Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem in 2026

 

                                                    The Western Wall & Temple Mount 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

    “May they prosper who love you.

                             Psalm 122:6 NRSVue 

Every day we are reminded that the Middle East is in the midst of uncertainty leaning to chaos as the United States and Israel wage war on Iran. Predictably the evil regime in Iran has retaliated leaving surrounding nations on edge and pushing the global economy toward instability. 

The Americans underestimated Iran's determination and ability to fight back and Israel has been dealing with missile and drone attacks that have done physical damage and the curtailing of regular daily life. This includes Jerusalem at a time of the year when the monotheistic religions usually converge on the city for festivals. 

I wrote recently that Muslims were not allowed onto the temple mount at the conclusion of Ramadan even though there would normally be tens of thousands gathered near or in the Al Aqsa Mosque. For Christians this is Holy Week, beginning last Sunday with Palm Sunday and continuing until Easter in a few days. Tomorrow marks the commencement of Passover/ Pesach for Jews.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said the initial decision to close the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was an "extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship" [Getty Images]

This Palm Sunday there was no procession of Christians pilgrims into Jerusalem because of the restrictions on gatherings due to safety reasons. And the Roman Catholic Patriarch of the city was not allowed to celebrate mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the fourth century church where tradition holds that Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. This was the first time in centuries and while eventually this ban was lifted it was deeply unsettling. The large plaza at the base of the Western Wall will be all but empty during the next few days even though in would normally be teeming with Jews during Passover. 

At this point we have no idea whether the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Garden Tomb area will be open for Easter. 

I have been following all of this closely because three years ago beginning on Good Friday we were in Jerusalem and while there were cautions for visitors the Old City was alive with Muslims, Jews, and Christians. On Easter Eve we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and took in the mystery of the traditions more than a thousand years old. My evangelical sister-in-law was moved by this experience even though she had never been there during decades living in Israel. We all attended a celebratory Easter morning service at the Garden Tomb and I was enchanted by the butterflies moving through the foliage along with the worship itself. 

We also walked up the ancient steps at the south of the Temple Mount, a surprisingly quiet and holy moment, as well as praying at the Western Wall in the midst of a crowd.  

It was as though we were in an oasis of calm in the Holy City which so often through history has been unholy and even demonic because of strife. Looking back it seems like a dream. Once again this year the troubles of the world come to Jerusalem and it is a nightmare. Will this ever end? We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the Middle East. 

A missile fragment is seen in Jerusalem following an Iranian attack on March 16, 2026. 

(Fire and Rescue Service)