Fr Luke Gregory OFM is a Franciscan friar based in Rhodes who journeys frequently to the Holy Land and is a director of the charity Pro Terra Sancta, which assists Christians and others in the region. Here is the first instalment of reflections from his diary of his time in Bethlehem for the Epiphany of the Lord (part two can be read here).
I am once again in Bethlehem, this time for the Feast of the Epiphany. We were accompanied with very heavy security by the Israeli army from our monastery in Jerusalem to Bethlehem; halfway though the journey we paused and were then further accompanied by mounted soldiers on beautiful black horses. How surreal!
Passing through the huge iron gates in the “Wall” we were thereafter accompanied by the armed Palestinian military to the piazza of the Nativity. There were fewer people this time in the square; it’s a working day and the children were at school.
There seems to be a deepening sense of despair as the bombardment of Gaza continues, the hotels and shops are closed and so there is no work for the people. Daily life is becoming increasingly difficult. They are naturally worried on how they will even feed their families, and prices are rising daily.
However, one very positive aspect of this visit was meeting the various people who work for our charitable and social projects. We met them with the Custos and the parish priest in our parish room at St Catherine’s church at the basilica of the Nativity.
Present were the members of Catholic Action, the Catholic Scouts, the Third Order Franciscans and the St Anthony Society – the last group helps to run a home for the elderly. The Custos listened to all of them and encouraged them to work together. We heard that the home for the elderly, which had previously only taken care of elderly ladies, had recently taken in seven elderly men.
This was proving a challenge for them, as they had neither room nor staff to deal with them but, nevertheless, the frail men were taken in and are being cared for. These elderly men could no longer financially support themselves. The charity hopes, with the help and support of the friars, to do some fundraising; they feel that as the war continues, they will be more requests to take care of the elderly and they will need the finances to be able to do this.
The Scouts said there were providing more activities throughout the day for their members, of whom there are about 250. They are trying their best to keep the youth off the streets in these dangerous times. The Catholic Action Centre is also providing more activities for the locals as the days can be long when there is no work and nothing to do. The Third Order Franciscans are also working with the youth in spreading the message of peace.
The Custos emphasized that all these institutions are Catholic, and that prayer should have a significant part in bringing the people together and keeping them together. I liked this, and it brought comfort to all of us that were hearing it. The Custos said that the war has brought a feeling of despair and fear, more so than during the days of the pandemic, but that as Christians we must live in hope because without hope there is no future, but in Christ there is always hope and with Him there is always a future.
With this message in our hearts we will celebrate this feast of the Child Jesus being presented to the nations with more trust and confidence.
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