Season of Advent

Harmony. Together. One voice. These are not words you immediately connect to “the Middle East” – more likely drones, conflict, and terrorists come to mind. With walls, both physical and psychological, separating people of different religions, ethnicities, and social classes, how in the world can harmony, togetherness, and one voice rise above!? Maybe it can’t. At least not on its own. Maybe we need God in order to overcome our earthly struggles.

 

All the walls and tanks and soldiers are not able to establish a true feeling of safety: most Israelis are too scared to enter into Arab neighborhoods here in Jerusalem, let alone go into a Palestinian controlled city like Bethlehem or Ramallah. And youths who pick up stones to defend themselves against tear-gas, concussion bombs, and bullets end up injured, imprisoned, or worse. The cycle of violence continues: not just an eye for an eye, but always escalating, and nothing is resolved nor reconciled.

So where is God? Where is a just, loving God? As Christians, we see God in a damp cave that smells like sheep, wrapped in cloth, and laying in a feed trough. Our powerful and mighty God came to earth incarnate: powerless and humble. The Kingdom of God is not made up of legions of soldiers with weapons and a mission of vengeance. Instead God comes to us, lives with us, shares our lives with compassion, and champions the poor, the sick, the sinners.

And is there any sign of that compassion, humility, and love here? Yes. Just last week, in the city of Bethlehem, I saw and heard harmony, togetherness, and one voice praising God. Bethlehem’s Christmas tree and bazar are set up in Manger Square, and right across the street is the main mosque. All throughout the day of the tree lighting ceremony Christmas carols played in the square, but paused when the call to prayer sounded from the mosque – both praised God, and both were acceptable and worked in harmony. Christians and Muslims wandered the square together: God’s children living together and celebrating the event with one voice. May we rejoice at the signs of God’s harmony and remember our call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God as we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ child.

 

-Abby