Waiting in Hope

Christmas Eve, Titus
Titus 2.11-14

“While we wait for the blessed hope….”

While we sit in our pews and sing, “Silent Night,” Christians in Bethlehem and the rest of the West Bank and Gaza, struggle under the occupation. In their daily lives there is no silent night, no calm and brightness, little sleep. While we sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” its people do not experience stillness or quiet; their dreams are interrupted by nightmares of families separated, sons arrested, children who must move away to find work. Take a look at Bethlehem behind the wall and view some of the realities of their daily lives:

“Christmas Canceled in Bethlehem”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5is-SAPSrQ&NR=1

You might expect them to be feeling hopeless this Christmas Eve, but that is not the case. You see, they really believe the grace of God HAS appeared; and they like to remind visitors that it happened right there, in their town. So they live their lives “zealous for good deeds” –living AS IF the wall did not exist, doing whatever it takes to create a full life for them and for their children behind the wall. They have been “zealous for good deeds,” building a school for all the children of their community—Christians and Muslims alike, believing that miracles are possible because they have seen it in their town.

God of all hope, your words call us to remember your Son and your promises of salvation, signs of your faithfulness. Help us to trust your promises and to be zealous in good deeds for the freeing of all people living under oppression, in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, and all over the world where there is suffering and injustice. Amen.