135) :
[The believers] are those who donate in prosperity and adversity, control their anger, and pardon others. And Allah loves the good-doers.
They are those who, upon committing an evil deed or wronging themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who forgives sins except Allah ?—and they do not knowingly persist in wrongdoing.

Saint of the day : St. Pelagia, Virgin and Martyr of Antioch