Christmas Message 2018

“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in the darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. Amen

Some have asked me: what is the general atmosphere in Bethlehem as you celebrate Christmas this year? Will you continue to proclaim the peace of the nativity? My answer is: Even if peace is not on the political horizon, we will never stop proclaiming the Peace that was born in Bethlehem. Peace is not a commodity that we trade. Peace is not the work of the powerful. Peace is the gift of God to humanity. This is the reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem, into our human circumstances, in order to bring His peace to our human lives. If the Prince of Peace chose to be born in a manger in Palestine, I am confident that the Babe of the manger wants to incarnate this peace in the land of the incarnation today. Peace is still possible in our country. Peace is always possible, as long as we have a living God.

I have chosen the song of Zechariah, called “Te Deum”, as the theme of this Christmas message. The priest Zechariah sang it when God gave them a child in their older age. What seemed impossible to them was possible to God.

Elizabeth and Zechariah called their child John, and he was known as the Baptist. He is the forerunner who prepared the way for the Prince of Peace. Although it must have been a shock to become parents at an advanced age,

Zechariah sang: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us”. Zechariah and Elizabeth understood that nothing is impossible to God. Today, it may seem at times that God has forgotten us or does not pay enough attention to us. However, the story of John the Baptist’s birth is a reminder that God can make the impossible possible, and that God works in history in God’s own way. Truly, the dawn from on high has broken upon us.

“The dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in the

darkness and in the shadow of death.” It is true that today, there are many

who continue to live in darkness. Those who promote hatred, violence, and anger are still living in darkness. Those who create fear and phobia against the other who is different are living in the shadow of the death. Those who deny the Other basic human rights or self-determination are living in the darkness. Those who promote hatred against other religions—be it anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Christianophobia, or any kind of xenophobia are still living in the darkness. Those who want to rule our societies with populist ideology and do not find a space for refugees, immigrants, and/or the displaced continue to live in the shadow of death. This is the reason Zechariah reminds us that by the tender mercy of our God, the dawn has disrupted the darkness of night.

The Light of the world was born in Bethlehem, bringing a new day to our societies and churches. St. John says “the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming to the world (John 1:9). We must remember that it was not only Jesus’ birth that brought light into the world—it was also his teachings, and especially his crucifixion and resurrection. From the cradle to the cross, Jesus came among us to save us from the darkness of sin and death. He is truly the light of the world, and whoever follows him “will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). May His light shine in every dark corner of this world.

Zechariah continues his song of praise by saying that the light will guide our feet into the way of peace. Pundits, preachers and politicians love to talk about peace at Christmastime. Since it is the same every year, one wonders: What do they mean by peace? Some think peace means keeping the prevailing political status quo, for it makes the powerful more powerful. Some think peace means maintaining a military balance among the states. These strategies may deter war, but they will not bring peace. We see that many countries in the Middle East are thirsty for weapons—but they forget that weapons create animosity, hatred, and fear, but never peace.

Some even think building more settlements in the West Bank will bring peace. But of course, this just narrows the margin for peace, and extends the occupation. Furthermore, an outside imposed solution is not peace. Coerced tolerance is not peace. Solutions handed down from above will never result in peace at the grassroots level. As has been said by many: “Real peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.”

The path of peace Zechariah sings of is a path that includes justice. The

Psalmist sings in Psalm 85:10 “righteousness (justice) and peace will kiss each other”. The peace of God which was born in Bethlehem liberates the oppressor

and oppressed, the strong and the weak, the occupied and occupier. It is a peace based on justice. This is the reason Jesus in His sermon in the synagogue of Nazareth said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18). So we must ask ourselves: Are we allowing the Babe of the manger to guide our feet in the path of peace in the Land of Nativity and in Jerusalem? And what about our leaders: Are they seeking the path of peace based on justice?

This is our challenge at Christmas: We are asked to not to lose faith either in peace or in justice. During this season, Christians and all people of good conscience are challenged to walk the path of peace based on justice— especially here, in the land of the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. We must pray for God to strengthen us, that we may continue to be peacemakers, brokers of justice, and ministers of reconciliation. Prayer is a mighty power which no one can occupy or take away, and which always disturbs the oppressor. We must pray, for it is the will of God that every nation and human being enjoy dignity and justice.

Let us pray together, asking the Babe of the manger to guide our feet into the path of peace and justice—and then let us take up the challenge of being an answer to that prayer.

I wish you

A Merry Christmas And A

Blessed New Year 2019,

Wa Kol am wantum Bikhair. God bless you all.