O Adonai

The weather is warming up to 12 degrees and a little higher from today onwards. But as almost every year, Christmas gets cold and wet. Bethlehem is alot higher than Jerusalem (800m above sea level) so it's colder there.

The aftermath of the tour accident that left 24 dead is having contradictory claims - the govt. says it'll not affect tourism but hospitality agents say it'll be a negative dent - at least for the Eilat region and Russian toursists. Short distance travel in the Jerusalem area and Galilee should not be affected, I believe. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728238973&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull So the Christmas pilgrims will still come.

And news is floating around that the Pope will come on pilgrimage to the Holyland next year. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728243504&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Meanwhile Gaza has run out of flour again and the UN is not supplying because the Israeli border is closed and the Gaza militants are increasing their rocket attacks into Israel. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728244676&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728241255&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull It will be a dismal Christmas for the Christians in Gaza.

Thanks to C. Cavero for her offering.

Today the antiphon is "O Adonai":
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come to redeem us with an outstretched arm.

This antiphon recalls the events before (God appearing to Moses) and after (Moses meets God on Sinai) the Exodus. The main theme is God's saving action (the outstretched arm) in Israel's history and we beseech God to continue this saving act in our own time. Do you need to be saved?