Letter of Fr. Ibrahim Faltas ofm

Letter of Fr. Ibrahim Faltas ofm

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03/22/2020

Letter of Fr. Ibrahim Faltas ofm


TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE VISIT OF ST. JOHN PAUL

“Do not fear anything”
2000 March 22nd - 2020 March 22nd
of Fr. Ibrahim Faltas

lmages of empty Nativity square reaching me in these days made me remember the same day of twenty years ago, March 22nd 2000,.Jubilee Year, when St. John Paul arrived in Bethlehem. It was a historic day still in the heart of people of Bethlehem because his visit instilled hope to population wound, from the first intifada.
We organized Mass in Manger place and l'll never forget his homily words: "... today we strongly declare to everybody and in every place, "Peace be with you! Do not fear anything".

These words come to my mind especially today, March 22nd 2020,because the old city is closed! Completely closed! You cannot enter through any door, neither through New door, nor through Damascus door, nor through Jaffa door, nor through St. Stefano's door, nor through the door of Maghrebim, which are all around
the city, in the ancient walls of Suleiman the Magnificent!
And silently the new pandemic of this millennium came to this world, Covid-19 or Coronavirus; an invasion,
worse than the memory of the seven Egypt plagues, told in the Exodus, a virus affecting the whole humanity,
without stopping, bringing entire nations to their knees, raising preventive barrfiers, but also unitlng everyone in one battle: saving as many lives as possible against an invisible enemy.

ln this special Lenten season, pope Francis invites us to reflect on life meaning, confident that oniy in Christ and with Christ we can find all answers to the mistery of suffering and death. We are not created for death but for life, life in abundance, that is eterrtal life.
I address my prayer to St. John Paul: "St. John Paul help us finding strength not to fear, not to be af,raid but to open Humanity door towards glorious Passover, because nowadays we have tor proclaim with strength: "Don't fear anything!".
 
Fr. Ibrahim Faltas ofm