Christmas: "God's love revealed in Christ"

“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)

Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also known as the Feast of Peace. And it is truly so, for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is also the Prince of Peace. He was born in a Palestinian stable and laid in a simple manger. It is no wonder that the angels of God filled the skies of Bethlehem, singing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors.” (Luke 2:14)

St. John in his epistle comments further on this miraculous birth. He considers Christmas to be the Feast of Love: “God’s love is revealed among us” (1 John 4:9a) In chapter four of his epistle, John exhorts believers to live out the presence of God’s love in their lives. God’s revelation through the birth of the babe in Bethlehem is but a vivid sign that God’s true nature is love. This is the reason that he writes “God is love.”

St John challenges his readers when he writes “God is love.” It seems that his audience was amazed by such a new teaching. Many believed God to be aloof and distant. Some would have thought that the God revealed in the Hebrew scriptures was an angry God. When it has been taught that God is a judge, a ruler, a king, or merely a lawgiver, then the perception is that God is one to be feared. However, St. John challenges his people, and even us today, with the declaration that God’s true nature is love! But our proof of that is the Good News of Christmas: that God sent the Son into the world to save us, and to give us abundant life with dignity. “For God so loved the world that God gave the only Son, that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The reformer John Calvin writes about God’s love in this way: “For if it is asked why the world has been created, why we have been placed in it to possess the dominion of earth, why we are preserved in life to enjoy innumerable blessings, why we are endowed with light and understanding, no other reason can be adduced, except the gratuitous love of God. The birth of Christ is so illustrious and singular a proof of divine love towards us. Wherever we look upon Him, Jesus fully confirms us the truth that God is love.”

As I contemplate God’s love revealed in Christ I am also asking, “How does our world reflect that love? Do we as Christians reflect that love in our churches and in our societies? And what about Christmas: has it become just another cultural festival, or is the Prince of Peace truly being born in the manger of our hearts, our homes, our churches, and our communities?”

Certainly, Christmas is a time of joy and togetherness. But it is also a time that invites us sinners, in all our weakness, to experience God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ. It is a time when we once again receive the gift of life and life abundant, when God’s love is born again in our hearts.

His Holiness Pope Francis in his pastoral visitation to Cyprus and Greece earlier this month has again raised his concern for immigrants. He said that Europe is selfish in their treatment of refugees, especially in closing their borders. I would expand and say that many world powers are responsible for these refugees, because they put their own national self interest over justice. Prophet Isaiah warned us: “Justice is turned back, righteousness stands at a distance. For the truth stumbles in public squares and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking and whoever turns from evil is despoiled.” (Isaiah 59:14-15) As long as self interest prevails and justice is absent in this world, we do not see the full presence and power of the love of Christ.

It is no wonder that in the last year we have heard of war and rumors of war. Double standards are practiced in dealing with issues of justice, and love is overshadowed by greed and the desire for power over others. But truth and justice are the fruits of God’s love. Truth and justice will only flourish in this broken world when the love of God—which has already been born among us—is given room in our hearts and therefore in our societies and policies. For this reason, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Two years ago, when COVID-19 invaded our world, we were suddenly reminded of our common humanity. It created in us a new sense of sympathy and concern for the other. But then, as soon as scientists created a vaccine, it seems we forgot once again that we are all interconnected. When we notice that more than 60% of people in the North are vaccinated, while in the global South only 8% have received this life-saving vaccine, we understand how fragile that sense of common humanity really is. Once again, greed is overpowering love and mutual concern. Still, thanks to the COVAX initiative which is providing vaccines to the poorer countries, God’s love prevails. However, as Christians we must continue to witness to God’s love in the coming months and years—not only in issues related to COVID, but in every instance of injustice, inequity, or oppression.

His Holiness Pope Francis once said, “Indifference kills.” From my office in Jerusalem, attending many Zoom conferences with leaders from around the world, it is clear to me that the world is mostly indifferent to our struggle for peace based on justice in Palestine and Israel. Maybe they are weary because they see no change. Maybe they are more interested in their own internal problems, power struggles and egocentric national interests. And indeed, it does feel that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has reached a dead end. Violence and the measures of occupation are increasing. Suffering, pain, and frustration are seen in every corner of this land. Why is it so easy for the world to ignore our suffering?

For us, it is true that indifference kills. And yet, people of good conscience on both sides of the divide—even if their voices are not the loudest—are dying to see an end to international indifference so that we can at long last have a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

This Christmas, my dream is that my Palestinian people will end this unneeded division and we will find unity among ourselves. I hope and dream that the day is surely coming, sooner rather than later, when we will see the end of the Israeli occupation, and the two peoples can each live in their own states with peace, equity, justice, and reconciliation. I still believe that the love of God which is revealed to us at Christmas demands that we be concerned not only for our own security, but for the common well-being of our neighbors and indeed the whole world.

The reformer Martin Luther wrote, “Faith receives the good works of Christ, and love bestows the good work on our neighbor.” This means that as God’s love has brought peace to the world, so the love of God in Christ challenges all of us to live that love in the world. As the prophet Micah said, “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

May the Babe of Bethlehem, God’s love revealed, transform and empower us to be agents of love, peace, and justice this Christmas.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year full of love, truth, justice, and peace.

Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan Munib.younan@icloud.com