Christmas Message 2016-2017

We were created with God’s mercy for the goodness of creation. We dedicate our lives to the mercy of the almighty that delivers tranquility, peace and justice; the mercy that is manifested in the birth of the Infant Jesus. Our Christmas theme for this year is “Mercy is the Spirit of Christmas”.

Today we live in a world that desperately needs mercy that as indicated by his holiness Pope Francis “is the force that reawakens us to new life and instils in us the courage to look to the future with hope”.  Today we must live a life designated with peace where there is no place for wars and conflicts, and which starts when we think about others.

"Think of Others" by Mahmoud Darwish reflects the basic idea of genuine mercy, where Darwish continues even "As you conduct your wars – think of others. Don’t forget those who want peace". Let us think of the children who are the victims of war, families who are being detached and displaced from their origins, and countries that are being stratified. Here resides the cruelty of war because of which humanity falls to destruction and lose the meaning of mercy in our lives. Let us think of others, let us engulf them with love, and fill their hearts with hope. Let us be as Saint Francis said “an instrument of peace" that shares love, forgiveness, unity, and joy. Then and only then we live the spirit of Christmas.

In Palestine, the land of divinity, where our grandfathers longley lived, we continue to build our country with strength, determination and constancy to have a new life with a better future for our forthcoming generations; a homeland free of occupation, strangulation and walling. Let 2017 witness the end of occupation in Palestine, for what this year enfolds of unique symbolism recalling 100 years of Belfour declaration, 70 years for the decision of the partition of Palestine, 30 years for the first Palestinian Intifada, and 10 years for the Palestinian internal division. Yes, it is time for the world to stand together in unity to end the suffering of our Palestinian people, whose identity resides in the sustainability of their existence as people and land.  

Yes, it is from Bethlehem that we send a message of life in Christmas and throughout the year to all innocents suffering all over the world. We pray to our baby lord Jesus for peace would prevail in the year 2017 with courageous decisions and acts to achieve peace. We hope families would reunite on their land after having experienced the bitter refuge far from their homeland. We as Palestinians feel their misery as more than 6 million Palestinian refugees are still scattered in the world, dreaming to return home. In addition to the compulsorily deportees and prisoners in the Israeli prisons longing for their liberty and freedom.

It all began in Bethlehem, where the crib designates mercy and life. From that humble cradle God’s mercy emerged to humanity to give hope and serenity to those who need it, so that Mercy would indeed be the true meaning of Christmas.

Palestine is our homeland, Bethlehem is our town. Bethlehem is a house that lives hope, engulfed with the spirit of resilience and love, and prays for our homeland, its people, and the entire humanity.  

         Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Ms. Vera Baboun   

Mayor of Bethlehem