Gaza's Christians
“God of peace, give our country peace; God of mercy, give our country mercy.” Monsignor Musallah of Gaza
Gaza is home to some 5,000 Palestinian Christians. Most are Eastern Orthodox. There is one Catholic (Latin Rite) parish in Gaza and one Baptist congregation. Gaza is perhaps the densest place on earth to live with some 1.4 million people crowded together in a small strip of land on the Mediterranean Sea, wedged in by Israel’s formidable security shield and Egypt’s fenced barrier. The sea, of course, is patrolled by Israel’s defenses. Gaza's residents feel hopelessly trapped like prisoners in a concentration camp. Rampant poverty afflicts 80% of the people, slums are overcrowded, the economy is ruined, and it is virtually impossible for most people to leave or enter Gaza's two border crossings between Israel and Egypt.
How do the Christians cope in Gaza? Hanna Massad, pastor of Gaza Baptist Church, expressed it this way at a Baptist Convention he attended last year in the USA:
"We live between two fires - the fire of the Israel occupation; the siege we live under" [which severely restricts travel]. "Also we experience the fire of the militant Muslim, who is not happy about what we do and who we are."
"Because you experience the grace of God and love of God, you are able to forgive and move on. ..But if you didn't experience his grace, this is going to create bitterness and hatred in your heart. And this is why the fights between the Palestinians and the Jewish people are more intense and more and more difficult."
Monsignor Manuel Musallam, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza City had to cancel Christmas Midnight Mass (2008) and Mass on New Year’s Day with smaller Masses taking place in a school chapel.
When the Israeli army besieged Gaza over the Christmas holiday and new year, Monsignor Musallam spoke by telephone to a Catholic news reporter:
“I am unable to see many of my parishioners but I send them regular SMS messages offering them a spiritual word to encourage them and to help them to pray a bit….At the start of each hour, we agreed to say a prayer: ‘God of peace, give our country peace; God of mercy, give our country mercy.’”
"What you see on television cannot be compared to what is happening. The word love is choking in my throat... We are living like animals in Gaza. We cry and nobody hears us. I am asking God for mercy and pray that the light of Christianity continues to shine in Gaza."
Let us join with the Christians in Gaza and ask God our Father to grant them, and all of Gaza, peace and mercy.
Daily Reading & Meditation
Wednesday (1/14): "They brought to Jesus all who were sick or possessed with demons"
Scripture: Mark 1:29-39
29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 37 and they found him and said to him, "Every one is searching for you." 38 And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out." 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Meditation: Who do you take your troubles to? Jesus' disciples freely brought their troubles to him because they found him ready and able to deal with any difficulty, affliction, or sickness which they encountered. When Simon brought Jesus to his home, his mother-in-law was instantly healed because Jesus heard Simon’s prayer. Jerome, an early church bible scholar and translator (c. 347-420), reflects on this passage:
“Can you imagine Jesus standing before your bed and you continue sleeping? It is absurd that you would remain in bed in his presence. Where is Jesus? He is already here offering himself to us. ‘In the middle,’ he says, ‘among you he stands, whom you do not recognize’ (Cf. John 1:26) ‘The kingdom of God is in your midst’ (Mark 1:15). Faith beholds Jesus among us. If we are unable to seize his hand, let us prostrate ourselves at his feet. If we are unable to reach his head, let us wash his feet with our tears. Our repentance is the perfume of the Savior. See how costly is the compassion of the Savior.”
Do you allow Jesus to be the Lord and healer in your personal life, family, and community? Approach him with expectant faith. God's healing power restores us not only to health but to active service and care of others. There is no trouble he does not want to help us with and there is no bondage he can't set us free from. Do you take your troubles to him with expectant faith that he will help you?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you have all power to heal and to deliver from harm. There is no trouble nor bondage you cannot overcome. Set me free to serve you joyfully and to love and serve others generously. May nothing hinder me from giving myself wholly to you and to your service."
Psalm 105:1-4,6-9
1 O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually! within my heart."
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac
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(c) 2009 Don SchwagerSphere: Related Content
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