Work on the Cave of the Birth of the Lord, the birthplace of Jesus, will begin soon. For Fr Frédéric Masson, a Syrian Catholic priest from Bethlehem, this task is more than just a construction project. – First of all, it is simply a very strong symbol of hope. said Fr Masson. He added that the biggest threat to the Palestinians is the "no future", only a fewer months after the start of the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
According to Fr Masson, many Palestinian Christians experience a situation where their future is deliberately blocked. – They feel trapped, not only physically, due to the separation barrier, but besides in time due to the fact that they are no longer able to truly imagine the future. This imagination of the future is being undermined by the extremist political and spiritual reality that presently prevails in the region – he said.
In this context, the renovation of the Cave of the Birth of the Lord takes on peculiar importance, the priest emphasizes. It is simply a sign that Christians stay and take action in the long run. – Our holy places are important; we renew them due to the fact that we are here to usage them. We pray said Fr Masson. This strengthens the presence of Christians in the Holy Land.
The works cover all areas of the cave, including bare rock, marble floors, columns, decorations, mosaics, altar and a silver star walled into the floor, which marks the birthplace of Jesus and is the hallmark of the Basilica of the Birth of the Lord in Bethlehem. The restoration task was jointly announced by the Custody of the Holy Land, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate. The renovation will be carried out by an Italian company under the auspices of the State of Palestine.
Fr Masson besides sees this as an invitation for local Christians to stay in their homeland. He referred to the historical tradition of Persian conquests. At that time, the Basilica of the Birth of the Lord was spared due to the fact that the conquerors recognized themselves in the mosaics of the 3 Kings. – They celebrated the memory of this place. said Fr Masson. This communicative inactive stands today. – In the face of all adversity there is simply a force of life, which is humble, simple and fragile," explained the clergyman. This force contradicts the logic of force and can prevent Christians from “falling into despair – he added.
Fr Masson besides praised the ecumenical cooperation around the Cave of the Birth of the Lord as a surviving example. The present state of affairs is based on a clear spatial and temporal division of the usage of the Basilica of the Birth of the Lord by various Christian religions. – This is inviolable due to the political situation – explained the clergyman. This has its drawbacks, but besides its advantages – above all, the fact that they share the same place. – It's like surviving in the same house, praying in the same place, between different churches of different traditions. It's a gathering place, a place of common penetration and sharing. It's ecumenism in action. This regular interaction allows us to learn and discover the richness of our traditions He stressed.
Source: PAP / Vatican News
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