The world was dark and foreboding. A brutal dictatorship, the Roman Empire, was occupying the land of Palestine and ruling it militarily. The people living in the land were oppressed, had a heavy tax burden, and carried with them a demand to worship the Empire. Life was bleak and the people were desperately waiting on the arrival of their Messiah, the one who would tear down and end this brutal occupation. Rome claimed the land was finally in peace, but this actually came from, "military exhaustion rather than virtue.....the Romans created a wilderness and called it peace." (N.T. Wright, "Gospel and Empire")
Quietly on one silent night, a baby is born in humble surroundings in the city of Bethlehem under the rule of King Herod. Born to a virgin, he is named Jesus and is proclaimed as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, fulfilling the OT prophecy that the Prince of Peace would be born in the city of David which is Bethlehem. Many in waiting missed him, because they expected a king to be born into royalty. King Herod upon recieving the news that a king was born, and believing this king would take over his empire, Herod called for a massacre of all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were 2 years and younger. They were slaughtered.
This is the Christmas story, and now more than 2,000 years later, life is not that much different for those living in the land.
In case you haven't yet heard, Christmas in the Holy Land is canceled this year. In Jordan there are no trees, no decor, no Christmas bazaars or festivals. Abdali Boulevard is not decked out like it normally is, with their giant tree and repelling Santas. It is a daily reminder to all of us, of the great pain and suffering taking place right now in our area of the world. We see their faces every day and they appear to us every night in our dreams.
The very place of Jesus' birth, Bethlehem has also canceled all festivities and acknowledgments of Christmas. They will not celebrate while a genocide is taking place in their backyard on Gaza and the dwindling Gazan Christian population can have no Christmas celebrations. We will celebrate Christmas quietly in our hearts and homes this year, remembering the shed blood of more than 20,000 people, around 10,000 being children, that has once again stained the holy land permanently.
Speaking of the Christians in Gaza, on Saturday two Christian women, mother and daughter, were murdered by the IDF in cold blood while sheltering inside the Latin Church where the majority of Christian families are taking refuge from the assault on Gaza. Nahida and her daughter Samar were shot while inside the compound, walking to the Monastary. Reports from Chrisitans sheltering there (around 530) indicated, seven people tried to help them, but were also shot at and injured. This confirms what we have known for a long time, and that is everyone in Gaza is a target. Religion doesn't matter, and if you are Palestinian, you are the target.
I am sure by now you have also heard of the three Israeli hostages who were killed by the IDF a few days ago. The 3 men, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Al-Talalka were the victims. Notably, Samer is from the Israeli Bedouin community which has largely been ignored by the media. Reports indicate all three men had their shirts off and were waving white flags. Painted on the wall where they were hiding was "SOS" and "help three hostages" in Hebrew. IDF soldiers shot two of the hostages while the other one retreated back into the building, yelling in Hebrew. When he came back out, he was also shot. After killing them, the soldiers thought one "looked Western," so they investigated and found them to be 3 of the Israeli hostages. This incident has confirmed what we already knew; the IDF is indiscrimitaly killing anyone just because they are Palestinians.
Also on Saturday, the IDF bulldozed a refugee area in front of Kamal Adwan Hospital, killing dozens of people and burying them alive in their tents.
Finally, a report from Gaza Christians stated on Saturday, "Earlier in the morning, a rocket fired from an IDF tank targeted the Convent of the Sisters of Mother Theresa (Missionaries of Charity). The convent is home to over 54 disabled persons and is part of the church compound which was signaled as a place of worship since the beginning of the war. The building's generator (the only source of electricity) and the fuel resources were destroyed. The house was damaged by the resulting explosion and massive fire. Two more rockets fired by an IDF tank, targeted the same convent and rendered the home uninhabitable. The 54 disabled persons are currently displaced and without access to the respirators that some of them need to survive."
This year as you celebrate Christmas in the West, pause and consider those in the Holy Land. The very people living in the land of Jesus Christ's birth, who desperately need peace and justice right now. And while you remember the events of Jesus' birth at Christmas Eve services this year, when you light your candle and sing Silent Night, pray and shed a tear for the people deeply suffering in Gaza, those who are experiencing anything but a silent night this Christmas.