Hope for Bethlehem, Israel, and the Ends of the Earth

God’s Peace!  Do you believe in this peace?  Do I believe?  How do we envision this to take place?  Is it the hope of the many or desire of the few?  Or simply the desire of one?  

When I first visited Bethlehem in the summer of 2018, it was from a distant edge of the city, just inside the wall.  After taking pictures in and around The Walled off Hotel on Caritas Street, I made my way to a slope that overlooked downtown Bethlehem.   The first thing that occurred to me was I had just passed through an elaborate fenced off passage way that guided me through the Western Wall into the West Bank.  Later I thought about the significance and relationship of Bethlehem with Christmas.  Throughout the world many of us celebrate Christmas knowing that there is a link with Bethlehem.  We celebrate the birth of Christ, Mary and hear the words of peace, joy, and love.  However, when I was standing in Bethlehem, I saw the relationship from a different perspective.  How can we celebrate fully the joys of Christmas without there being godly peace in Jerusalem and Bethlehem?  What if the hope of heavenly peace was born anew in the land and in our hearts?  That is my new hope for Christmas.  Not a secular peace, nor a divided sense of peace.  Rather, a godly peace that is both human and divine that transcends our sense of time.  The market may crash and the dollar may fall, but let the hope of peace and justice like the cedars stand tall. 

Downtown Bethlehem in the Distance

The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, Westbank 

Closeup of the Western Wall near The Walled Off Hotel

Closeup of the Western Wall near The Walled Off Hotel

O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,

from ancient days….

                

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth;             

and he shall be the one of peace (Mich 4:4-5).

Christians in Gaza

There are approximately 1000-3000 Christians living in Gaza.  Although many Christians around the world are allowed freedom to worship during Christmas, there are others who are not.  Such is the case for Christians in Gaza.   The Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades recently posted flyers warning residence of Gaza (both Christians and Moslems) that it is forbidden to celebrate Christmas.  However, Israel has worked to accommodate Palestinian Christians, including those who live in Gaza, in order to help them celebrate the holy day by allowing them to visit family members in the West Bank and to travel by air through Ben Gurion Airport.    

President Trump, James Mattis, Syria, and Israel

I have to admit that I did not vote for Donald Trump.  I am not a democrat, nor did I vote for Hilary.  One of the things that I hoped for after his election was that President Trump would surround himself with wise counsel.   Then after his cabinet was established, I thought that on the day which John Francis Kelly and James Mattis resign (or were fired) would not be a good sign.  Earlier this month Kelly announced his resignation and Mattis made public his departure this past Thursday. 

President Trump announced earlier this week that he will withdrawal US troops from Syria.  Although many are surprised at the decision, previously Trump had expressed his intentions.   Turkey welcomed the move.  Others have suggested that Russia and Iran would look favorably on the decision too.  However, others are concerned.  There is evidence that some in Israel see the decision by Trump as a betrayal.  The Kurds were also disappointed by Trump’s decision.  Not surprisingly, the resignation of James Mattis seems to have been in part a response to Trump’s decision.  Mattis has also canceled a trip to Israel next week during which he had planned to talk with Israel on Iran and Syria.  

James Mattis (REUTERS) 

New altar dedicated outside city walls of Old Jerusalem on last day of Hanukkah.

On the last day of Hanukkah, a group of Temple activists displayed and dedicated a new altar outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.  A sheep was slaughtered earlier in the week in an abattoir (slaughterhouse) and one of its legs was later burned on the altar along with olive oil, wine, and grain.  The dedication of the new altar was the idea of Professor Hillel Weiss and had the support of the Joint Committee of Temple Organizations.  

A new altar was dedicated outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, December 10, 2018 (CREDIT: THE TEMPLE IN ZION).

Arise O Jerusalem

Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem,

and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.

      Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God;

put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;

      for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven.

      For God will give you evermore the name,

“Righteous Peace, Godly Glory.”

      

Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height;

look toward the east,

and see your children gathered from west and east

at the word of the Holy One,

rejoicing that God has remembered them….

The woods and every fragrant tree

have shaded Israel at God’s command.

      For God will lead Israel with joy,

in the light of his glory,

with the mercy and righteousness that come from

him (Baruch 5).

Replica of Temple Menorah in Jerusalem - Israel Trip 2018

Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem - Israel Trip 2018

Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem - Israel Trip 2018

Image of Madaba Map of Byzantine Jerusalem

Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem - Israel Trip 2018

Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem - Israel Trip 2018

Artistic Representation of Menorah - Israel Trip 2018

Pope Francis to Visit the UAE in February 2019

In February 2019, Pope Francis will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  Francis will be the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula.  While in the UAE, he will attend an international “interfaith” meeting from February 3 – 5.  Unlike Saudi Arabia, which does not allow Catholics to worship openly, the UAE is home to a growing number of Catholics from southern Asia.    

The pope was invited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Catholic Church in UAE.  The theme for the gathering is from Saint Francis of Assisi: “Make me a channel of your peace!”  Bishop Paul Hinder, the Apostolic Vicar of the UAE, Oman, and Yemen, expressed his desire for the visit to be a first step in dialogue between Muslims and Christians that will help contribute understanding and peace in the Middle East.     

Pope Francis on Dialogue (Evangelii Gaudium): Part III

Non-Christians, by God’s gracious initiative, when they are faithful to their own consciences, can live “justified by the grace of God”, and thus be “associated to the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ”….God’s working in them tends to produce signs and rites, sacred expressions which in turn bring others to a communitarian experience of journeying towards God. While these lack the meaning and efficacy of the sacraments instituted by Christ, they can be channels which the Holy Spirit raises up in order to liberate non-Christians….The same Spirit everywhere brings forth various forms of practical wisdom which help people to bear suffering and to live in greater peace and harmony. As Christians, we can…benefit from these treasures built up over many centuries, which can help us better to live our own beliefs.

Pope Francis on Dialogue with Islam (Evangelii Gaudium): Part II

In order to sustain dialogue with Islam, suitable training is essential for all involved, not only so that they can be solidly and joyfully grounded in their own identity, but so that they can also acknowledge the values of others, appreciate the concerns underlying their demands and shed light on shared beliefs….Christians should embrace with affection…Muslim immigrants to our countries in the same way that we hope and ask to be received and respected in countries of Islamic tradition. I ask…those countries to grant Christians freedom to worship and to practice their faith, in light of the freedom which followers of Islam enjoy in Western countries!  Faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalisations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.

Pope Francis on Dialogue with Islam (Evangelii Gaudium): Part I

Our relationship with the followers of Islam has taken on great importance, since they are now significantly present in many traditionally Christian countries, where they can freely worship and become…part of society. We must never forget that they “profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, who will judge humanity on the last day”. The sacred writings of Islam have retained some Christian teachings; Jesus and Mary receive profound veneration and it is admirable to see how Muslims both young and old, men and women, make time for daily prayer and faithfully take part in religious services. Many of them also have a deep conviction that their life … is from God and for God. They … acknowledge the need to respond to God with an ethical commitment and with mercy towards those most in need.

Pope Francis on Relationship between Catholic Church and Judaism

Menorah at Tomb of King David, Mount Zion, Jerusalem

We hold the Jewish people in special regard because their covenant with God has never been revoked….The Church, which shares with Jews an important part of the sacred Scriptures, looks upon the people of the covenant and their faith as one of the sacred roots of her own Christian identity….With them, we believe in the one God who acts in history….God continues to work among the people of the Old Covenant and to bring forth treasures of wisdom which flow from their encounter with his word….While it is true that certain Christian beliefs are unacceptable to Judaism, and that the Church cannot refrain from proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Messiah, there exists as well a rich complementarity which allows us to read the texts of the Hebrew Scriptures together and to help one another to mine the riches of God’s word (Evangelii Gaudium 247-249).