|
Once again we are preparing to welcome the
Christmas feast and its joy in the midst of the very same trials that
continue to assail us year after year. Despite this, and in the midst of
these trials, at Christmas we seek to hear the angel announce to the
shepherds of Bethlehem and to us as well: “Do not be afraid. Listen, I
bring you news of great joy… a Savior has been born for you” (Lk 2:10-11).
In this world, leaders speak peace and make war. The word of the prophet
applies well to our times: “They have mislead my people by saying
“Peace,” when there is no peace” (Ez 13:10, Jr 6:14). In fact, we
continue to live under occupation. We continue to endure violence,
humiliation of the human person, fear and insecurity. When we pray and
meditate the mystery of Christmas, we say that this must all change. After
all, it is not for this that God created us in His image and likeness. It is
not for this that He gave us our liberty and our dignity. It is not for this
that He wanted us to live in this Holy Land. God wanted us here, in this
Holy Land, in order to be brothers and sisters to one another. He wanted us
here in order that we might be a source of peace and justice for each other
and in order that we might cooperate together in putting an end to all
oppression and all evil in our lives.
For this reason, the Christmas message is first of all a message of hope and
spiritual strength that opposes all material strength. It is a message of
hope and spiritual strength despite all the obstacles that rise up in the
way of peace. Truly, nobody, neither Israeli nor Palestinian, wants war and
bloodshed. Israelis are in search of their security and Palestinians are in
search of their land and liberty. In addition, the Holy Places, the arena of
our daily lives and of our bloody struggle, are not places of death and
hatred but rather holy places. They are places in which we put ourselves in
the presence of God, in order to meet God there as well as to meet the
children of God of whatever nationality or religion they might be. The holy
place is a place of prayer and not a place of war. God says to all who
contradict this: “My house shall be called a house of prayer and you make
it a den of robbers” (Mt 21:13).
However, in order to reach peace, one must believe that the other is capable
of wanting peace and of edifying with us. The rulers must begin by
professing this. The voices that are now being heard from among the people
and the diverse initiatives that call for peace and for an official change
of attitude show that the two peoples want peace and that peace is indeed
possible. The separation wall that is being erected is a measure that pushes
peace further away, delaying peace until this same wall comes falling down.
With its fall will also come crashing down hostility in the hearts and blood
will stop flowing. Let all then say with the Psalmist: “Deliver me from
bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation, and my tongue shall proclaim your
justice” (Ps 50:16).
“Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy… a Savior has
been born for you” (Lk 2:10-11). This is our message in the midst of
trial and fear. Christmas renews our faith in God and in His mystery in our
land. It renews our love for one another. Let us pray and rejoice. We ask
that God fill the town of Bethlehem and all the inhabitants of the Holy Land
with His joy. May His grace bring joy to the hearts of all families, giving
them new life and renewed patience in the love and the strength of the
Spirit.
Happy and Holy Christmas!
More
Christian Voices
|
