Our prayers, thanks, and solidarity to our brothers and sisters of Bethlehem and Palestine who are living under wicked and temporal occupation.

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It is awesome to contemplate that after more than two thousand years since the first Christmas, the birthplace of Jesus is still the physical location central to the meaning of Christmas.

On one hand, it is shameful; on the other, it is inspiring.

Every year for over two millennia, Christians around the world celebrate Christmas Day in the belief that God took human form as a baby born in Bethlehem in the ancient land of Palestine. December 25th is the date in Western churches, while January 7th is the date in the Orthodox faith.

The incarnation of God as a vulnerable infant born in poverty and deprivation is, for Christians, an awesome revelation and truth about the meaning and purpose of humanity. God chose to be revealed on the side of the poor and the suffering. As humans who profess to believe in God and his begotten son, Jesus, then we are solemnly obligated to also be on the side of the poor and the suffering through compassion, solidarity and commitment, to understand human conditions and history in a way that relieves those conditions and fulfills the vision of God, as preached by Jesus, for peace and love for humanity.

This year, across the world, as in so many years down through history, has been wracked with conflict and violence, war and suffering. Such history is shameful for all humanity, and especially for Christians at a time of Christmas. We are called upon to be peacemakers and to show compassion. So why is peace not established on Earth if we believe that God became a part of history?

Why are political leaders not trying to genuinely work through dialogue and fraternity to make peace happen? The truth is that too many politicians and people with temporal power are not genuine in their professed beliefs and commitments. They are vested in relations and conditions that are the antithesis of peace and human solidarity. They are part of the problem, not the solution.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, is at the center of global human suffering and deprivation from a genocide that worldly powers are inflicting. Talk about ceasefires is cynical and duplicitous. The Israeli colonizer regime, with the full support of the United States and European states, continues to conduct a genocide against defenseless people living in tents and shacks in the most appalling conditions of suffering. The abomination that is taking place in the Holy Land of Palestine continues because political powers are enabling it, and media organizations tell lies, obscuring it. At least 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the last two years. Where is the outrage, the concern, the anger, the condemnation among Western politicians and media in particular? That void speaks of evil complicity and complacency.

This is a matter of mortifying shame for all Christians. Nevertheless, paradoxically, it is also a matter of great consolation and empowerment. Because Bethlehem reminds us more than ever of whose side God is on in history and what our mission as peacemakers should be: to take the side of the poor and suffering, to be with them in body and spirit, and to resolve to stand up against injustice and all worldly powers that are enemies of peace.

All conflicts have causes. We must work in truth, compassion, and solidarity to end them and to establish peace on Earth. But we can only do that by understanding history from the perspective of the poor, the victims of injustice and oppression.

The world needs peace in Palestine, in Ukraine, in Venezuela, everywhere. Who caused the violence? What are the roots? We can establish peace only with truth, justice, and commitment to solidarity with humans as brothers and sisters. That is not possible under conditions of empire and exploitation, deceit and duplicity, propaganda and lies, conquest, militarism, and aggression towards others.

Our prayers, thanks, and solidarity to our brothers and sisters of Bethlehem and Palestine who are living under wicked and temporal occupation.

In the face of evil oppression and death, we definitely and confidently wish all our readers a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.