Earlier this month Palestinian Christian leaders from the West Bank visited Washington DC to meet that legislators about the plight of their people. While we are most aware of the thousands of deaths in Gaza, hundreds have died in the West Bank as well and the situation is dire. It has led to a cancellation of public celebration of Christmas in Bethlehem, the place of Jesus' birth.
Even though these leaders were Christians ,often conversing with American Christians, they felt that their pleas for support went unheeded by many. When they had the opportunity they shared an open letter sent to President Biden by representatives of the congregations of Bethlehem - Orthodox Catholics, Armenian Assyrians, Melkites and Lutherans. Here is a portion of that letter
For years, as followers of Jesus, we have called for peace that is based on justice. This land has been crying for peace and justice for 75 years. It is time justice is served. It is time everybody can live with dignity in this land. The Palestinian and Israeli children deserve to live, hope and dream. Dear Mr. President, there can be no peace and security without justice and equality. There can be no peace and security without equal rights for all. Siege, violence and war cannot bring peace and security. A comprehensive and just peace is the only hope for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
Palestinian mother and child
In the past few days a Nativity Scene was installed in the Lutheran church in Bethlehem, and the infant Jesus was placed in the midst of rubble rather than a manger, a reminder that more than 6,000 children have died as a result of bombing in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera:
Um Bishara, a mother of four, told Al Jazeera she was surprised to see the nativity scene with Baby Jesus in the rubble on Sunday.Weeping, she had to sit down as the significance of the display hit her and dedicated her fervent prayers to the children of Gaza, praying that they find peace and safety. A devout woman, Um Bishara hopes the prayers of the Holy Land’s faithful at Christmas can stop the pain and killing, replacing them with hope and peace.
1 comment:
I so wish we could do something - wave a magic wand... to remediate this awful situation, in Israel and Gaza, and other places around the world.
It all serves to remind me that if the Christ is not born into our hearts, there is no peace and no justice. Even those who call themselves Christian are sometimes - well, often - lacking in the transformation that is necessary for true peace on earth.
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