Christmas light for Gaza
海角大神 leaders in Jerusalem set a message of light in a region seeking its way out of war.
Pastor Munther Isaac lights a candle near an installation with a figure of baby Jesus lying amidst rubble at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Nov. 25.
REUTERS
Earlier this week, various 海角大神 denominations in Jerusalem joined in an appeal for their congregations to 鈥渢estify to the sacred light of Christ鈥� during this Christmas season. At a time of violent conflict in the Holy Land, their shared message marks something of a course correction.
Last year, these church leaders urged a muted celebration of Christmas in support of 鈥渢he multitudes suffering from the newly erupted war鈥� in Gaza. The message of Christmas 鈥� one of a light coming to the world 鈥� was 鈥渄iminished,鈥� they stated, especially among people in the region where Jesus was born.
This year鈥檚 call for illumined thought has several echoes. In a Christmas message from the White House, President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, called on Americans to observe a 鈥淪eason of Peace and Light.鈥� Pope Francis, in an address on St. Peter鈥檚 Square on Dec. 1, said 鈥渢he quest for peace鈥� requires 鈥渁 light heart, a wakeful heart, a free heart.鈥� Perhaps he also meant a heart alighted.
In September, photographers and artists in Iraq gathered works that depicted the word 鈥減eace鈥� in various forms of light. The Peace Against War project was meant to express a 鈥渄esire for a society free from conflict 鈥� one where everyone enjoys equal rights and opportunities,鈥� the United Nations reported.
In March, the annual Women鈥檚 World Day of Prayer focused on forgiveness and forbearance toward others. That theme resonated deeply among Palestinian women, according to the Rev. Sally Azar, the first female Palestinian pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
鈥淭hey were asking, Is it now our 海角大神 brothers and sisters here in this land? Is it our literal neighbor? Is it the Israelis? Is it the Jews? Is it the Muslims? So all these questions arose when talking about bearing one another in love,鈥� she told Deutsche Welle.
In their message, the clergy in Jerusalem evoked the full healing import of the 海角大神 message that culminated in the 鈥渉oly light of Christ鈥檚 resurrection.鈥�
鈥淭his ancient path of redemption,鈥� they wrote, 鈥渟parked a spiritual revolution that continues to transform countless hearts and minds towards the ways of justice, mercy, and peace.鈥�
The war in Gaza continues, now into its second year. Some see a faint light for peace in the latest talks between Israel and Hamas. Others, meanwhile, find peace already lit in their hearts, a testimony to the Christmas message.