This Lent will you just do same old routine or move the needle on world peace?

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Human relationships should rank at the top of our life priorities. Maybe we can strategize our upcoming Lenten activity from this vantage point. Sports teams, businesses and all human social structures, not to mention families, require good internal relationships to accomplish their purpose. So, let’s dig into the deepest foundations of our oneness.  

Even non-Christians might like to ponder some of the following thoughts. This year there is an interesting rarity. While the Jewish Passover normally is always close to or often coincides with Holy Week, Ramadan which lasts 30 days will coincide with most of Lent, something which happens only every 33 years approximately. So, fasting and generosity will be in the air for another billion-plus people. In fact, Muslims wish each other “Ramadan Mubarak wa kareem”, a blessed and generous Ramadan, a wish we also extend to all our wonderful Muslim employees, service partners and friends here in the Holy Land and beyond.

Reflections for Lent 2025

Turning the hearts of parents toward their children, and of children toward their parents and each other. See Malachi 4:6

God is love.  

We are made in his image and likeness (Genesis 1 & 2).  

But we are often far away from such recognition.    

So that the world would believe that God is love and that the Father sent Jesus to save us, at the last supper Jesus prayed that we be one. Jn 17: 20-23

But we are often far away from such recognition.

Far from oneness  

of family,  

of spouses,  

of children and parents,  

of siblings,  

of extended family, communities, body politic, church communities, and the church at large.

One all-knowing, all-loving Almighty created the human family in his image and likeness. We are all his children. But our togetherness and oneness are sorely tested. We find ourselves severely opposed to each other very often, including those of us who are blessed to know him and love him as the one true God.  

Despite being so deeply bonded, we discover ourselves repugnantly alienated and often in bitter harm-filled conflict with multidimensional lethal consequences.  

What can we do this Lent to begin to address this malaise?

Jesus also knows this problem.  

Therefore, he prayed for our oneness before he died.  

Could we do something in response to Jesus’ prayer in Jn 17: 20-23, so that we can enter in his resurrection joy? Could we live as one within our very person and our closest family and as disciples of Jesus and as fellow believers in our loving creator, who is so provident and merciful and always accompanies us? Could we, as responsible adults and older siblings, teach children by our reformed example the precious treasure of our oneness as family, as community and as believers?

Maybe we should start within ourselves with the oneness of each one of our persons. We often experience our interior personal division. We know what is good for us, but we fail to pursue it. We love our family but allow ourselves to say hurtful words and not ask for forgiveness. We love them, but at times we omit needed helpful deeds. How about concrete small deeds of humility and generosity?

Let us teach the children with our changed behavior. Could we as a family also help some needy neighbors, even the less agreeable ones? This Lent will we just do the same old routine or move the needle on world peace?

Let’s pray for the right inspirations and strength to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead this Lent and walk one step closer together towards Easter joy. Hope will not disappoint! God is love! God loves us first!

The prophecy regarding John the Baptist, Lk 1:17, echoes Malachi's words: “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous...”

_{Get to know...}

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Alaa Dagash, Head Chef

- "Magdala’s combo of ancient treasures presented with 21st century elan stole my heart"

When Chef Alaa was about to finish his military service, he went to help in the kitchen and discovered the love of his life: cooking!

Well, he married, and their four children enjoy cooking with their dad! He loves involving them. His eyes lit up as he displayed a picture of his four-year-old girl sporting a chef’s hat.

Alaa was born and raised in nearby Mughar, a mixed area with Muslim, Christian and Druze families. His family is Druze. See our note about the Druze people a year ago in out journal articles.

Once out of the army service in 2003, he dedicated himself to becoming a chef and completed level five at the Rimonim – Hospitality and Culinary College in Tiberias. His work alongside renowned chefs contributed to his own peculiar originality. He is at home in a wide variety of international cuisine types but he can’t hide his love for the local traditional culinary heritage.  He has worked in various hotels across Galilee and has been a Head Chef for the last five years.

On his first visit, Magdala’s historical treasures in a twenty-first century setting captured Alaa’s heart. Meanwhile he has discovered that at Magdala we are all one big family! All of us here can hardly wait for you pilgrims to return and savor his flavors!