Celebration of the solemnity of the saints Simeón and Cleofás in the Holy Land

On the occasion of the solemnity of the saints Simeón and Cleofás, known for being the two disciples of Emaus, the custodian of the Holy Land, Fray Francesco Iielpo, celebrated a solemn mass in the-Qubeibeh-the current name of the biblical people-in which he highlighted the presence of Jesus as a hopeful element in the midst of the bewill.

The Christian tradition has identified El-Qubeibeh as the place where Emaus was in the time of the Lord. Located about 11 kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, its name means “small dome”. There are the remains of a cross basilica and those of an old house recognized such as San Cleofás, where a Christian sanctuary is raised today.

It is in this house where the pilgrims remember the episode of the Gospel of St. Luke, which tells how Jesus appears to the two stinking disciples on the way to Emaus, explains how everything related to his passion and death in the Scriptures had to be fulfilled and finally recognized him by leaving the bread, probably in the house of San Cleofás.

“What impresses me with the evangelical passage of St. Lucas is that these two disciples have a sad face because their hope has been broken, somehow broken, for the death of the cross of Jesus,” said Fray ielpo, In a video store Posted by Custody of the Holy Land.

“And it is interesting that Jesus himself, in person and resurrected, put himself next to all men who have lost hope,” he added.

For custodian, this evangelical passage takes on special relevance in the context of war and violence that is lived in the Holy Land – specifically in Gaza – for many months.

“Here we just need Jesus, in person, to become a traveling companion of all desperate, that is, of all those who have lost hope, who see their legitimate expectations of justice, peace, of a good future, of a good future,” he said on September 29.

A group of religious of various congregations participated in the Mass with the only Christian family of the people, which is of Muslim majority. The marriage formed by Vittore and Alice explained to custody some of the challenges they face in the midst of their reality.

“Today the situation is difficult: before the faithful of Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Nablus and Jenin participated in the Mass or in other religious celebrations in this sanctuary, but today the control points have made everything much more complicated, both social and religious relations,” Vittore said.

“The oldest generation was more attentive to religion, love, peace. Today there are few who really fight for these values, not only in Palestine, but throughout the world,” he added.

Fray Ielpo said that the testimony of the saints Simeón and Cleofás “becomes a commitment to us”, in addition to a need: “to be accompanied by us by the risen Jesus to be able to accompany and be next to each man.”

Finally, he highlighted the work of the minor friars, not only in Emaus but in all Holy Land, pointing out that they are “called to become close to all men and women” to be “announcers of the risen Christ, sharing bread and the word, and giving expectancy and life”, in the image of San Simeón and San Cleofás.