Holy Family feast

Feast of the Holy Family ... the octave of Christmas is coming to an end. So is 2012. Just when we hope to end the year on a happy note, we hear of more persecution of christians. This time in Iran - a pastor is re-arrested and re-imprisoned.  http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=297740  The situation in Syria is absolutely appalling as we receive news that there's no flour or bread in many cities. People are starving. And the winter cold is hitting hard. In Egypt the new pro-Islamic constitution is sending shockwaves of fear among christians as persecutions will be the inevitable result.

Sunset over the Sea of Galilee

Healthwise my asthma is keeping me awake all night. And I'm not the only one. Practically everyone I know who has asthma is suffering from it this week. It's the weather and the pollution. But in my case, the docs say it's the polyps and messed-up septum that's causing the severe asthma attacks ... plus allergy to canary poo. Was at the hospital for 2 days to have tests done. Diabetes, BP and cholesterol are high but still below the highest limit, so I'm safe for the moment.

As the year drags to its inevitable end, we recall with thanks for all the good ... and bad that we experienced this year. Everything happens for a reason, and every time it is an occasion to grow and learn. Perhaps that's what the Holy Family feast is all about - family is where one grows and learns in "wisdom, grace and stature" (today's gospel).

Christmas Octave

The Crib on the site of the
Annunciation (Nazareth)

Christmas in the Holyland is always special. And much more so in Bethlehem. It took place there. Pilgrims have come flowing back ... not too many though. They're mainly asians and africans. Very few europeans or americans. The weather is fine ... sunny and cool.

But sadly Christmas cheer here is always shortlived.  Blatant discrimination continues as 2012 ends. A Palestinian man was denied by the Post Office from sending a package to Britain because ... he was not Israeli.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-post-office-says-palestinian-cannot-send-package-abroad.premium-1.490457

And it gets worse. On Boxing Day some Jewish fanatics sprayed pornographic graffiti on a Church wall in northern Israel. Though the church was long abandoned due to the war, it nevertheless receives many visitors who used to live in that town, and where the cemetery still stands.

All these remind us that the peace and joy of Christmas still remains elusive here in the very land where Christ was born. His followers still continue to suffer persecution ... even at Christmas time.

Christmas Day

Christmas Vigil Mass on Dec 24th night was as usual special when celebrated in Shepherds' Field. The sky was clear and the stars were shining; and the air was cold and crispy. There were many groups celebrating Mass in the various altars around the sanctuary. But the crowds trickled toward midnight when everyone went uphill to Bethlehem to join the celebrations.

Candy packs from Israeli
soldiers at Bethlehem
checkpoint

Bethlehem therefore was packed to the brim with locals and tourists. The road into Bethlehem was jammed and it took over an hour to get from the Israeli checkpoint to Shepherds' Field. Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint were distributing packs of candy for tourists and pilgrims as part of their Christmas policy to show welcome despite the Wall and other security measures. Got home just past midnight but was ravaged by severe asthma so I couldn't sleep a wink. Then it was Mass at 6.30am and then chores to be done. Am extremely exhausted because each time when I try to rest, a call comes through and it's more work.

Christmas is not all fun for some people: a 3rd arab youth was attacked by Jewish teens in the City centre in 2 months. No culprits were caught ... which is disturbingly strange because if a Jew were attacked, suspects would have been rounded up within 2 hours. So much for Christmas hope and cheer.

Then the rabbis issued a decree to cancel the certification of all restaurants and eating places that put up a Christmas tree because "Christmas trees are idolatry". Suddenly all the christmas decorations around the City disappeared in a few hours. So how come a giant Hanukiot in Zion Square is not idolatry?

Christmas wish

Rare and unique sky

The sun is up but the temperature is still below 9 degrees. Crispy and sunny. Forecast for tomorrow - showers and a drop in temperature. Midnight Mass will be wet and cold. And Christmas morning will be equally wet and cold.

Yesterday I managed to catch a very unique photo ... the sky over Jerusalem caught between the storm and fair weather. Fantastic.

Let's hope the fighting in Syria will stop and the poor people will not have to suffer through this winter cold. Let's hope this Christmas will bring true peace and protection to the helpless. May the storm of war give way to the dawn of Christ's true light.

Thanks

Thanks to 1Peter for the canned food; Wini and Walter Au, Irene Teoh and Family, Angela Lee, Katie, Jocelyn and Sherwin, Vincent, Glenda and Eva, Mary and Agnes Leung and everyone else who sent their festive wishes.

Winter Solstice Festival

Wrapping the dumplings

Yesterday's storm has blown away but the cold is still lingering. The Israeli weather dept. says it's a once-in-a-decade storm. The Sea of Galilee rose by 6cm. It was a welcome rain - the air is clean again, the streets are clean again. And everyone is home keeping warm. No trouble in the streets. All is calm ... a fitting prelude to Christmas.

So yesterday was the Winter Solstice festival. A group of northern chinese tourists came to Mandarin Restaurant and started wrapping and cooking dumplings. That was a real feast! Ah Ling the owner called me over for the feast and the group was very kind. They shared their dumplings with me and we chatted and laughed like old friends. The dumplings tasted very good ... both the beef and the pork versions. A little vinegar and soya sauce with chilli and it's like being home again.

Yummy dumplings

The Christmas holidays begin today so school is a lot quieter. Most have already returned home to their own countries. The rest of us will probably spend Christmas in Bethlehem. I'm cleaning up my room for Christmas. It's incredible how much dust collects in a week ... but that's the phenomenon we encounter here in the cities around the desert. Then of course it's studies and studies again.

The H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) is spreading quickly in Palestine ... already 3 arabs have died this week and lots of cases are popping up in the Territories. Israel has issued an alert saying the virus was brought by arab pilgrims to Mecca. So I'm staying away from crowds ... including Bethlehem. Might just spend Christmas in a quiet place away from people. Could be fun.

Hail storm

So it's 21/12/12. And right now we're having a hail storm and gale force winds at the same time throughout the country. It's so very cold. I'm wearing all woollen clothes now ... as everyone else. And heaters are on everywhere. Tonight the forecast is 3 degrees. Though it'll warm up on Sunday, the cold front will return on Christmas Eve, with lots of rain. That is ... if the world doesn't end today.

As everyone has gone home for the Christmas holidays, I'm pretty much alone with the canaries for the festive season. They can't sing carols and I won't sing to them ... so this Christmas is going to be quite carol-less. But I think my past students are coming to visit me tomorrow. That will be very nice.

But for some of us, it's studies as usual. It's the big rush to complete assignments before the term ends. So much for the holidays.