We are again witnessing chaos in the Middle East: with tension between Israel and Arab countries at a fever pitch; it is only but an invitation to catastrophe–a scenario I am not interested in for fear of damage in both urban areas and human lives and deterioration in mutual trust, dialogue, and self-involvement in vicious circles.

As I watch the news unfold, my mind cannot help but think about the complexity of the situation. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria left a vacuum, and Israel was quick to take advantage of it. They are concerned that weapons and military capabilities will fall into the hands of rebels who will use these against them. And who can blame them? The last thing they need is another enemy on their doorstep.

But let us not forget that this is also an opportunity for peace. This could be that chance, when the Assad regime is removed, to bring in a new government that will work with Israel and the other Arab countries toward a far more stable region. And yet, instead of seeing a solution, every single day is escalation, with each side digging deep into its trench and refusing to budge one inch.

I have always been interested in this idea of “enemies” in the Middle East. We hear about it in the news all the time, but what does it really mean? Is it just a name, something to explain our actions and clear us from guilt? Or is it deeper, some basic constituent of human nature that makes us divide into “us” and “them”?

I think it is the latter: we’re wired to perceive threats–real or imaginary–and to respond correspondingly. It’s a fundamental urge programmed into our brains. Yet, as humans, so are empathy and understanding. We can perceive beyond our interests and try to look for common ground.

Unfortunately, that is just not what we are seeing nowadays. What we see is a picture of both camps dug in, refusing to listen and even recognize each other’s humanity. It is as if they speak a different language, with words and concepts completely foreign to others.

And yet, amidst all this tension and hostility, there is still hope. A young Israeli and Palestinian boy, fast friends despite their differences; a group of activists from different backgrounds coming together to demand peace and justice. These are the small sparks that can ignite a greater movement for change.

What do we do? We could begin to listen more profoundly to one another, trying to understand the perspective and experiences of another person. We can begin to realize our biases and prejudices and work our way over them. Most importantly, we can begin by insisting on more from our leaders than the call for greater diplomacy, compromise, and courage in standing up against adversity. But then a more peaceful Middle East might just be realized.

As we enter the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we are reminded of how the people to whom John the Baptist preached, started asking what they should do to be worthy of being baptized. (cfr. Lk 3,10-18)

That’s when John the Baptist told them that while he would baptize them by water, there was someone else, referring to Christ, who would baptize them in the Holy Spirit and with fire. John the Baptist would refer to Christ as the Lamb of God who will be sacrificed for our sake.

We have to understand that the ideal condition for us to have is first to know and love Christ, because only then may we know and love ourselves and others properly. Thus, St. Augustine once said: “Noverim te, noverim me,” Latin for “May I know God, may I know myself.” It is when we know and love God, revealed fully in Christ, that we can know who we really are and ought to be.

God is our Creator and Father, and Christ is the Son of God in the Trinity of God who is the very image and likeness God has of himself. Since we have been created in God’s image and likeness, we can say that we are actually patterned after the Son who became man to offer us “the way, the truth and the life” we need to achieve our true dignity and ultimate identity.

How Christ is should also be how each one of us ought to be. This may be an incredible truth of faith before which we may feel awkward, but as long as we would just be guided by our faith, we know that that truth of faith can truly be applied to us.
Let’s just be like Mary, the Mother of Christ and our Mother, who simply said “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word,” when she was told that incredible piece of news that she was going to be the Mother of the Son of God.

With faith, we can do and achieve the impossible, because it would be God who will make impossible things possible. As mentioned in the Letter to the Hebrews, it was because of faith that those Old Testament characters like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah were able to do great, if not impossible things. (Heb 11)

And let’s remember that the ideal condition we ought to pursue in our relation with Christ is to gain intimacy with him. We have to do everything to have intimacy with Christ all the time.

It’s when we are intimate with Christ that we can really see ourselves and Christ as we truly are, in our rawest and unvarnished selves. Intimacy is where the most fundamental expressions of our humanity are made, where we become aware of our personhood, meant to enter in loving relation with Christ. It’s where we can truly feel we need Christ, and that he is everything to us!

Yes, intimacy is where we can achieve to the highest degree possible our unity and identification with Christ while here on earth. It’s where we can share what he has in the best way—his wisdom, goodness, compassion, patience, etc. etc.

We need to train all our human faculties—our reason, will, emotions, passions, appetites, memory, imagination, etc.—to get intimate with Christ. This, of course, will be lifelong process. But let’s see to it that everyday we are gaining ground in that direction. This should be the constant goal of our daily life.