It’s morning here, although still dark. We will have five more minutes more of daylight than on Sunday and it will be mostly clear. In Bethlehem it is early afternoon, when the street markets are almost full of Christians selling their crafts along with – you guessed it! – a Santa Claus walking the streets hugging children.
Tonight the churches will hold their services even as the noise of Israeli settlement building on Palestinian land expropriated from their owners, both Muslim and Christian, still rattles in churchgoers’ ears. Bethlehem Mayor Maher Qaanati said as he lighted the Christmas tree in Manger Square that we cannot ignore the suffering still in Gaza.
As Israeli soldiers visible with their guns patrol the streets of Bethlehem tonight, we know that Jesus was also born at a time of occupation. The spectacular beauty of the Church of the Nativity belies the squalid conditions of Jesus’ birth. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the One who came to establish God’s realm of mercy and peace, let us remember that many babies will be born tonight. How will we welcome them?
Prayer for the Day
Looking at the cold winter sky beaming bright with stars,
We wait for the coming of the Baby in our time;
Listening to prophecies of love in a hate-filled world,
We still fear for the future of our world.
But you, O Holy One, promise that we can create peace,
Even as the nations rage against each other.
In the name of the One who is our hope,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
What good is it to me that Mary gave birth to the son of God fourteen hundred years ago, and I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and in my culture? We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the Divine Son takes place unceasingly but does not take place within myself? And what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to His Son if I do not also give birth to Him in my time and culture? This then is the fullness of time, when the Son of God is begotten in us. God is always needing to be born.
Meister Eckhart, German theologian and mystic (1260 - 1327)
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
The desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus,
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
Isaiah 35: 1-2