Death or Exile in the Holy Land
Are the teachings of Jesus relevant today? + Prayer 1st Advent Sunday
“If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would become tears.”
- Mahmoud Darwish
If you are just tuning in, it is the first Sunday of Advent, and there is a genocide happening near Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. About 2.3 million Gazans, most of them refugees from the Nakba of 1948, are currently under siege by one of the world’s most powerful military forces.
Advent (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian tradition, is a four-week season in the Church calendar that celebrates the first and second comings of Jesus. The first advent would be the Incarnation—Christmastime, the second the return of Jesus. While the practices may look different, each Sunday has a deeper reflection on the themes of hope, peace, love, and joy. Its a special time for Christians to pray and reflect on what it means to follow Jesus.
The Bible doesn't say anything about observing the tradition of Advent; it has existed in the global Christian church for centuries, with the earliest mentions of the practice happening as early as 380 AD at the Council of Saragossa.
Similarly, the Bible says nothing about many “Christian values and truths” churches teach, practice, and defend today. Christianity has become an institution where the words and actions of Jesus are no longer at the center. Hence, people don’t find the Church relevant and leave.
If our memory easily distorts the details of stories we share with others, imagine how the story of Jesus and the church of the first century evolved. History reminds us how religion has often been used as a weapon for colonization and as gunpowder to pave the way for power or hold on to it. You can find a verse in the Bible to argue in favor or against anything.
Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity, or, to put it another way, why the religion exists. The words Jesus spoke and what He did are as significant as what He did not say or do. This should inform a healthy Jesus-centered theology: a deeper understanding of what to think about God, a clearer picture of how to live our lives, and an action-oriented faith to stand in the face of evil, violence, or injustice.
Everything Jesus said and did in his lifetime made religious people and rulers angry.
Jesus did not destroy or punish humans.
Jesus did not protect the powerful.
Jesus stood against oppression.
The mighty Roman Empire didn’t wait long to crucify Jesus. I think the same would happen today if Jesus walked among us. The world would judge Him as being a radical, an extremist, a self-hating Jew, or a terrorist. Jesus would likely be punished in the public square and killed, either by lethal injection, the electric chair, a missile, or AI.
On this first Sunday of Advent, churches will sing “More like Jesus," "The heart of worship," or "Jesus, have your way in me," lyrics that command daily intention and follow through.
To follow Jesus is to do, say, and act like Him. Churches must reconnect with this Jesus, who was not neutral or silent. Jesus spoke out and turned tables when needed, always clear about His position. Overall, Jesus embodied peace, freedom, humility, kindness, mercy, compassion, reconciliation, unconditional love, and service to the least of these.
I am angry at Christians who proclaim to know and love God but are unwilling to engage in study or dialogue on what's going on. Why angry at them? Because their inaction and indifference perpetuate the Palestinian suffering. If they preach Jesus, they can’t justify Israel. There is no room for what Jesus came to do and what Israel is doing to Palestinians. You cannot reconcile the two. It’s not two sides to the same coin. There is one side oppressing another. To say otherwise is bullshit. Period.
Some of the zealous supporters of the state of Israel are John Hagee, Franklin Graham, Greg Laurie, Paula White, and Russell D. Moore (Editor at Christianity Today), to name a few. But there are hundreds in the religious and political sectors, with plenty of power, privilege, and influence.
A small first step now is to recognize that fellow humans are being killed right this minute in the name of God. The God of Abraham that Jews, Muslims, and Christians worship.
Many Christians, secular or devout, worship Israel and dare not question anything. This is a direct result of bad theology, Sunday school teaching, Christian Zionism, and years of intense and heavily funded Israeli and US/UK government lobbying, along with Christian lobbying from pastors and politicians like I mentioned above. To say anything in favor of Palestine or anything against Israel is political, academic, or ecclesiastical suicide. The censorship and suppression are real and robust.
Yet, the Church’s muteness will forever be a mystery to me, a sealed tomb, not at all different from where Jesus was buried and given up for dead.
The Palestinian plight for freedom and Israel's stronghold is not new, but this time, it is different. And it will become more prevalent than ever. History and future generations will never allow it to disappear.
Do you know what else hurts deeply?
Not having others to meet in person to process all that's happening and express our anger and disgust. To hug in solidarity, pray, and lament. To learn more and together call for a permanent ceasefire. It's the elephant in the room that people don't want or care to acknowledge.
Social media has once again connected us with strangers to grieve through words, emojis, and likes of resistance. We are united in our pain regardless of our faith backgrounds. Atheists and agnostics are also standing up for Palestine. This goes beyond faith. It is a moral, ethical, and human crisis. We are raising awareness, educating, and enacting change where world leaders have failed miserably.
To be like Jesus is to stand against violence, oppression, and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
This Advent season, make time to reflect on why the way of Jesus calls us to:
Love our neighbors and enemies
Love ourselves
Help the poor
Feed the hungry
Resist oppression
Care for the least of these
Forgive others
Clothe the naked
Welcome the stranger
Stand with the marginalized
Drop the sword
Seek peace
Serve others
Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem have been canceled this year as Israel is "leveling Gaza" (to quote their leaders) and displacing 2.3 million Gazans south into the sea or the Sinai desert. Everyone is a target, and the ground invasion is closing on everyone. For Gazans right now, it's either death or exile.
Munther Isaac, pastor of the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem (Manger pictured above), reminds us that faith is the only hope left. He says that if Jesus were born today, He would be born under the occupation. Therefore, the Manger represents baby Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh covered with dust and the Holy family (Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi) searching for Him in the rubble (see the photo at the end).
Yes, the teachings of Jesus—the non-White, non-English speaking, Jewish Palestinian refugee in Egypt— are as relevant as ever and take a whole new meaning in the context of the holy land. That was Jesus’ birthplace, where he taught and fulfilled the prophecies.
This Advent
I can't tell you how to grieve
and find hope
I can't tell you how to love
and make peace
I can point you toward one who can,
find Him in the rubble.
May Peace be upon us,
Jorge Fusaro
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