Bethlehem: Part Deux

After my birthday visit to Bethlehem, which I describe as slightly traumatic, I was hesitant to return today. I worried I would feel as sad as I did the first time: sad about the wall, about the looming settlement, about the abandoned homes and the devestated economy.

Clearly, none of that has changed in two-and-a-half weeks. But I tried to remember Donna's comment that on her return visit, she found it easier to find the beauty of the town.

We set out for a full day this morning at 8am. We went to Ein Kerem to visit the Church of the Visitation (commemorating Mary's visit to Elizabeth during which John the Baptist lept in her womb), to the church commemorating John the Baptist's birth, to Shepherd's Field (where traditions says the shepherd's watched by night for the star which led them to Bethlehem), and into Bethlehem for a visit to the Church of the Nativity and the underground caves.

The drive to Ein Kerem is stunning. You leave Jerusalem behind and fall into green hills, up which we climbed to the Church of the Visitation. This church might have been on the most well-groomed grounds I've seen so far. Blooming gardens bursting with colour. I've never seen this before, but people carved their names into the cactus stem.

Now, I would LOVE to show you pictures of the day. However, stupid as I am, I diddled with my camera on the bus on the way back to the College, pressed "format" and gone forever they all were.

Sigh.

However, I end this third blog entry of the day, with my reflections offered at Shepherd's field:


I invited the participants to close their eyes and consider two things.

1. Contrasts. It seems we are being inundated by contrasts. I asked them to consider some of the ones we have experienced this week so far
- The Israeli-Palestinian perspectives on the political and religious conflict
- The religiously- and culturally-distinct quarters of the Old City
- The joys and sorrows of the people we encounter.
- The Eastern and Western Christian traditions represented
- The three major monotheistic religions represented
- A man in a suit with a Powerpoint presentation with facts and figures and a man in jeans and motorcycle jacket who speaks off the cuff, both with messages.

As we explored Bethlehem, I asked them to consider some of the contrasts between the story of Jesus' birth 2000 years ago in this town and the twon we see before us today:
- The contrast of Kings of cities and the King of Jews, against shepherds in a field and a baby born in a cave/barn.
- Of Herod's fear (in Matthew's Gospel) and the terror of the shepherds (in Luke's Gospel) against the joy of the wisemen and the joy of "all who heard" the Good News.
- Of the centre of the universe: Jerusalem and the holiest of holies: the Temple, against a small, rural town.
- Of the city that saw the birth of a Messiah who would tear down social barriers and turn over the tables of the Temple money changes, against the walls that now divide and separate this town from Jerusalem.
- Of the commoness of the birth to parents of simple-to-meager means, against the greatness to come.

I asked them to reflect on the humbleness of the story here in Bethlehem and to remember God's concern for His people. To remember His love transcends social status and vocation

I asked them to reflect on the joy found in the knowledge that God loves all people regardless of national boundaries or secular or religious statehoods and that love cannot be contained by a wall.

2. Why do we come to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph were mandated. The shepherds were curious. The wisemen were sent.

Why do we make pilgrimage to Bethlehem?

We come to contemplate the events of a story.

We come to experience the inbreaking of God to our lives.

We come to ponder in our hearts the Word made flesh and to be amazed.

We come to praise God for all that has been revealed to us.

We come to identify with Jesus the man, the story He left us with, and hopefully find ourselves within it.