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During Advent, I read Kelley Nikondeha’s book, “The First Advent in Palestine”, and was struck by her reflection that the gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus were written decades after his death.
These accounts deliberately framed his birth with the imperial rule of Rome and the brutality that ordinary people faced in their daily lives. She argues that while many churches hold that the birth of Christ announced that peace had landed on earth, it signaled, instead, the beginning of the ongoing work of building peace.
The nativity narrative is about the downtrodden, the poor, and those the empire saw as insignificant, being prioritised in a new model of kingdom. The Incarnation brings hope that God’s justice will one day prevail. But that is ongoing work, because even after Jesus was born, political oppression and economic hardship continued. And continues today.
Join our (online) Supporter Gathering on Tuesday 24 February 10:30 –12 noon.
As we begin a new year, the challenge for us here in Scotland, and around the world, is to embody the active hope we have that there will be justice and peace for all people.
Across the world our partners are working with the poorest and most marginalised: those whose rights are trampled by the unbridled greed of others; those whose crops die as a result of climate catastrophe whilst fossil fuel lobbyists flock to influence COP talks; and those whose lives are shattered by conflicts that serve the interests of the most powerful. In each of these spaces our partners bring hope, dignity and support as people keep on working for justice.
At or supporter Gathering we will hear more about the work of our partner, Beacon of Hope, from Kenya. Kenya is one of the many
African nations that is currently servicing an unpayable debt, unable to renegotiate as private creditors will not come to the table. These debt payments mean that the country is unable to properly invest in health, education and infrastructure, leaving another generation to miss out on essential services, whilst the creditors make obscene profits.
Beacon of Hope works with people who find themselves in informal settlements, supporting urban gardening, climate-smart agri-business and challenging gender-based violence.
This work enables families to have reliable sources of food and income, meaning that they can try and break the cycle of poverty by sending their children to school. This project empowers women to be providers and decision makers, giving them the knowledge and resources they need to grow, harvest and sell their produce.
Every month (usually the 24th), we gather online at 7pm to pray for peace in the Middle East, hearing from one of our partners, or a church partner. Please join us when you can.
Advent was never just about seeing a star over Bethlehem, but about practicing hope in hard landscapes, where hope isn’t what we see – it's what we do.
