From the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the birthplace of Jesus Christ isn’t exactly the most peaceful part of the world at the moment.
One church in Bethlehem is reflecting the tragedy in their own special way.
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‘During the service on Sunday, some people were in tears’
Bethlehem, just a short distance away from Jerusalem, has relied on tourism in recent years. This year is different – even traditional Christmas is canceled in Bethlehem.
Fox News reports:
Just weeks before Christmas, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, located in the West Bank, unveiled a new display of the nativity scene that shows baby Jesus lying in a manger amid rubble. The imagery symbolizes the destroyed Palestinian communities in Gaza and the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas terror group, a church official said.
“Church families met last week and built it together. It was a moving experience for our families. During the service on Sunday, some people were in tears,” Reverend Doctor Munther Isaac, the church’s pastor, told The New Arab. “We are pleased our message has reached the world. This is what Christmas looks like in Palestine this year, the origin of Christmas.”
Many Christians have already been killed by Israeli bombing. Israeli outlets have also reported this week that an Israeli sniper shot and killed a Christian mother and daughter who were sheltering from the war in the Holy Family Parish in Gaza. The killings were condemned by Pope Francis as “terrorism.”
Pray for Peace
“Bethlehem has no visitors this year. Pilgrims are not coming to Bethlehem this year because of war,” Isaac told the New Arab. “But we were surprised and overwhelmed by the attention and response this Manger received through the social media and media in general.”
What occurred in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago is the reason for the season.
We can all pray in the name of the Prince of Peace that things get better, sooner than later.
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