Holy Innocents Feast

Cloistered nun in perpetual adoration
at the Milk Grotto

It's the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Not many catholics know this but the killing of the innocents took place 2 years after Christ was born. The Magi came only 2 years after Christ's birth ... that's why Herod killed children 2 years and younger "according to the calculations of the Magi". During these 2 years the Holy Family lived in the Milk Grotto. So this is the sanctuary where the Magi came to adore the Christ child and where the Holy Family fled to Egypt.

And talking about Magi and gifts, thanks to Giovanni and Gigi and all of you who sent greetings and gifts. Very kind of you. I prayed for you all at Bethlehem's Grotto of the Nativity.

An arab walking his pet camel at
Damascus Gate

The weather was freezing yesterday. Everyone was covered in layers of woolen clothes and heaters were on everywhere. It did not rain but it was dreadfully overcast ... a grey gloomy sky all day. Many people are sick with my symptoms .... dry cough, phlegm, fever. I'm glad mine is almost over though I still have problems with the phlegm.

So what's so happy about the New Year? We're inundated by bad news. Just see below.

News is out that Israeli housing is one of the highest in the world ... but I don't think it can beat Hong Kong.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-cost-of-living-among-highest-in-developed-world-report-finds/

And with the move to build more housing for jews in palestinian land, the palestinians have no legal way to protect their property than perhaps an ancient Ottoman Law.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.831175

And then there is political right hand washing the other: The PM needs ultra-orthodox jews' support and their rabbis then asked for support for the settlements. Newspapers say millions of shekels were transferred but I am not sure if this is actually verified.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.831462

And here is a case about justice ... or injustice about the violent settlers in palestinian lands. Read it and judge it yourself.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iraq/.premium-1.830921

It's getting worse ... now the parliament is moving a bill to expel palestinians and revoke their citizenship in Israel.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.830785

And this article says it all about being a christian in the Holy Land celebrating Christmas this year.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-many-palestinian-christians-trump-is-a-christmas-killjoy/

And even for some Israelis things are not good news: colored Jews are not equal.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.831462

So no one is innocent after all .... so what's with this feast day?