Change the Way

Desert photos by Vecteezy.com

““God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only son into the world so that we might live through Him.” ~ 1 John 4:9

This year we celebrate Christmas once again, with decorated trees, gifts, lights, and other traditions. I confess that all these are beautiful. However, in our celebrations we often forget the real story of Christmas. 

St. Matthew begins by introducing us to Jesus who is called Emmanuel, God with us. And then Matthew gives us the story of the Magi, the wise ones who came from the East to visit this little child. Matthew’s narrative weaves together tightly Jesus’ divine kingship and God’s redemptive plan for us all. As it is written, Jesus is both threatened and triumphant. 

The birth of Jesus which we are celebrating called worshippers from distant nations to come and adore Him. The three Wise Ones came from Persia, Babylon and the Arabian Peninsula to pay homage to the King of Kings. This visit of the Magi sets the theological agenda for the Gospel as a whole: Jesus is the true Messiah, the fulfilment of the prophecies, the one and only light for the world. 

Our brother Martin Luther expressed it this way: “My reading in Holy Scripture will not help me to become blessed unless I study Moses and Holy Scripture in this way, learning that He became man, suffered, died, was buried and rose again into Heaven so that I should have reconciliation with God, forgiveness of my sins, grace, righteousness, and eternal life.” 

And John says it thus:

 “God sent the only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” ~ 1 John 4:9 

The Wise Ones understood the importance of Jesus’ birth more than others. The Christmas Star led them first to Jerusalem, seeking the baby Jesus. This came to the attention of Herod, who was rightly disturbed to hear that a baby was born who would occupy his throne! For this reason, Herod invited the religious authorities to search the Scriptures for proof. They quickly answered him that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:1)  

For this reason Herod said: “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay homage to him.” (Matthew 2:8) In this way, Herod pretends the piety the Magi actually possess. Herod’s pietistic tone reminds me of some political leaders who use biblical texts for their own gains, recycling God’s Word for political and economic power. We specifically hear this during the latest war between Israel and Gaza, when Scripture has been weaponized by many (especially Christian Zionists) to continue to oppress our sisters and brothers. From Jerusalem, I want to remind the world that Jesus did not come as a politician. He did not come as royalty. He came as a baby, and as Good News to all the nations. 

God’s ways are very different from the ways of the politicians. After the Magi visited the baby Jesus and had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for this child, to destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13) Herod had plans, but our loving God (as usual) disrupts our human schemes.  

Matthew shows us two ways, the heavenly ways and the ways of the world. This Christmas we are to follow the path of God, not our own path. Today I ask you: which do we choose? 

Herod and his minions, even today, believe that through power and might we will achieve security, economic development, and peace. However, the message from the manger provides us another way—a path not fueled by might, nor by power, but by the spirit of our loving God.  

Our world is living in a troubling era of geopolitical divisions and disregard of international law. Conflicts are intensifying, multinational institutions are weakened, and the norms that once provided protection of human rights are routinely challenged and ignored. This leaves many communities increasingly vulnerable to discrimination and abuse.  

Some brave theologians are calling us to listen and choose a new way. We are hearing voices challenging Christian Zionism. We are hearing voices bringing us back to the true meaning of the incarnation. More and more we are hearing the voices of the oppressed and occupied. Thanks be to God for those who are speaking up and speaking out. They are speaking the real meaning of Christmas, which is that God is incarnate with us, born among us. This truth retains holiness for every human being.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem—and, also, He was neither born nor crucified for any particular ethnicity or culture. He was born, in Palestine, for the entire world.  

God’s love, through Jesus of Bethlehem, is poured out for us all. As it is written through the prophet Amos, “Let justice roll down like the waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)  

Recently Pope Leo XIV encouraged the Christians in Turkey by saying, “Littleness is not weakness but strength.” And in the same spirit, the Jerusalem Voice for Justice has encouraged Palestinian Christians in this way: “To our people and our pastors: To stay is to bear witness. To stay in this land is not merely a political, social or practical decision. It is a spiritual act. We stay neither because it is easy nor because it is a fatality.

We stay because we have been called. We stay because our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem, walked the hills of Galilee, wept over Jerusalem and suffered an unjust death because He was faithful to His mission. He did not flee suffering but entered into it, bringing life out of death. And so we remain, not to romanticize suffering, but to witness to the Lord’s presence and power in our wounded Holy Land.” 

To remain is to be the Church. To remain is to choose, with the Magi, the path to the manger over any other path. Together we constitute the Living and Incarnate Church in the land of the Incarnation. Our mission is to be the salt in the very place where Christ brought us those words! Salt preserves and heals. Salt preserves us against discrimination, occupation, genocide, and ongoing war. Even if we are reduced to a handful of people, we will be salt for the entire world, through Christ our Lord. Even a few of us can and will minister to the suffering, advocate for the oppressed, speak truth to power, and live lives deeply rooted in the Gospel. 

Oswald Chamber wrote, “As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.”  In this way, we receive the surprising gift and responsibility of Christmas. We are invited once again to change our path, to follow the star, to journey to the manger where the baby Jesus is laid. Let us choose the path of peace, equality, justice and reconciliation, for our land and for the world.  

May Jesus of Bethlehem, Palestine, open our minds and hearts to this new path.  

From Jerusalem:

Merry Christmas 2025 

And a peaceful New Year 2026 

Be with you all. 

Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan