PostScript: Holy Land
Bethlehem (Luke 2) – a place where cruel military power and real holiness are still found.
Introduction
This week’s ROOTS Bible notes refer to a world of dark violence, militarism and injustice, in which divine power comes through and to lowly people. (Isaiah 9.5-6; Luke 2.12). Nothing sets the scene better than this film clip from Ireland. Because of the violence and persecution, Bethlehem had decided to cancel Christmas celebrations this year, and the decision was only changed this month. Global Ministries reports the current situation.
Context
Gill (former ROOTS Adult & All Age editor) and I recently visited Bethlehem, where we saw this poster in a refugee camp – the massacre of innocents continues.
We were unable to visit Hebron because, after international observers witnessed and provided photographic evidence of an assassination of a young woman by Israeli military, the area was declared a closed military zone, and the observers were not permitted to continue monitoring the activity of the soldiers, as reported by ecumenical ‘accompaniers’.
The Bible notes refer to the ‘inn’ at Bethlehem as being a noisy place, unsuitable for a birth. Such inns continued to exist for centuries. They are places where travelling traders stayed outside city walls so that those inside had protection. Today, Bethlehem, surrounded by ‘security’ walls is cut off from nearby Jerusalem, and the inhabitants are confined within what appears to be an open prison, less than two kilometres across.
The shepherds of Luke’s narrative represent lowly people. The Bible notes say they ‘live on the margins’ – their successors in Israel and Palestine face a life of persecution today.
- Natural watercourses have dried up because the Israeli government has pumped water from deep wells.
- Bedouin villages are ‘unrecognised’ so have no running water or electricity.
- Unproductive trees are planted to destroy pasture and olive groves.
- Pastures are declared a closed military zone in order to force shepherds off the land.
- Homes and villages are demolished, and then obliterated.
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions has highlighted this activity, which contravenes international law.
All this is part of a continuing process which the historian Ilan Pappé has described as ‘The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine’. Evidence of the beginning of this ethnic cleansing, known as the Nakba, has been hidden for generations, but some Israelis are campaigning for it to be recorded – the online newspaper +972 (international telephone code for Israel) has details.
The situation has been made worse in the wake of Donald Trump’s anti-muslim statements, and people fear where this might lead.
Alongside the darkness of the situation faced by Muslim and Christian people in the Holy Land, there are glimmers of hope from those who put a spotlight on injustice.
There is light in the darkness.
Reflection
The peace proclaimed in the message of the angels to the shepherds was part of a Gospel written when the persecution of the fledgling Christian Church in the first century was an everyday reality. Spasmodic persecution continued for almost three centuries. Yet God’s message of ‘peace to his people on earth’ and ‘good news for all people’ remained a precious inspiration to those who received the gospel. That vision today inspires many holy people, of all faiths, who want the Holy Land to be just that – not because it is the location for past significant events, but because they want it to be a Holy Land today, a place of justice and peace for all.
As such, it needs to be a land free from apartheid, as proclaimed on the day of Pentecost by Peter, saying ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh’ (Acts 2.17). He makes this more specific after his vision: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him’ (Acts 10.34). The angels’ message comes first to those who are outsiders; not citizens, but nomads; not Romans, but the local peasantry. All people are precious in God’s eyes. They are the first to acknowledge God’s precious gift, the child Jesus. Because of their response they are no longer outsiders; but all are invited to become holy people, central to the gospel. And all are called to be holy people today.
Prayer
We pray for the land of Jesus’ birth,
the lands over which shepherds roamed,
the lands of the wise men,
the lands to which the holy family fled.
Holy God, make this land holy.
Holy God, make this land holy.
We pray for just government,
for societies in which people of all faiths and none
may live together in peace, in equality, in harmony,
for a recognition of the human rights and dignity of all.
Holy God, make this land holy.
Holy God, make this land holy.
We pray for all who are caught up in warfare,
and all who are refugees from war,
in Palestine, in Gaza, in Israel, in Jordan,
in Turkey, in the Lebanon, and in Europe.
Holy God, make this land holy.
Holy God, make this land holy.
We pray for peacemakers,
for those seeking to negotiate peace for Syria,
and for the great powers of the United States,
Russia, Europe and middle eastern nations.
Holy God, make this land holy.
Holy God, make this land holy.
We pray for all holy people,
working for justice,
working for health,
working to mend broken lives:
in the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Médecins Sans Frontières;
in Christian Peacemaker teams, the Ecumenical Accompaniers, the YMCA, Embrace the Middle East;
in organisations in Israel and throughout the world campaigning for justice.
Holy God, make this land holy.
Holy God, make this land holy.
We prayer for our nation,
for our leaders and all in authority,
for our communities, our families.
Holy God, make this land holy.
Holy God, make this land holy.
Amen.
Questions
- How can you find out more about people and organisations working to make the Holy Land truly holy today?
- How can tourism and pilgrimages to the Holy Land engage with the unholiness of apartheid?
Action
Through the internet we are able to find out what is happening in the Holy Land. Using the links suggested above, try to keep informed about the situation, and support those who are working to make the Holy Land holy.
Young people
Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus were refugees. Using information about refugees today, try to describe what their life as refugees might have been like.
The Revd Dr Tom Ambrose (husband of former ROOTS AAA editor, Gill Ambrose) is an associate priest in the Parish of the Ascension, Cambridge.
Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by ROOTS for Churches Ltd.