The war continues in the Holy Land, specifically in Gaza, along with the pains and hopes of Christians for a promised peace in the time of the birth of the Prince of Peace. As the scene of violence and destruction remains unchanged for the second consecutive Christmas, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued this year's Christmas message, wishing for a ceasefire and calling for continued prayer.
The church leaders said in their statement: "In these dark days beset by wars and conflicts and shrouded in uncertainty in our region, we, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, reaffirm the eternal Christmas message, the message of the true light that shines in the darkness, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.
They emphasized that "the birth of Christ is the moment when the light of God's salvation illuminated the world for the first time, enlightening the hearts of all who receive it, both in those times and in our day; it is the light that grants grace upon grace to all who walk in its path, overcoming the forces of evil that relentlessly seek to destroy God's creation.
The statement added: "Today, while wars still grind the innocent and cause indescribable suffering to millions in our region and around the world, it may seem as if nothing has changed externally. But at its core, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ launched a continuous spiritual revolution that transforms hearts and minds towards the paths of justice, mercy, and peace.
It continued: "For the believing families in the Holy Land and those who have joined us from all over the world, our message is to bear witness to the sacred light of our Lord Christ in the places where He was born, served humanity, sacrificed Himself for us, and then rose from the tomb to new life. We do this through our worship in the holy places, welcoming pilgrims and visitors, proclaiming His holy Gospel, continuing in educational and healing services, and acts of mercy, advocating for the release of captives, and setting the oppressed free.
The church leaders added: "In the spirit of Christmas filled with hope, we thank Almighty God for the ceasefire that has finally been achieved between some conflicting parties in our region, and we call for this step to be expanded to include Gaza and all areas suffering the ravages of wars. We also renew our call for the release of prisoners and detainees, the return of the displaced and refugees, the treatment of the sick and wounded, the provision of food and drink for the hungry and thirsty, the restoration of looted or threatened properties, and the reconstruction of all that has been destroyed by wars, both public and private facilities.
The statement concluded: "During this sacred Christmas season and beyond, we call on all Christians and people of goodwill around the world to join us in praying and working to achieve this noble message, whether in the birthplace of Jesus Christ or anywhere people suffer from conflicts and pains, because together, in this way, we truly honor the Prince of Peace, who was humbly born in a manger in Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago."