Brothers and Sisters,

"Proclaim before peoples and say: God our Savior comes". In these difficult days, for us and for the whole world, we need to hear this happy announcement: "God our Savior comes.. Yes, God comes in his power, and all men will see Him ".

We begin today the time of the Advent, before the Christmas feast. It is a time of fasting and penitence, a time in which we are invited to purify our relations with all our brothers, either they are from our religion or from a different religion, and even those with whom we are in political and military conflict, in order to put back this fundamental truth in front of our eyes: Every human being, near or faraway, friend or hostile, is first and foremost God's creature, the object of his love, and, like us, he is called to holiness and to salvation.    

In all parts of the diocese, we live the time of the Advent in communion with our Holy Land in its quest of justice and peace, facing in these days the indomitable power of evil that sow devastation and death. We live this awareness of the existence of these power of evil, not to fill our hearts with bitterness and hate, nor with discouragement and complaints, but to renew our faith in God, master of history "who looks at the depths and examines the loins", and in Christ who tells us: Don't be afraid. A hair doesn't fall from your head without your Father's permission who is in heavens". And we offer our sacrifices and all our sufferings, as contribution, at a time spiritual and material, for the construction of a new society, founded on love, everywhere we are, in Palestine, Jordan and Israel.    

With the Pope John Paul II, we pray and we fast. He took indeed in these days three important initiatives: 

Next December 13, he will convene the bishops of the Holy Land, and with them the presidents of bishops Conferences of the first world, for one day of reflection and study, presided by himself, on the peace in the Holy Land, especially on the situation and future of the Christians.

Next December 14, he called for a day of fasting in the universal church for peace in the world. We invite our faithful therefore to observe the fasting in this day, to add alms and charity to their fasting, and to remember every brother and sister in the need. 

Next January 24 he invited all religious, Christian, Moslem and Jewish leaders, from all the religions of the world, for one day of prayer in Assisi, city of St Francis, the saint of peace and love. He did this to affirm that the essence of all religion in all society is the faith in God and the love of God's creatures and that the meeting of believers of all religions is possible. 

We ask our priests to accompany the faithful in these days, to show them ways of penitence, prayer and love, and to prepare them thus to welcome Christmas grace, so that it fills of joy their hearts and their houses, even in the midst of ruins, hunger and tears on their beloved ones fallen in this long struggle of our Land for justice and peace.     

Brothers and Sisters: renew in these days your faith, renew your love. Make penitence and renew your hope: Welcome the feast with all demonstrations of joy, in order to find in this joy the strength to continue your long and laborious march toward the true liberty; and "Praise the name of the Lord for He is good, his love is everlasting” (Ps 135,1). 

  Jerusalem, December 1st,  ‏2001

   + Michel Sabbah, Patriarch