18 December.  War.  Read, reflect, share, pray.  Grandpa Joseph had been a catechist and had studied some of the history of Israel, the Holy Land, where Jesus lived and died 2000 years ago.  He explained how many times before and after Jesus it has been invaded, wars were fought and villages were destroyed, people were captured and taken to foreign countries. According to the Bible God was always on their side, even if he was punishing them for not following his laws. The Holy Land has been ruled by different nations for 3000 years, already long before the time of Jesus. Seldom has there been peace in the land for long, also not in the other nearby countries. In our day Israelis, mainly Jews, and Palestinians, who are mostly Muslims, live there and at present there is no peace. A brutal surprise attack happened on October 7, 2023.  Hamas, a militant group in Gaza, a part of the country, wanting to overthrow the Israeli government invaded villages, killed many family members and captured others, taking them away as hostages. Israel’s army retaliated and the war that followed almost immediately, using all kinds of the most modern weapons, is one of the most horrific and brutal wars imaginable. The whole world could watch on TV and social media as the tragedy unfolded of more than 60,000 deaths including up to 20 000 children. Massive destruction and thousands more injuries of innocent Palestinian people as well as fighters, who found themselves in the way of the warring parties, has continued for months.  

“Who is ultimately responsible?” “How and when will the air strikes, bombing, and killing end?” “Is the end of the world about to happen?” people were asking. “But what can we ordinary people and our families do?”  “Pope Francis prayed every day for peace and an end to war, all wars, which as he kept on saying, is a defeat where no one ever wins. Pope Leo continues the search for a lasting peace. Many world leaders have tried to stop the war, and to mediate but Israel demanded the return of their hostages, before they would stop. Israel’s army carried on their attacks against Hamas, but other groups became involved as well, as they send rockets and missiles into one another’s countries. The Cardinal Archbishop of Jerusalem even offered himself in exchange for the release of captured children.  People are asking, “Was this war in the place where Jesus was born 2000 years ago a war between different religions, or was it political and ethnic, between groups of people, and about land?”  “How can children even begin to understand what war in this holy place and in so many places is about?

 Scripture:  The Lord turns his face against the wicked to destroy their remembrance from the earth. Where the just cry out the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress. Ps 34. Pope Francis:  War is a defeat. Always. Fratelli Tutti 258.