Rev. Jennifer Hosler, PhD

Today (Christmas Day), I took part in a Christmas is Cancelled service hosted by Adalah Justice Project, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, the Kairos Center, and more. As you may have heard, Christmas celebrations have been cancelled in the city of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem. My own family’s and church’s Christmas observations have aimed to hold in tension the hope and joy we find in Jesus Immanuel, God with Us, and the pain and violence from which we long for Jesus’ deliverance, especially for Gaza.

A prompt was given prior to the event, asking clergy to reflect for a few minutes on, “What would Jesus do for Palestine?” I shared my words, which you can find below (text and video).

What would Jesus do for Palestine?

I answer this question centering on Jesus, Immanuel, God with Us (Matthew 1:23). The story of Christmas is the story of God with us, the almighty entering into vulnerability, the all powerful entering into our suffering. Jesus came as a Jewish Palestinian infant, into poverty and into occupation.

What would Jesus do for Palestine?

I see Jesus covered in dust, his home reduced to rubble, pulling others out of a collapsed apartment block. I see Jesus seeking every lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7).

I see Jesus weeping over the lifeless bodies pulled out alongside the injured ones. Jesus, weeping like he wept over his friend Lazarus (John 11:32-35).

I see Jesus in a triage area, wiping the blood and dust out of children’s hair (Mk 10:13-16).

I see Jesus wearing a Press vest and helmet, reporting at great physical risk, because the LORD, Adonai, is the God who sees, as God saw Hagar fleeing the oppression of Sarah (Gen. 16:1-16).

I see Jesus risking his reputation to speak out about justice for Palestine. I see Jesus speaking out for the humanity and God-given worth of those who have been oppressed and despised and treated as sub-human, just like he did when he put his reputation on the line to talk with the Samaritan woman, to drink water with her, to see her humanity (John 4:1-42).

I see Jesus calling for ceasefire, for release of all hostages and detainees on all sides, and for an end to all violence in Palestine and Israel (Matt. 26:52; Matt. 5:9). May it be so. Amen.

#ceasefirenow