Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., December 29, 2007 Tevet 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:53 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine
del.icio.us
Digg It!  new
Last update - 12:28 25/12/2007
Let there be peace
By Michel Sabbah
Tags: Christmas, Jerusalem

Brothers and Sisters,

I wish you all a Blessed Christmas.

"The grace and love of God have appeared to us" (Titus 3, 4).
Advertisement
We joyfully celebrate Christmas, hoping to see better days in our Holy Land, by the grace of God, by our own contribution to bring peace to this land and by sharing in all the sacrifices that it requires. For this reason, at Christmas, we renew our faith in the One in whom we have believed, the Word of God made man, Jesus born in Bethlehem, the Prince of Peace, and the Savior of humankind. He became man in order to bring us back to God our Creator and to let us know that we are not alone, that we are not abandoned to ourselves as we face the numerous challenges of this Holy Land.

Because God is with us, we remain hopeful in the midst of all the daily difficulties we experience as a result of the occupation and of the insecurity and deprivations that arise from it. God is with us, reminding us that the commandment of love, which was given to us by Jesus, born in Bethlehem, still remains valid for the difficult times in which we are living today: our love for one another and for every man and woman. This love consists in seeing the image of God in every human being, of every religion and nationality.

It is a love that knows how to forgive and, at the same time, to demand all our rights, especially those given by God to each person and to the entire community, such as the gift of life, of dignity, of freedom, and of the land. A love that requires from every one to care for one another. A love that is dedication and sharing with all who suffer from deprivation and poverty so that the same life, which God has given to all of us, may be lived to the fullest, namely, the "abundant life" that Jesus came to give us.

Again this year, we celebrate Christmas still searching for a peace that seems impossible. Nevertheless, we believe that peace is possible. Palestinians and Israelis are capable of living together in peace, each in their own territory, each enjoying their security, their dignity, and their rights. But to attain that peace, it is necessary to believe that Israelis and Palestinians are equal in all things, that they have the same rights and the same duties, and that both parties must adopt the ways of God, which are not the ways of violence, whether they be carried out by the state or by extremists.

The entire region, because of the conflict in the Holy Land, is in turmoil. In Lebanon, in Iraq, as well as here, the forces of evil seem to have been unleashed and to have decided to pursue their course along paths leading to death, exclusion, and domination. Despite all of this, we believe that God has not abandoned us to all these forces of evil. The situation beckons every man and woman of good will to enter into the ways of God in order to establish the reign of good among peoples as well as a sense of and a respect for every human being.

We believe that God is good. He is our Creator and Savior, and he has placed his goodness in the heart of every human being. Therefore, everyone is capable of working for good and peace on the earth.

A new peace effort was begun these last few weeks. In order for it to succeed, there must be a firm willingness to make peace. Until now, there has been no peace, simply because there has been no willingness to make it: "Peace, peace! they say, though there is no peace" (Jer 6, 14).

The strong party, the one with everything in hand, the one who is imposing occupation on the other, has the obligation to see what is just for everyone and to carry it out courageously. "O God, with your judgment endow the king," with your justice endow our governments so that they can govern your people with justice (Ps 72).

In recent times, there has been some talk about creating "religious" states in this land. But in this land, which is holy for three religions and for two peoples, religious states cannot be established because they would exclude or place in an inferior position the believers of the other religions. A state that would exclude or discriminate against the other religions is not suitable for this land made holy by God for all of humanity.

Political and religious leaders must begin by understanding the universal vocation of this land in which God has brought us together throughout history. They must know that the holiness of this land does not consist in the exclusion of one or the other of the religions, but in the ability of each religion, with all of their differences, to welcome, respect, and love all who inhabit this land.

The holiness and the universal vocation of this land also includes the duty to welcome pilgrims from around the world, those who come for a short visit, and those who come to reside, to pray, to study, or to perform the religious ministry to which the faithful of all religions have a right. For many years, we have been suffering from a problem that has never been solved, that of entry visas into the country for priests and for religious men and women who, in this land, because of their faith, have duties to perform as well as rights.

Every state in this land is not a state like all others because it has special duties stemming from the holiness of the land and from its universal vocation. A state in this land must understand that it must respect and promote the universal vocation of the land with which it has been entrusted and, accordingly, must be open to welcoming all believers of other religions.

I pray to God that the grace of Christmas, the grace of the God who is present with us, will enlighten all the leaders of this land. For all our faithful, in all parts of our diocese, may the grace of Christmas renew their faith and help them to live it more fully and to better carry out all their duties in their respective societies.

May you all have a Joyful and Holy Christmas.

The writer is Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch.
Bookmark to del.icio.us
Who shot Bhutto?
Conspiracy theories over the assassination of the Pakistani opposition leader abound.
Obama and Israel
Israelis following the U.S. elections are not clear on Obama's approach.
  1.   AWHEN DID OCCUPATION BECOME A SIN? 10:46  |  FOX 25/12/07
  2.   Father Sabbah 10:47  |  Yosemite 25/12/07
  3.   Get Thee to Bethlehem, Priest 11:03  |  Klaudia 25/12/07
  4.   The Palestinian Authority`s Basic Law that declares Islam 11:19  |  PETER SM 25/12/07
  5.   Latin Patriarch 11:42  |  Menachem 25/12/07
  6.   Let there be peace 11:53  |  Andres Lacko 25/12/07
  7.   klaudia 3 11:59  |  realism 25/12/07
  8.   AMEN, VIRGY, BABY? 12:02  |  indrajaya 25/12/07
  9.   #4 Peter SM 12:16  |  Labhras 25/12/07
  10.   #3 Klaudia has it right 12:26  |  Labhras 25/12/07
  11.   Preaching Peace 12:45  |  Ralph Houk 25/12/07
  12.   The Patriarch 12:56  |  Nephtaly 25/12/07
  13.   And a happy Saturnalia to you, too 13:28  |  Josh 25/12/07
  14.   Mr Sabah, may God forgive your hate, (when you should pray love). 13:30  |  Alain 25/12/07
  15.   LABRAHAS.Why not try answering the question posited 13:30  |  PETER SM 25/12/07
  16.   How do you make Peace...... 13:34  |  Dagma 25/12/07
  17.   Translation 13:43  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 25/12/07
  18.   A fine speech and a diplomatic one,since the Patriarch cannot 13:44  |  lakshmi 25/12/07
  19.   What a surprise - no condemnation of arab terrorism 13:48  |  Binyamin Dissen 25/12/07
  20.   The true meaning?! 13:51  |  Buzaglow 25/12/07
  21.   Father Sabbah.... 13:52  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 25/12/07
  22.   LABRAHAS posting on Xmas day. Nothing better to do? 13:55  |  PETER SM 25/12/07
  23.   ISRAEL--A JEWISH STATE 13:59  |  US Citizen 25/12/07
  24.   Labhras... a special request if you are here... 14:04  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 25/12/07
  25.   #15 Peter SM 14:05  |  Labhras 25/12/07
  26.   #22 Peter Sm 14:10  |  Labhras 25/12/07
  27.   Klaudia # 3 - Truth is like music to the ears.... 14:11  |  Dianna 25/12/07
  28.   # 21, TESS (TERESA-MARIA) 14:17  |  indrajaya 25/12/07
  29.   Teresa Maria (Tess) 14:21  |  Labhras 25/12/07
  30.   Jesus was an Arab 14:27  |  David James Vickery 25/12/07
  31.   Labhras 14:31  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 25/12/07
  32.   # 30, DAVID JAMES VICKERY 14:41  |  indrajaya 25/12/07
  33.   This meddlesome priest thinks the Pals are stupid children 14:46  |  Israeli 25/12/07
  34.   Another catholic attack on Israel 14:47  |  Petra 25/12/07
  35.   How Stupid 14:47  |  Straight Talk 25/12/07
  36.   Better Yet, Priest... Get Thee to Gaza 14:49  |  Klaudia 25/12/07
  37.   #30, Vickery, 14:51  |  Buzaglow 25/12/07
  38.   David James Vickery: Don`t Judge A Book By It`s Cover 14:59  |  Yosemite 25/12/07
  39.   Jews are told not to call any man father. 14:59  |  Petra 25/12/07
  40.   Indrajaya 15:04  |  Yosemite 25/12/07
  41.   hes right 15:05  |  ravi 25/12/07
  42.   # 12 Nephtaly lol 15:09  |  Petra 25/12/07
  43.   #31 nik banned miller 15:09  |  Labhras 25/12/07
  44.   # 37 Jews come in ALL colors. 15:18  |  Petra 25/12/07
  45.   Every Living Thing Is An Occupier 15:21  |  Yosemite 25/12/07
  46.   Petition to Rome 15:24  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 25/12/07
  47.   #30 vickery in crisis ! he has had a brainstorm 15:27  |  victor hardman 25/12/07
  48.   Anti-Semitism alive and kicking 15:38  |  Raoul 25/12/07
  49.   Klaudia # 36 16:08  |  Janet 25/12/07
  50.   Was this a "sermon" or political speech?Through Christ we are one 16:14  |  Virginia 25/12/07
  51.   The Holy One gave the Holy Land to His Holy nation 16:17  |  James Meeker 25/12/07
  52.   NOT a call for peace 16:20  |  scallywag 25/12/07
  53.   # 1 Fox. The Occupation is a sin and a crime. 16:34  |  Nick Ferriman 25/12/07
  54.   occupation of the mind 16:36  |  shmuel 25/12/07
  55.   If we truely want to get it right... 16:52  |  Virginia 25/12/07
  56.   It is precisely this lack of recognition in the state of Israel 16:54  |  Avihu 25/12/07
  57.   Jesus is a word meaning `saviour` 16:59  |  savanorola 25/12/07
  58.   To David James Vickery # 30 - Jesus was no Arab 17:12  |  Dagma 25/12/07
  59.   A message of peace we won`t hear from a senior Muslim or Jewish 17:20  |  Rami 25/12/07
  60.   David Vickery on egg nog #30 17:26  |  FOX 25/12/07
  61.   Sabbah`s Homily - Missing the Point 17:38  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/12/07
  62.   BEST Christmas Gift 4 Christians/Merry Christmas To PALESTINIANS! 17:44  |  Proud Pal Defender 25/12/07
  63.   Islam is the law because 17:55  |  ELIAS KHOURY 25/12/07
  64.   Sabbah- You will Answer to G-D for your WICKED LIE of Occupation 18:28  |  Linda Rivera 25/12/07
  65.   Stop Vatican occupation 18:43  |  Moses invests 25/12/07
  66.   Be Happy Patriarch, Jesus born in Bethlenhem, Palestine 18:47  |  Dummy the ant 25/12/07
  67.   To Jerusalem`s Latin Patriarch...thanks for the Inquisition 19:01  |  Another stupid ant 25/12/07
  68.   Father Sabah distorted view interpretation of ME conflict.. 19:15  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 25/12/07
  69.   NOT a call for peace - 2. try 19:35  |  scallywag 25/12/07
  70.   To the good Catholics here 19:37  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 25/12/07
  71.   sabah`s peace 19:42  |  elliot 25/12/07
  72.   Labhras 20:03  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 25/12/07
  73.   #45, YOSEMITE 20:10  |  indrajaya 25/12/07
  74.   SHUT UP SABBAH 20:17  |  Ex-Christian 25/12/07
  75.   Peace will come when you and your likes will either go away 20:34  |  Moshe 25/12/07
  76.   70. Margie in Tel Aviv 20:36  |  KUTW 25/12/07
  77.   ?The strong party ? 20:42  |  KUTW 25/12/07
  78.   #64 - The voice of truth! Bravo! 20:43  |  Steve 25/12/07
  79.   ?God has brought us together? 20:50  |  KUTW 25/12/07
  80.   LABHRAS #25 20:52