AGORA XXI: BLOG OF THE COMMUNITY OF SAINT PAUL

REFLECTION 

THE STAR OF HOPE

Michael Wolfe

We all know well the tradition of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem for the census, and that it was there that Jesus was born (Luke 2:1-7). Today, if you visit Bethlehem, you can go to the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the grotto that is traditionally held to be the place of Jesus’ birth. There in the floor is a silver star meant to mark the place where he was born.

The pious practice within the Church of the Nativity is to kneel by the star and kiss it; but in order to reach the star, one must bend down, as there is a low ceiling.  This of course lends itself to having a reverent approach to the site, but it also serves as a reminder to us who visit there that if we have to stoop down to reach the place, how more so was it for the Son to humble himself in this great way?

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I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit the Church of the Nativity.  And it is certainly a powerful experience to kneel down and kiss the site that tradition has held as the place where Jesus was born for at least 1700 years.  But what struck me most when I was there was when I walked out of the church and looked out at the modern city of Bethlehem.  Social conflict is prevalent and obvious throughout the city, and is most captured by the gigantic military wall that runs withinit.  Regardless of one’s thoughts on the wall, it stands as a clear demonstration of the level of conflict that exists in the region between different cultures, societies and peoples. 

This same region in which Jesus was born has been the meeting place of very different cultures, societies and peoples since even before his time.  In many ways, it is the place where East meets West.  Such diversity was the case during Jesus’ life as well - it says a lot that the Gospel of John specifies that the sign placed on the cross was in three different languages (John 19:20). With great difference oftentimes has come great discord and violence

So it struck me that day in Bethlehem, after having bent down to venerate the silver star, that it was at this place on Earth that Jesus was born: the meeting place of peoples throughout the world.  Indeed, how fitting that this be the site where all of humanity was lifted up to new dignity through the grace of God, by the Son taking on human form.  Likewise, how fitting that this site, so full of violence throughout human history as those differences collide, be where the Prince of Peace entered into human history. 

Christmas is the day when we commemorate this event of incomparable import for all human kind.  It is good that we celebrate it with different signs of love for our families, friends and coworkers. Such signs are through food, cookies, gifts and social events. But hopefully, as we reflect on the significance of the day, we also remember the stranger, the other, those who are different from us. For that event that we celebrate, which is marked by that silver star in the floor, was for all of humanity.  Thus regardless of differences, we are called by our belief in Jesus to acknowledge the dignity of each and every human person.