During Advent, our gaze turns toward Bethlehem and the larger region of the Holy Land in anticipation of celebrating the Incarnation. Taking the Incarnation seriously challenges us to not think of the act of God coming to dwell with us as just an historical event in the past, but to also have our focus on God present in the world, especially with those who are in danger or harmed. Given the realities in the Holy Land, we know that the region faces peril. 

We remain devastated that more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in the military actions of the Israeli Government. We remain hope filled that the hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023, will be returned, though as each day passes, our concern grows. We pray that the ceasefire in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel can hold. We worry that the rising violence primarily executed by the settler communities in the occupied West Bank will continue to grow. 

The need for a change is heightened as many experts assert that the way the Israeli military is prosecuting its stated goal of protecting Israel from further attack is a genocide. In a recently released book, our Holy Father Pope Francis shared his own distress, stating:

“According to some experts what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.” 

What can be done 

A call for ceasefire, the return of hostages, and a negotiation of a long-term balanced peace is needed. However, this seems less likely if the United States government continues weapons sales to Israel. It has been pointed out that progress towards a peace agreement in El Salvador in the late 1980’s was stuck until the United States ended weapons sales to the El Salvadoran government. We believe that the same action, ending arms sales to Israel, can be the impetus needed to move the parties towards a solution, or at least the ending of immense death and suffering experienced by the Palestinian people and the Israeli military.  

Working globally, Christians have joined together in a campaign entitled Advent Not Arms being shepherded by one of our partners in this work Churches for Middle East Peace. This campaign can be added as a piece to end your Advent journey. It includes times for prayer and an appeal to the United States government to suspend arms sales. There is also a letter from hundreds of global faith leaders, including our Provincial Minister Br. Larry Hayes, OFM, calling on governments to end the arms sales. 

Please share the links to this campaign with the people you serve as an act of Advent penance where we attempt to create the space for repair of the broken relationships in the Holy Land. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Russ Testa at rtesta@friars.us in the Office for Social Evangelization and Engagement.