Whether it ranks as a miracle is for others to decide but this year after a two-year hiatius it’s away to the manger… Bethlehem is back.
Which is good news for the Little Town (population 32,000) which depends for 85% of its economy on tourism.
And unemployment is three in five, up from one in ten.
And which this year is restating their tree-lighting ceremony.
When a 50ft Christmas tree dominates Manger Square.
And vies in height with the basilica built over the grotto where Jesus was born.
And what of inns, we hear you ask.
Under the tree
Well, in a usual year, we’re told that you’d have to book inns well in advance to avoid getting stuck with a stable.
While, of course, the local economy depends on the throngs of pilgrims snapping up religigous souvenirs.
And guides to tell us presumably where the shepherds watched their flocks at night and taxi drivers to take us there.
This year hotel bookings are up from virtually zero to 7,000 on December 8, the day of the tree-lighting ceremony.
Now the place to mark the First Christmas we’re told is the Church of St Catherine.
Midnight Mass with the Cardinal
Where none other than the late Pope Francis’s old friend, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, touted as his successor, holds Midnight Mass tonight, Christmas Eve,
For the record the British Foreign Commonwealth and Developments Office advises.
Against all but essential travel to Bethlehem.
While the Irish government too urges that only essential travel should be taken.
All our Christmases ahead
So where does that leave us?
Well, probably praying that things return to normal next year, firstly for everyone in the West Bank.
But also so that we can fulfil our life’s pilgrimage.
And add Israel to the missions we’ve taken to Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, Santiago de Compostella and to the banks of the River Jordan where Jesus was baptised.
And a Happy Birthday to Bethlehem’s most famous native.
