The true meaning of Christmas is
love. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save
the world through him." The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this
incredible act of love.
Tonight, on the Christmas Eve let
us all pray happily and loudly with St. Augustine Of Hippo, (AD 354-440) His
very affectionate Christmas prayer:
Let the just rejoice, for the justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their saviour is born.
Let the captives rejoice, for their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice, for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice, for their Liberator is born.
Let all Christians rejoice, for Jesus Christ is born.
On this holy Day, we wish everyone
of you, in occupied and oppressed Lebanon, and in the Diaspora, a holy and
glorious Christmas, and a very Happy New year. Our great happiness as patriotic
Lebanese will reach its prime when, and only when, our beloved Lebanon, home and
land of our great fathers and ancestors reclaims its confiscated independence,
redeems its marginalized sovereignty, restores its oppressed freedoms, and
regains its hijacked free decision-making process.
Our joy and happiness will be at
their peak the day:
When everlasting peace prevails all over the world and especially in the
troubled and chaotic Middle East countries.
When hundreds of our country's arbitrarily held detainees are released from the
fascist Syrian jails and horrible detention centers, where they have been
deprived for more then 35 years of all their basic human rights and the grace of
life itself.
When our exiled people from South
Lebanon are welcomed back in Lebanon, officially and publicly with open arms as
heroes.
Our peaceful struggle will know no rest until Lebanon is liberated from the
Iranian occupation by all means and on levels.
When Lebanon's fertile fields are again green, plowed, sowed, guarded and
harvested by our men and women.
When our factories are re-opened, productive, and run only by Lebanese hands.
When our Lebanese Christian
Shepherds fear God and conduct their duties and obligations accordingly.
When our borders are patrolled solely by the Lebanese army and security forces,
and when all militias, Lebanese and non-Lebanese, are disarmed and dismantled,
and when the law of the land and the legitimate authority of a sovereign
Lebanese people are fully and independently applied and enforced on all
Lebanon's soil.
When conscientious and patriotic
Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected freely by our people in accordance to a
just and fair electoral law.
When Lebanon's markets are open for the country's products with no foreign
hegemony or unfair and arbitrary competition.
When Lebanon's judiciary is fair, unbiased and non-politicized. A judiciary and
judges who respect the constitution and abide by the law of the land and the
Charter of Human Rights.
When the Lebanese identity is
honored and hailed by all the Lebanese communities, and is placed above all
other political, regional, ethnic and religious affiliations.
Then, and only then, we can rest our case for the struggle.
It has always been the norm, with
never an exception , that for the last 7,000 years our people have always been
courageous and determined and never willingly accepted subjugation and
domination. They lived and still live with the hope of resurrection. They never
doubted or questioned their right to be free in a free and independent country.
They fought every tyrant and occupying force that invaded their country, and
were able time and again, to force every single one of them out in defeat and
humiliation.
Today, the Lebanese people remain
as tall as their mighty cedars in spite of all hardships, the hurt, and the
suffering of the past four decades.
No matter what, Lebanon is on its way again to freedom, liberty and peace.
Let us all pray that the birth of
Our Lord Jesus will coincide this year with the re-birth of a new Lebanon that
is free, independent and sovereign.
By God's will, all the Lebanese will be able next year to celebrate Christmas
and the New Year in a liberated Lebanon that is run by the Lebanese and only by
them.
Best wishes for our people for A
Merry Christmas & A Happy New