Advent – Christmas Eve: An Advent Journey of Courage
December 24, 2024
Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
Isaiah 9:2 NSRV
A Beacon of Hope and Resilience
Nisreen Khalilieh
“We lost our homes, our lands, our jobs, all our possessions—everything is compromised—but not our belief in salvation. We will not lose our faith.” These were the words of Gaza’s diminishing Christian community. Until October 6, 2023, around 800 Palestinian Christians lived in Gaza. Now, most have been displaced since the war began. Families, nuns, and clergy have sought refuge in tents and makeshift huts on church grounds.
The displaced, almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip, endure an incredibly difficult and dire situation, lacking even the most basic necessities for survival. The sweltering heat of a long, punishing summer has passed, but now winter is approaching. Children, the elderly, and families still recall the relentless cold of the last winter and brace for what is to come.
With each passing day, the death toll rises after relentless attacks on schools, hospitals, and homes, yet the world remains largely silent. Instead of outrage, there is only more bloodshed, death, and destruction. The catalog of Israeli crimes continues to mount, and the patience of Palestinians wears even more thin with a world that seems to have grown numb to their suffering. Neither images, names of the victims, survivor testimonies, nor indisputable facts seem able to move the world to recognize the atrocities and massacres being committed. The occupation, showing no regard for laws, values, or ethics, has made killing and evading accountability its hallmark—one that the world seems to accept passively.
Yet despite all the suffering, despair, and anguish, courage endures, and hope still prevails. In the midst of scarcity and overwhelming hardship, there is resilience. Every helping hand, every smile, and every word of comfort extended to the Christian community—and to anyone in need—ignites faith and sustains hope. Even in the darkest times, the standing light of courage and compassion shines through, bringing comfort and strength to those who need it most.
In that sense, the AFAQ Project (Afaq being the Arabic word for horizons or prospects) stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, particularly resonant with the spirit of Advent—a time of preparation, anticipation, and renewal in Christian faith. Like the Advent season, which encourages reflection and waiting for the coming of light in the darkness, the project brought a much-needed sense of purpose, restoration, and hope to the challenged Christian communities of the West Bank.
Faced with profound economic and social difficulties, exacerbated by ongoing political tensions and the war on Gaza, the Christian community in the West Bank was burdened by uncertainty and despair. Yet, through the AFAQ Project, this community was reminded of the Advent message: that even in times of hardship, light and hope can break through, transforming lives and opening doors to new possibilities.
From September 2021 to August 2023, AFAQ initiated a series of interventions that reflected the core Christian values of compassion, stewardship, and empowerment. The project sought to strengthen the community’s resilience against poverty and unemployment by offering job readiness training for young graduates, providing them with the tools to navigate the job market. Just as Christ’s coming offers new life and hope, this training restored confidence in these young people, helping them believe in their potential despite the daunting circumstances.
Recognizing the importance of education and guidance, AFAQ trained school social workers in career counseling, empowering them to guide their students toward meaningful futures. In this way, the project nurtured the seeds of hope in the next generation, aligning with the Christian call to foster growth and possibility in others.
AFAQ’s critical mission supports those who already strive to overcome adversity. Through grants to small businesses and start-ups, the project injected life into local enterprises, enabling them to not only survive, but thrive. This act of stewardship mirrored the biblical teaching of multiplying what we are given, as the grants allow businesses to grow and create more opportunities for others.
Further reflecting the Advent values of generosity and mercy, AFAQ provides vocational scholarships to youth and women, empowering them with practical skills and experience. In a region where opportunities can be scarce, these scholarships were more than just financial aid—they were a lifeline, opening doors to a brighter future.
As the latest war on Gaza deepens the suffering of the Christian community, AFAQ’s Emergency Grant became a symbol of Christ’s mercy. Like the Advent of hope in a dark world, the project intervened to safeguard jobs, offer internships, and create new employment opportunities for those who had lost everything. Through this compassionate response, the project embodied the Christian call to love our neighbors, ensuring no one was left behind in their time of need.
Throughout all these efforts, AFAQ did more than just provide practical solutions—it restored the dignity and faith of those it served. The project’s beneficiaries, whether they were young graduates, small business owners, or unemployed workers, felt the support of a community that cared for them, reflecting the Advent spirit of awaiting a Savior who brings hope and healing to all. This moral and emotional support was as essential as the financial and professional aid, as it reminded these individuals that they were not forgotten, that their struggles were seen, and that they were valued.
AFAQ roots its success in its partnership between the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Bethlehem University. This collaboration reflects the body of Christ at work—each part contributing to the welfare of the whole. The coordination with parish priests ensures that the project reaches those in greatest need, embodying the Christian virtues of charity, justice, and service. The overwhelming response to AFAQ’s offerings remains a testament to how well the project aligns with the community’s needs and the Advent call to prepare the way for new life.
In the spirit of Advent, the AFAQ Project lights the flame of hope in a community battered by hardship, reminding us that even in the darkest times, Christ’s light shines bright. Through empowerment, compassion, and practical support, AFAQ embodies the Christian message of faith, hope, and love, restoring the belief that, with God’s grace, a better future is always possible.
Nisreen Mansour is a seasoned expert in project management with over a decade of experience leading impactful initiatives at Bethlehem University’s Institute for Community Engagement and Partnership. Dedicated to fostering empowerment and resilience, she has focused her career on advancing the roles of women and youth, promoting business innovation, and strengthening economic sustainability. Since September 2021, Nisreen has managed the AFAQ Project: Christian Youth and Women Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, and Employment in Palestine, showcasing her commitment to creating meaningful opportunities and driving positive change within the Palestinian community.
Response by Elom Tettey-Tamaklo
In moments like this, when despair looms large, and darkness clouds our hearts, when grief for our broken world and sorrow over injustice consumes us, we look to the light of hope that does not fail—Christ the Redeemer.
We, who are simultaneously afflicted by injustice and also bear witness to it, identify with Christ, the suffering servant, who, as Paul tells us, is a high priest “who is [not] unable to empathize with our weaknesses.¹” He does not stand outside our suffering, nor is He unfamiliar with it, rather, He suffers with us. Christ is the orphaned WCNSF (wounded child, no surviving family) child in Gaza, the overwhelmed gravedigger, the father who carries the remains of his child in a plastic bag, and the woman killed while harvesting her olives. Christ is all these people.
Christ exists also as the light of justice that breaks forth over a people living in darkness, as Isaiah prophesies². Christ refuses to turn away from injustice and condone apathy, instead Christ’s love manifests in those who lay themselves down for their neighbor. They for whom no sacrifice is too costly and no way too far. Christ’s justice is seen in those who will not “simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, [but rather] drive a spoke into the wheel itself . The Spirit of Christ is present when we are concerned for and advocate for the least of our brethren¹*.
Prayer: O Lord, chief sufferer, and great redeemer. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, have mercy on us. Forgive the ways we have not always responded to your call for justice for all peoples and instead turned inward. Grant us the courage to speak the truth in love and to fight against oppression. Be with our Palestinian siblings who suffer. Those who face hunger, sickness, cold, and death. Those whose faith in you and in humanity is wavering. Those whose strength is fading. Give to them resilience, steadfastness, and victory against wickedness. Prince of Peace and author of justice, bring just peace to the earth, now and forevermore.
Amen.
¹ Hebrews 4:15
² Isaiah 9:2
³ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
¹* Matthew 25:40
Elom Tettey-Tamaklo is convinced that the sorrow in our hearts indicates the potential for a better world. Currently, in his final year at Harvard Divinity School, Elom’s work lies at the intersection of religious practices and foreign policy, specifically in Israel-Palestine. His work in various educational, legal, and development organizations in Palestine and Jordan has exposed him to the painful reality of occupation. He believes that there can be no just peace without the recognition of the inherent and unquestionable worth of all human beings