Merry Christmas! Happy Feast of St. John the Evangelist!
I hope this finds each one of you, gentle readers, with a light heart and a joyful spirit in these days of Christmas! Christ is born in Bethlehem! In spite of the commercial and, sadly, cultural amnesia that begins on the morning of the 26th of December, Christmastime continues until January 13th, with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Certainly our long Advent waiting and making ready merit a full celebration, not to mention the deep and joyful tidings of the Incarnation! And these days are full of worthy celebrations: St. Stephen, martyr; St. John, evangelist, and the Holy Family, to name just three. Mike does a wonderful job of sharing the experience of being here in these days. Sing a joyful song unto the Lord!
In the midst of many glad tidings, this celebration here in Bethlehem also highlights a very difficult reality. There is perhaps no place in the world where the scandal of Christian Division is more evident than here in the Holy Land. It is not by accident that we are taking a course on Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue while on this trip. Certainly, here as elsewhere, we see the complicated and often violent difficulties between Muslims and Jews, and also involving Christians. These are not entirely religious, but they certainly have a religious component. Yet, at many of the holy sites, we see the scars of division even within our own ranks, between and among those who follow Christ.
Here in Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity, and the Cave of the Nativity underneath, are controlled by the Orthodox, especially the Greek Orthodox. The Syrian Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox have altars and some rights within the Church and Cave. Next door is the Church of St. Catherine, martyr. This is the Latin-rite or Roman Catholic Church. Nearby there are also Syrian Orthodox, Melkite Catholics (Arab Catholics using the Byzantine rite in Arabic), Lutheran, and Coptic churches. I am sure there are others. Relations between the different groups are at times amicable and warm, at other times they are not. There is a long and often bitter history to these divisions that is too extensive and complicated to address here. In some respects, the current situation does speak to the ability of Christians to coexist and cooperate across “denominational” lines: at many sites, pilgrims of all stripes enter and pray, at least in each other’s presences, at times together. However, here in this site that should unite us in wonder, awe, gratitude, and love, are found disturbing signs that all is not as Christ willed. The Apostle John whose feast we celebrate today tells us that before His Passion, Jesus prayed.
“And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:22-23, NAB)
Certainly Our Savior does not will a drab uniformity. We are called to a vibrant and joyful unity in diversity. However, while there are signs of this, we see all too often signs of division, bitterness, and even hatred. Our first, and in some sense primary, response must be the same as Christ’s – prayer! So, I invite each one of you to join me in praying for conversion and grace in each heart and mind.
I hope this finds each one of you, gentle readers, with a light heart and a joyful spirit in these days of Christmas! Christ is born in Bethlehem! In spite of the commercial and, sadly, cultural amnesia that begins on the morning of the 26th of December, Christmastime continues until January 13th, with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Certainly our long Advent waiting and making ready merit a full celebration, not to mention the deep and joyful tidings of the Incarnation! And these days are full of worthy celebrations: St. Stephen, martyr; St. John, evangelist, and the Holy Family, to name just three. Mike does a wonderful job of sharing the experience of being here in these days. Sing a joyful song unto the Lord!
In the midst of many glad tidings, this celebration here in Bethlehem also highlights a very difficult reality. There is perhaps no place in the world where the scandal of Christian Division is more evident than here in the Holy Land. It is not by accident that we are taking a course on Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue while on this trip. Certainly, here as elsewhere, we see the complicated and often violent difficulties between Muslims and Jews, and also involving Christians. These are not entirely religious, but they certainly have a religious component. Yet, at many of the holy sites, we see the scars of division even within our own ranks, between and among those who follow Christ.
Here in Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity, and the Cave of the Nativity underneath, are controlled by the Orthodox, especially the Greek Orthodox. The Syrian Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox have altars and some rights within the Church and Cave. Next door is the Church of St. Catherine, martyr. This is the Latin-rite or Roman Catholic Church. Nearby there are also Syrian Orthodox, Melkite Catholics (Arab Catholics using the Byzantine rite in Arabic), Lutheran, and Coptic churches. I am sure there are others. Relations between the different groups are at times amicable and warm, at other times they are not. There is a long and often bitter history to these divisions that is too extensive and complicated to address here. In some respects, the current situation does speak to the ability of Christians to coexist and cooperate across “denominational” lines: at many sites, pilgrims of all stripes enter and pray, at least in each other’s presences, at times together. However, here in this site that should unite us in wonder, awe, gratitude, and love, are found disturbing signs that all is not as Christ willed. The Apostle John whose feast we celebrate today tells us that before His Passion, Jesus prayed.
“And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:22-23, NAB)
Certainly Our Savior does not will a drab uniformity. We are called to a vibrant and joyful unity in diversity. However, while there are signs of this, we see all too often signs of division, bitterness, and even hatred. Our first, and in some sense primary, response must be the same as Christ’s – prayer! So, I invite each one of you to join me in praying for conversion and grace in each heart and mind.
May we all one day again be one as the Father, Son, and Spirit are perfectly One in the Holy Trinity!
St. John, Beloved Disciple, pray for us!
- Ben
2 comments:
Hey Ben- I noticed that you didn't get a chance to add anything about the events which happened on the same day you posted this-! During the cleaning of the church during the Christmas season, A ladder was left in the wrong part of the Church of the Nativity and a fist fight broke out because of it! (I think there were brooms involved as well). Different Christian groups have designated territories within the Church- so when the lines are crossed chaos ensues! The next day Ben and I went to the Church and there was a young monk and a Palestinian police officer talking about yesterday's fight (making the motions of 'here's where I got elbowed' and 'see how my lip is split open and face swollen?')
Ridiculous hey!? Let's always remember to work towards unity- and to recognize it where it already exists.
I didn't know Christmas was the day we celebrated St. John the Evangelis. That is realy cool.
-Kristin from MCC
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