Apocalypse

More attacks on Iraqi christians - 2 brothers shot in their shop, one old woman strangled at home.  http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/11/22/iraq.christians.targeted/index.html  In Cairo, one christian dies and 150 arrested  http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/11/24/egypt.christians.clashes/index.html  And in Pakistan, a christian woman is unlikely to escape the blasphemy law.  http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/24/pakistan.christian/index.html?hpt=T2 

As we end the liturgical year, the readings for Mass are from the Book of the Apocalypse (Revelation) - a message for persecuted christians to persevere because evil will be vanquished and God will triumph. It sheds some light of hope for us here in the ME; victims of fanaticism and fugitives in modern catacombs. Here, in the cradle of Christianity, the Mother Church is dying ... and the world looks away ... disinterested.