O Little Town Of Bethlehem

* Another post in a series on my trip to the Middle East.  Thanks
  to Sherri for the use of many of her photos.


To be honest with you, visiting Palestine isn't really up there with
"must go" places on my travel list.  Although I don't know as much
as I would like to about the conflicts in that part of the world, I do
know it is a place of conflict.  So when our guide told us we were
going to Bethlehem, it didn't occur to me that I would be in Palestine.
I'm a little geographically challenged like that.

Entering Palestine wasn't that different than crossing the border into
Israel.  The bus pulled up to the gate; the armed soldiers came onto
the bus and looked around.  I guess we looked non threatening enough.
And then we crossed over into Palestine.  We could see the fence in
the distance that was a constant reminder of the boundaries.
Sherri and I looked at each other and said, "It's probably a good thing
Dad doesn't know where we are right now." (Our daddy wasn't too
happy about having his daughters traveling in the middle east.)
No worries, Dad.  It all turned out fine.

Since I felt pretty ignorant regarding the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, I
asked our guide if he could spend some time on this subject when he
lectured in the evening.  With a map in hand, he gave us a crash course
on some pretty complicated history.  I think I could have listened to his
lecture a number of times and still not totally understood it.  It's obvious,
I could use more study on this subject.  Like I said, it's complicated!

Bethlehem

" And Joseph also went up from Galilee,

out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea,

unto the city of David, which is called 

Bethlehem: to be be taxed with Mary

his espoused wife."

Following the road that led into Manger Square, we came to the Church of

the Nativity.

This is the oldest standing "in use" church in the world.  The original 

basilica was built in 325 BC by Emperor Constantine the Great.  

The foundation for the church is the cave which is considered

to be the place where Jesus was born.  To enter the church you have

to stoop through a small entrance.  The crusaders reduced the size of 

the door to defend the church from enemies.  

The inside of the church was lovely.

The Grotto of the Nativity was down the stairs.  

The altar featured a 12th century mosaic, but what you really notice

is a star on the floor, with words in Latin which say "Here Jesus 

Christ was born of the virgin Mary".  No, I can't read Latin. I read

that in a book.

This is a "traditional site", meaning tradition leads us to believe this

is where Christ was born.  It's not known for certain.  But if it wasn't

in this location, it was somewhere close by.

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the

days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped

him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;

because there was no room for him in the inn."

Luke 2:6-7

St. Catherine's church is the location from where midnight mass is

broadcasted to the world on Christmas Eve.

We took a lunch break in Bethlehem and I had the best falafel of the

trip at Ruth's Restaurant.  Here's Ruth,

and here's the falafel,

and here's me devouring the falafel.  Oh, man.   Could I learn to make

falafel that tastes like this at home?  How about pita bread that tastes 

like this?

Some things taste the same, no matter where you are.

Next we went to the Shepherd's Field.  It's also called the Field of Ruth

and is believed to be the field where the angel appeared to the shepherds

to announce Christ's birth.

" And there were in the same country shepherds abiding

in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the

glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they 

were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for behold I bring you tidings of great 

joy,which shall be to all people.  For unto you is

born this day in the city of David a Saviour

which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:8-11

We peered into the church which has been built here, but the really

interesting thing for me were the caves found throughout the fields.

This model was set up to show how the shepherds would bring their

flocks in at night and put brush at the entrance of the cave, which 

would keep them in the cave and allow the shepherds to sleep.

The popular christmas card scenes of Christ being born in a stable and 

the sheep grazing on the fields at night were being shattered.  It makes 

nice artwork for our traditional Christmas decorations, but it just wasn't

that way.  

I was a little wary of climbing through the caves, but at Sherri's

insistence I followed along.  Thanks to Andy who came to our rescue 

with his flashlight. (I've been wondering how he just happened to have

a flashlight with him.  Must be an Eagle Scout- always prepared.)

I'm so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone...well to be honest it

was intense peer pressure, but hey, peer pressure isn't always a bad thing, right? 

Before the day was over we even had the chance to see a modern day

shepherd with his flock.  Yes, I saw a shepherd in Bethlehem.  How

cool is that?  This shepherd, as if on cue, just came walking down the

street behind our bus.   Don't you love the suit coat over his robes?

He sat down on a rock and let the sheep graze and then when he was

ready to go, he called them and they came.  I watched how unconcerned

he seemed that his sheep might wander off, or get hit by a car or a bus!

And here in Bethlehem, I couldn't help but think of the words of 

the Good Shepherd:

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.  My sheep hear my

voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

John 10:14, 27

*MYOF Goal #25 - Travel to Israel.