Two stories this morning cause my heart to grieve.

1. Israel told Palestinians in Gaza to move to “safe zones” when they began their invasion. They then bombed those safe zone.
2. The death toll for Palestinians is now over 20,000. That has surpassed the death toll of 15,000 Palestinians in 1947, when Israel first occupied territory to set up modern day Israel.

I have no care at all over support for Palestinians or support for Israel. The slaughter is too great. I don’t “hate Israel.” I don’t hate Palestinians. I hate war. I hate this slaughter. It is a time of lament and longing in the darkest time of our year.

O come, Emmanuel.