Advent Twenty Four - Christ for All Nations

 24) Palestine

Aerial view of Gaza (Guardian News)

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. 21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

22 Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors of the finest flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. 1Kings 4 

Christmas Eve, and we're not ready.  

We've just arrived, but don't know where we are.  

Born into a confused and troubled world, Christ is born in Palestine.

The verses of 1 Kings speak of a happier time.  From the river to the sea is a shared message.  A colleague of mine came into work with a bag with this slogan on it.  What do I do as her bose?  She tells me it was given to her by a Palestinian academic in London.  

A tiny baby arrives into the troubles of Palestine.  The troubles of our lives.  From the river to the sea, has significance is for all.  We are all covered by his love; there is no boundary. 

He has come to say

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],

As Jesus challenged the followers of John the Baptists, do we see this now amongst us?

PRAYER:  We fall down on our knees before you this day and acknowledge you as as our Lord and saviour.

Advent Twenty Three - Christ for all Nations

 23) Yemen

aaya.al.shamahi on Instagram

When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at[a] the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. 1 Kings 10

Surely the most famous Yemeni of all time- The Queen of Sheba.  It is said that Esau headed off to the Yemen when Jacob took the ascendance.  Saba, now the land of the Houthis, is where the Queen came from. The Sabean script is related to Ge'ez of Ethiopian fame. 

The Yemen is one of those amazing countries that few people have visited due to war.  The coast was part of the British route to India.  It is a country that has seen too much war and division.  I met a nurse in The Gambia who worked in the Yemen,  she told me how she slept in the male dormitory when she was in the mountain towns, because the men of the house visited their wives in the night in the women's dormitory.  She told me that she always felt safe and welcome.

PRAYER:  May Yemen be a place we remember for its wonderful people.

Advent Twenty Two - Christ for All Nations

 22) Sudan

Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox
Cathedral in Khartoum Cedit: Wikipedia

10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.[e] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.       Genesis 2

The land of Sudan is mentioned in the second chapter of the Hebrew bible.  How about that?

These are early writings about the origin story of our relationship with the Creator.

Cush is said to be the oldest son of Ham (Noah's son), and the father of Nimrod (of Elgar fame).  The Land of Cush is said to be lower Egypt/Sudan. 

This picture of the garden of Eden is the inspiration for many famous gardens, including Charbagh mogul garden form, seen all over the Muslim world, including Lahore, the Taj Mahal, the Alhambra and Isfahan.

Sudan must not be forgotten.  As so many reporters are saying, the war in Sudan is the big war at the moment.  The country is suffering greatly.  Why is it that we as humanity have moved to far from the Garden of Eden?  The river that once flowed into Eden is now dirty and stained.

We look to the return of Eden, the new heaven and earth. For this to happen, a baby must be born, and it's name will be Emanual.

PRAYER:  Many goodness triumph in the Sudan, and justice prevail.  We pray for the river of life to flow through this country.

Avent Twenty One - Christ for All Nations

 21) Iraq

A 1493 woodcut in the Nuremberg Chronicle,
depicting the fall of Babylon Credit

25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” Daniel 3

Babylon: It has a significant place in the world: to Bob Malley and reputation, a symbol of power and desire.  

But there is something greater than the global hegemony of power and control: the greed that is driving humanity to to the edge.  It is the fourth person: the one with us in the fire.  We are not alone, and not forgotten.  If we willing to be courageous, we will experience this.  It happened in Iraq.

PRAYER:  May your presence in Iraq be as of those days, when those in power see that there is a greater power.

Advent Twenty - Christ for All Nations

 20) Turkey

Theotokos in the Apse (Source: Hagia Sophia Research Team)
Credit: Harvard University

2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.  Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, Acts 21

The Turks were mostly in Central Asia when the events of the New Testament were taking place. 

My Greek friend at work told me he and his girlfriend were going on holiday to Asia Minor.  I knew my bible, and knew he meant "Tourkia" or Τουρκία. (As opposed to "galopoúla" or γαλοπούλα - the bird.)

Asia Minor has had a major part to play in the Gospel story.  This is where the first communities of faith grew up.  This is where the Status Quo of the Roman Empire was rocked.  Slaves and rich people began to see something higher that defined them.  Paul was well placed to be a role model.

PRAYER:  We thank you for Turkey and it's history.  We thank you for it's people today and ask that they may continue to be radical members of your family.

Advent Nineteen - Christ for All Nations

 19) Syria

The Umayyad Mosque

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Acts 9

This is one of the most significant buildings in the world.  Temple of Jupiter, then Byzantine Basilica, and finally to Mosque, through stages.  

You can still visit Straight Street where Paul ended up after the divine revelation.  It strikes me that Paul's awareness of the person of Jesus begin when he saw saw Stephen's faith in death.  This was victory over fear and death.  He knew, like Jonah, that you can not run for God.  

PRAYER:  May I always be by your side Jesus.  May I always listen to you.

Advent Eighteen - Christ for All Nations

 18) Jordan (Moab)

Naomi entreating Ruth and Orpah to return
to the land of Moab by William Blake, 1795

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. Ruth 1

Ruth was from Moab or  southern Jordan.  Ruth was the great-great grandmother of King David. Jesus was part Jordanian.  Jordan has been ranked as 53rd most stable country in the world (3rd amongst Arab countries).  It has had decades of relative peace and prosperity.  It has very little oil, but a rich history. Those who look to Jesus have lived in Jordan from the beginning.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the peace of Jordan.  We pray your blessing on all Jordanians we know.

The Lord's Prayer
Credit amideastedabroad.org

Advent Seventeen - Christ for All Nations

 17) Malta

Murano Glass decorations in Valletta

28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. Acts 28

Most people who are shipwrecked in the Mediterranean Sea do not survive, but Paul has a destiny and his work is not finished.  So it is with Jesus, who's genealogical line was constantly threatened throughout history, as with his life on earth.  The people of Malta have their place in history as those who came to Paul's aid.  

PRAYER:  May the people of Malta and Gozo continue to be generous and caring, and continue to play their part in your salvation story.

Avent Sixteen - Christ for All Nation

 16) Macedonia (North)

Church of St George, Staro Nagoričane.
Credit: orthodoxartsjournal.org 

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16

This verse encourages me.  I sometimes worry that my lack of spiritual awareness will mean that I will miss some key message.  I am reassured that this is not possible.  As with Jonah, the message comes through loud a clear, even if we don't want to hear it.

Proud Macedonia (North) builds it's identity on Alexander.  Long after the fame of Alexander wains, Paul is invited to visit them, and is moved to do so.  People who cry out will be heard.  The Creator is above all in all.  All thought the modern state has to share the honour of Alexander with the Greeks, Macedonia reminds us that the one lost sheep is important and remembered.

PRAYER:  May we hear more good things happening in Macedonia.

Advent Fifteen - Christ for All Nations

15) Libya 

Detail of ‘Who are the True Tripolitanians?’ (2019), by Tewa Barnosa
Credit: funci.org 

32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.  Matthew 27

This is a map of Tripoli, and the cross sits over the churches (catholic and protestant).  The synagogue is there but a ruin.  We know so little about Simon.  What was his attitude to carrying the cross?  Was he picked on because he appeared to be there to support Jesus?  Why was he in Jerusalem?

All we know is that like Jesus, we must take up our cross, and follow him.  It is the way it is, and there is no way out of it.

PRAYER:  We pray for peace and stability for the people of Libya.

Advent Fourteen - Christ for All Nations

 14) Lebanon

Muslim and Christians celebration the
Annunciation of the Virgin Mary

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf and Sirion like a young bull. Psalm 29 5-6

The Maronite Institute records the 71 times in the Hebrew scriptures Lebanon is referenced.  A lot of these reference trees.  Sometimes the trees are symbolic for other messages.

With the cedar featuring on the national flag, I think of Lebanon when I walk in my neighbourhood and see these fine fully grown trees.  The Psalmist is also inspired by the natural awe the tree inspires.  The voice of the Lord is greater and higher than the lofty things about us.

PRAYER:  We pray that the faith of the people of Lebanon will stand firm and strong.

Advent Thirteen - Christ for All Nations

 13) Italy

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/pausepray/the-fresco-at-greccio/

And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. Acts 28

The mighty Roman Empire.  It is a wonderful thing that the seat of the worlds largest church is and has been for centuries, in Rome.  The kingdom of Jesus is not like the kingdoms of this world.  This is what the Jewish protestors in London at a Gaza demonstration also said.  The kingdom of God is not about might and control.  It is a different sort of power, rooted in love, community, and worship of the Creator.

Prayer:  May Italy continue to be a place that supports the truth of the Gospel to go out to the whole world.

Advent Twelve - Christ for All Nations

 12) Iran

No room at the Inn
www.instagram.com/natasianart/

King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. 2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.  Book of Esther

We know the hero of this story is Esther.  Many times in the Jewish bible, the people of Israel faced annihilation.  The powerful Persian emperor was an unwitting party to this.  How was he to know the significance of  these vanquished  people.  Courage and selflessness on both the party of Mordecai and his niece Esther saved an entire people.

Purim, the festival that remembers this act reminds me that there is another selfless act to look forward to.  The coming of Jesus brings us hope; our link with people in high places.

PRAYER:   We honour the people of Iran, and their place in our history.  We pray your blessing be upon them.

Synagogue in Isfahan

Armenian cathedral in Isfahan

Advent Eleven - Christ for all Nations

 11) Israel

The New Jerusalem
Credit: Wikipedia

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matthew 23

Jesus frets over the state of Jerusalem.

Israel holds a special place in Britain.  I was struck by this today as Rabbi Mervin spoke on 'Thought for the Day'.  He spoke eloquently about the predicament of Israel.  But I thought the opposite narrative would not be tolerated for Palestine.  Even in our secular country, Israel holds a special place.

Across this country, church's have in their windows depictions of the Holy Land.  This small country on the far east side of the Mediterranean still holds a position other similar sized countries, such as Lebanon or Cyprus do not.  The Christmas story is told in a time of upheaval. Israel remains on the edge.  A land that appears always to be stressed.  Never settled and peaceful.  We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

PRAYER:  We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and all those who strive for peace in our time.

Advent Ten - Christ for All Nations

 10) India

British Museum 18th Century Mogul Nativity
Credit:  BBC

 28 They sailed to Ophir and brought back 420 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon. 1 King 9

Solomon's temple to the Lord drew on the wealth of Ophir, (which is derived from the Coptic for India).  But the location of Ophir is not really known.  The kingdom of Xerxes is a better reference.  The start of Esther this is said to stretch as far as India (or Hodu).

There is nothing in the Bible that says St Thomas went to India. Stories of St Thomas however do appear to go back a long way.  Here is a link to a discussion in Catholic Café.

Now India is thriving in all areas.  The believers are amazing from ever quarter.  

PRAYER:  May wisdom and creativity bless the world through the people of India.

Jemini Roy 1950

Advent Nine - Christ for All Nations

 9) Spain (Iberia)

Fin de Noche-Buena, by Francisco Ortego and Bernardo Rico, 1858
Credit shannonselin.com

I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Romans 15 vs 24

This is a wonderfully intriguing message in Paul's letter to the Romans.  Paul is under house arrest in Rome, the epicentre of the known world.  He will have heard about the goings on in all the provinces.  Iberia took his interest, though we understand he never got there.  He had a big vision.  Let us also keep a big vision, which looks beyond our small world.  I love the fact that even in little (Ed- surely Great!) Faringdon, many people from around the world appear, as if by magic.  Each has a purpose and is not forgotten.  

PRAYER:  We pray that Spain will continue to be in Your heart.  You were there before Paul even thought of the trip.

The picture?  It is of Christmas eve (the most holy part of the festival to may Catholic nations), where everyone is exhausted and asleep, and the cats finish the food.

Advent Eight - Christ for All Nations

 8) Greece

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.    1 Corinthians 1 verse 22

Some people are suspicious of everything, and hold back.  Others are open and receptive.  They love new things and dive into new discoveries, but their experience does not last.  Still others are able to see the hand of the Creator.  They see through 'so called' wisdom and academic argument.  For us today, this is our materialistic philosophy that says miracles do not exist, and 'religion' is a comfort to explain the unexplainable.  For me, I say the miracle that I know beyond question, is that I am loved, have a purpose, and need not worry (though surrounded by worries).  Also that I start from the perspective of knowing my Creator, just as I knew my father, except that my Creator is alive and with me daily, where as my father is no longer alive.  I do not question my father, and I do not question my Creator.

PRAYER:  May the Greeks, who's nation created the psyche of Europe, and afar, know the presence of the Creator, and given themselves to this wisdom.

Advent Seven - Christ for All Nations

 7) Ethiopia

Credit LOJS.com

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The man asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the man did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Ashdod and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Is it not a miracle that the peoples of the mountainous and isolated kingdom of Ethiopia knew about the Jewish scripture and sent people to collect it, and bring it home?  It shows me that the truth within the Hebrew writings was already speaking to the world around about.  If you want to know the truth.  If you seek it, you will not only find it, but it will be given to you miraculously, in a way that will ensure that doubts cease.   

PRAYER:  May the people of Ethiopia have a great understanding about the purpose and meaning of life.  May we hear them speak.

Advent Six - Christ for All Nations

 6) Egypt

Credit The Coptist.com

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. Genesis 12

Egypt was the great powerhouse south of the Holyland.  From the beginning of the biblical account, it has always had a strong and significant presence.  It is a place of refuge, but not a benign force as we read.

My thought is that we are like people who have had a million pounds put in our bank account, but we forget this.  We don't need to beg, or make things up.  Our Creator is with us and  helps us negotiate the complexities and risks around us. Abraham and Sarah once again drew on their own intuition, rather than look to the Creator of all things.

PRAYER:  May the people of Egypt continue to be central to your purpose.  May Egypt be a place of refuge to many. 

Advent Five - Christ for All Nations

 5) Dalmatia (Now Croatia)

Christmas in Croatia
Credit: Tera-Balka.com

9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 2 Timothy 4:10 

The mountains along the Dalmatian coast have created a natural boundary for centuries.  The people in this area live in this strip of land between the mountains and the sea, much like in Norway or Chile. This is why the map of Croatia looks like a horseshoe on its side. 

My friend David Macha wrote a thesis on the power of 'schism' to be a force for good.  A paradox, but just as the cell splits, when believers divide and go off in different direction, something positive can also happen.  The Creator can turn all things from bad to good.  And so Titus left and went to Dalmatia.  

PRAYER:  We marvel that you take brokenness and imperfection, and craft it into good.