Life in the Slow Lane

In these modern times, Christmas is largely a time to sell and perpetuate the myth of Santa Claus while listening to songs about snow falling as we melt in the Australian heat. Many have dropped Christ in the message, favouring “Xmas” and presents as the featured act. After all of the stress comes the events. We open gifts and smile politely, before putting aside items we didn’t need and stuffing ourselves with lunch. Then comes the screen time to show what happened, and view what others we barely know, did that day too.

Yet when Jesus was born, which was in March/April by the way, Christmas became a symbol for welcoming the Prince of Peace, prophesied as the King of the Jews. His arrival was such a threat in the Canaan region that King Herod ordered the killing of every boy under 2 years old in Bethlehem after Magi (basically astrologists) informed him of the birth, and power, of Jesus. Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled to Egypt. The humility of being born in a stable (imagine the smell of animals and dirty hay) reflects what his mission was all about, levelling himself with humanity. He came to empower the displaced and impoverished – but how does the way we celebrate Christmas now, and what is happening this year especially, reflect that at all?

I’ve not been the same since the war broke out in Palestine, the Gaza Strip is being seized by Israeli military to fulfil a 19th century Zionist ideology, and it just so happens the oil and gas is plentiful there too. More than 20,000 people have been killed in the past 10 weeks, over 50,000 injured and millions displaced as the population starves. This is no time to celebrate Christmas. Bethlehem has officially canceled all celebrations as Christians and Muslims mourn the tragedies faced. The nativity scene is set in rubble and the IDF enforcers at the borders continue to immobilise and oppress – as they have for decades. These events are even worse than the directive of King Herod 2000 years ago, but will history uphold this truth for 2000 more? Or will the world just move on in 10 years time? Side note: Jesus was born a Palestinian Jew, and doesn’t quite resemble the image we have been sold. How many in the West would deny him today?

While there’s much more to say about this, information to gather and extreme grief to hold, let’s just make sure to not look away this Christmas. If you believe, even remotely, that this tradition is a symbol of birth and peace, we can’t accept this violence from Israel. As a Christian, I stand with Palestine and believe all people deserve freedom, and pray for those who have fled – are displaced, like a small family was on the Holy Night.