24.12.2023

A Word for the Week: … Mary pondered these things …

Between Advent and Christmas Archbishop Michael Jackson will be offering A Word for the Week derived from The Christmas Gospel as found in St Luke chapter 2. It brings us to the heart of the Christmas Story. That story reminds us of the vulnerability of all children and others, irrespective of Faith affiliation, in Gaza and of how Al Ahli Hospital is hampered in its response to their needs and urgently requires our generous support to enable it to get up and running again.

For The Fourth Sunday in Advent:

The word ponder is a very deliberate word to use and to hear. It speaks of seriousness of intent and longing to understand. In the case of Mary, whose motherhood we celebrate this evening as The Fourth Sunday in Advent becomes Christmas Eve, her pondering was about her child. It was also about how the ways of heaven and the ways of earth connect in painful ways. Glory and suffering are siblings in the Christian definition of hope.

As we embrace the spirit of Christmas, at home or in church, or in both places if we are fortunate enough, we cannot but ponder the rubble of Gaza and the devastation experienced by Al Ahli. Nor can we let go of the reality and the realization that Christ came to be the light of the world first of all in the land that is called The Holy Land. Like Mary let us … ponder … life itself as a place of suffering and glory.

 

 

 

The Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough is seeking to raise €250,000 for The Diocese of Jerusalem. Our efforts centre on The Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. This is now one of the most distressed and dismembered parts of the world. The hospital is under the care of The Diocese of Jerusalem. In the past Dublin and Glendalough has provided on–call facilities and solar panels in the hospital. These greatly enhanced its operational capacity. The needs today are greater than ever and require urgent response. You can uphold the people of our partner Diocese in the gift of prayer. You can also donate a gift of money by any of the following means: 

Donations to the appeal can be made to: Diocesan Funds of Dublin and Glendalough No 1 A/C Current Account, Bank of Ireland, 2 COLLEGE GREEN DUBLIN 2 IBAN: IE50 BOFI 9000 1769 3548 78, BIC: BOFIIE2D. Cheques may be sent to Diocesan Offices of Dublin and Glendalough, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06 CF67. All funds will go directly to our partner Diocese of Jerusalem.