Our last stop on the way home. In 1569 this mountain village was attacked by what was deemed some of the most virulent of soldiers of the era. Defending themselves through rolling boulders down the slopes the village held out for 20 days but eventually the 5,000 strong force stormed the village resulting in ‘the customary bloody retribution’. Over 7,000 ‘moriscos’ died, the survivors being expelled.
We drove up to the village, this being the last place for us to visit, we were ready for one more push, but parking up we thought ‘but this place is light’. Given the history we were surprised.
It seems that artists have flourished in the village and the story of the past is in the open. There has been an embracing of the story (if we own the story we can write the ending) that has shifted something there. Each year there is a celebration of the three cultures (religions) over four days at the end of August.
It was a good place to finish this trip. Reminded that we all drink from the one pool, that there has to be respect, and that Jesus taught us to love one and all, even if they were to declare themselves to be our enemy. The gospel is not about one people dominating over another, it is not about imposing our faith on others, and it is certainly not about using the cross to crush others. As believers we can create an environment where there is freedom and respect where people can discover who they are. This is not about Jesus on the same plane as others. The incarnation is not the story of a good man!
What a mess we have made of things. Those two weeks on the road were challenging at so many levels. The level of hatred in the past… and of course here today with nationalism, white supremacy, religious and ideological wars. The source of which we know: the devil who was a murderer from the beginning, and the devil is the devil even if he uses the cross to defend his murderous behaviour.
Yes we returned tired. But the image of a fountain in the village that followed that has released water for years is one of the abiding images. Ultimately one source to sustain us all. The Gospel affirms that and the Gospel affirms that Jesus alone is the door to the Father.
