Bethlehem today

Our advent journey is almost finished; Christmas Day is only a few days or - depending on when you read this - only hours away. Our virtual pilgrimage has reached Bethlehem.

The crib figures we see at church and at home, and the images of the nativity on the Christmas cards on mantlepieces and window sills depict a moment of joy and celebration in ancient Bethlehem. But Bethlehem was - and is - in one of the most turbulent areas of the world. As we can see from the books of the Old Testament, the Middle East was one of the most bitterly disputed and fought over places in the ancient world. It was invaded and ruled by the Assyrians and Babylonians; the Persians, Greeks and Romans; and later by Arabs, Fatimids, Seljuk Turks, Crusaders, Egyptians, Mamelukes, and for four hundred years it was part of the Ottoman Empire.

Throughout those many centuries of occupation and oppression Jews have maintain their hope and faith that God was, despite everything, sharing in his people's pain and would one day return to renew his ancient covenant. Christians, of course, believe that this renewal was accomplished through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, but we also recognise that the birth of Christ did not end the conflicts that have continued to this day.

I am called to serve the local people, the Church and Bethlehem Bible College – to teach, talk about faith and share the love of the Lord. I help with English for students and fundraising at the college. This means that more students will be able to improve their educational and job prospects by becoming fluent in English. I am also drawn to people living on the margins (such as those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories) – to share in their joys and struggles.

And Ann has also written this report for us:

A Pilgrim to Bethlehem

WHY BETHLEHEM?

Living here, I ponder – why Bethlehem? Why did our almighty and omniscient God choose to join us in our humanity in Bethlehem; taking on the humanity that he had originally created? Why Bethlehem for the birth of this vulnerable baby, who would change the course of humankind and the created world? There must be significance.

I have reflected upon how the Land was under military occupation in Jesus’ day. The Land is under military occupation today. In Jesus’ time, life in this land was very difficult, with the use of brutality by power, and many injustices in daily life for those under occupation. Could there have been a starker place to for Jesus to reveal the power of his teaching by living it out to death? In the end, the power of love is the only way to overcome the evils of our world. A Palestinian Christian here reflected on the fact that this path is now really the only option – to strive to love those who are making life virtually impossible. I am deeply moved to hear Palestinian Christians talk about what it means to ‘love the enemy’ – as commanded by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount; to hear Palestinians say they refuse to be enemies – they refuse to hate.

During the course of my time here I have had the opportunity to learn much more about the Church of the Nativity and how the life of this church evolved over the centuries. I am struck by the long involvement of the Franciscans. Francis himself, who first developed the idea of the Nativity scene around the crib, was a man of peace and reconciliation. He understood the power of love as shown through Jesus.

The love that brings oneness sees God, creation, my neighbour, the other, the enemy, as part of who I am. The love that drives out fear.

I have much yet to learn from this Land and its people; and from this town of Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace was born.

Please continue to pray for the peacemakers of this Land – Palestinian and Israeli; and for peace, with justice, dignity and equal rights for all in this Land.

We do hope you'll be able to join Ann for this final Advent Zoom , at the slightly earlier time of 11:00am, this Wednesday, December 23rd.