PILGRIMS CROWD BETHLEHEM ON CHRISTMAS EVE

CROWDS ATTENDED CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATIONS
AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHRISTIANITY IN BETHLEHEM

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - Thousands of Christians crowded into Bethlehem on an unseasonably warm Thursday evening, before celebrating Christmas midnight mass in the Church of the Nativity at the birthplace of Jesus. While much of North America and Europe shivers in the grip of winter, visitors to Bethlehem were buying chilled fruit juice in Manger Square and stripping off sweaters in the mild weather. Christmas Eve began with festive marches through Manger Square by Palestinian boy and girl scouts. The celebrations took place outside the ancient Church of the Nativity, where tradition says Jesus was born. Bethlehem is in the Palestinian-ruled West Bank, and religion mixed with nationalism. Manger Square was decked out with Christmas trees and lights and Palestinian flags. Religious observances began with the arrival of the Latin Patriarch, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land.

Priests and monks in white robes held a procession into the Church of the Nativity leaving a trail of fragrant incense. Palestinian police with assault rifles patrolled the streets but the atmosphere was calm. A lull in violence brought a big turnout of tourists; some 70,000 are expected to visit Bethlehem this week. At the same time, the Palestinians complain that Israel's separation wall at the entrance to Bethlehem casts a dark shadow over Christmas. Israel erected the wall to stop a wave of suicide bombers, but Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh says the town of Jesus' birth has become a prison. "We need bridges of love and understanding between the people, not walls of hatred," he said. Tourism in Bethlehem has picked up in the past few years, hotels expect a 60 to 70 percent rise in business this year. Still, many locals say development is hindered by elaborate security arrangements Israel has put in place to keep Palestinian attackers out, including an 8 meter (25 foot) high wall between Bethlehem and neighboring Jerusalem. Visitors and local people cannot escape the sight of the wall but they were not allowing it to dampen the Christmas spirit.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

To understand the goal and the path and yourself, you see Jesus. Jesus always knows his goal. He always says "I am son of God" What is this meaning? He never accept himself "I am God". Because if there are not two, how there will be love? He said that "I am son. He is my Father. I love my Father." People say: "You are God", but HE never said from his mouth "I am God". He said: "I am son, he is the Father". Because without two you cannot love! So you see very clear. He is a pure devotee of his Father. He is pure devotee of Krishna. Krishna and Kristos, you see - link: Kris Kris… Krishna and Kristos - Father and son. ... You never see Jesus showing five fingers, he always shows two fingers. What is two? This two - yourself, the soul - and my Father. Two things to understand.

Śrīpad Bhakti Vedanta Sadhu Mahārāja :
“The Path and the Goal”
Talks on ‘Chaitanya Charitamrita’
Sofia, July 2003 - http://www.sadhumaharaja.org