Advent blog – December 15

Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel. It is approximately 5 miles south of Jerusalem with a population of about 30,000 people. The town is inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, though the size of the community has shrunk due to emigration. Bethlehem has gone from being 90% to 30% Christian because the town has lost most of its land to Israeli settlements. 

Bethlehem has a Muslim majority, but is also home to one of the largest  Palestinian Christian communities. (source: Wikipedia)

When Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem they faced a journey of approx eighty miles. Not the easiest thing to do, even today, for a heavily pregnant lady. So why attempt it? Joseph feared to leave Mary behind to face a hostile neighbourhood alone. He had to take part in the Roman census. So they travelled together. It had also been predicted hundreds of years previously that Bethlehem would be the place where Jesus would be born. Today Bethlehem faces high unemployment, a lack of basic amenities and a lot of hostility. People are depressed, isolated, frustrated and lacking in hope in the very town where Jesus was born to bring hope, love and forgiveness. His birth brings us hope that this state of affairs, found not just in Bethlehem, but around the world will end. The angel instructed Joseph to call the baby, Jesus.