Christ the Redeemer Jabal Al-Salib (Mount of the Cross) Lebanon
Most of us are familiiar with the Christ the Redeemer statue which towers above Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Are you aware that another large Christ figure is under construction? This one is made of fiberglass rather than soapstone, and considerably smaller (16 metres compared to 30 metres).
A hundred years ago Brazil was still predominantly Christian but I was surprised that a giant Jesus would take shape in Lebanon, a country currently in the midst of turmoil. It's near the the Lebanese town of Al Qaa,close to the Syrian border in the north, Al Qaa's population is predominantly Christian but in area that was held by ISIS militants, a decade ago. About 30% of Lebanon's population is Christian, one of the largest Christian communities amongst Arab nations.
We've been hearing that Christians in the south are under threat due to the incursion (not excursion) of the Israeli military and they are pleading that this is not their war, they have nothing to do with Hezbollah. A few weeks ago beloved parish priest Pierre al-Rahi a beloved was killed during an Israeli bomb strike as he was responding to another bombing of a home. Why?
The French Catholic organization L’Œuvre d’Orient condemned the attack stating: "L’Œuvre d’Orient condemns in the strongest terms these acts of war, which aim to destabilize all of Lebanon and kill innocent civilians. The death of a priest who refused to abandon his parish is a further escalation of senseless violence.
Perhaps this new statue should be weeping over the sorry state of our world. And while our siblings in Christ are dying we can pray for all the innocent people who are suffering in the countries of the Middle East, regardless of religion. With the terrible threats of obliteration levelled against the citizens of Iran come to a head today we can pray for an end to the madness.
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
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