On July 15, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land celebrated the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. This is a central feast for Christianity, commemorating the consecration of the altar of the Basilica in 1149 by the Crusaders, but it also carries a strongly current significance today.
During the homily, delivered by br. Ibrahim Faltas, Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, both the spiritual and social dimensions of the celebration emerged strongly. “Today we celebrate a feast that is much more than a historical commemoration,” said br. Faltas. “It is a living, current celebration that speaks to us today, here, in the heart of our Holy Land.”
The Holy Sepulchre, he reminded, is not only a place of memory. It is the symbol of Christ’s resurrection and, with it, of the hope that arises even in the most difficult contexts. “This tomb is empty today. And that empty tomb cries out to the world: Christ is risen!” he said during his homily.
The present context
The homily did not ignore the complex context in which the celebration took place. In recent weeks, due to the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Holy Sepulchre had been closed. “But today we are here,” emphasized br. Faltas, “and it is as if the Sepulchre itself is saying to us: I am still here. My light has not gone out. Hope has not ended.”
There was also a reference to the civilian population affected by the war. “We cannot say Christ is risen and then turn our gaze away,” he remarked. The reflection focused on the “run” of the population in Gaza, the West Bank, and the areas affected by the conflict: “They run to save their children, to find bread, water, medical care, searching for a safe shelter.”
Read more: https://www.custodia.org/en/news/dedication-of-the-basilica-of-the-holy-sepulcher-hope-is-not-over/
By Francesco Guaraldi | custodia.org
