Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand
Very symbolic of two competing visions of religion… At the exact same time you had:
– In Rome: Pope Francis inaugurating a nativity scene displaying baby Jesus in a Palestinian keffiyeh, and pleading for “no more wars” (the nativity scene was built by artists from Bethlehem: https://vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-enough-with-wars-and-violence-in-the-world.html…)
– In Paris: Notre Dame’s reopening ceremony, filled with many of the world leaders responsible for the very wars Francis was decrying… Religion either as a legitimizing instrument of power – a crown on its head – or religion as a thorn in power’s side, standing with the powerless.
It’s not even a religious matter, it’s a contradiction intrinsic to our humanity: do you fight for what’s right and confront uncomfortable truths, or do you comfortably align with power? My Bible reading might be rusty, but I seem to remember Jesus having some pretty clear opinions about this particular matter…
Because of this picture of the Pope, he was attacked and threats were made against him on X.
Father Munther Isaac once again on Christ in the rubble
This Christmas, once again, we find ourselves reflecting on the meaning of Christmas through the image of Christ in the Rubble. Christ is still under the rubble in Gaza, as children are still being pulled from under the rubble in Gaza. It is heartbreaking that we are still calling and pleading for a ceasefire.
Decision makers seem to be content with this war continuing as long as it has. They have decided that Palestinians are dispensable. 44700 killed (not including those under the rubble), including close to 17500 children. 87% of housing units are damaged. Thousands are physically handicapped. Millions are traumatized. It is literally hell on earth in Gaza. How many more need to be sacrificed before decision makers decide enough in enough?
We insist: we see the image of Jesus in every child killed. They are precious to God. May we unite this Christmas in lighting a candle for Gaza, and particularly for the children of Gaza. This is beyond symbolism. Let us unite in prayer, and commit ourselves to the cause of ending this genocidal war. We cannot stop talking about Gaza. We can stop advocating. Most importantly, we will not lose our faith and hope in God and the goodness and justice of God.
