"The Birth of a Saviour"
By: General Michel Aoun
(Translated by: Elias Bejjani)
24 December 1997

The angels said: "This very day your saviour Christ the Lord was born... peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased." The shepherds replied: "Glory to God in the highest heaven."

How beautiful is the dialogue between God and man. It is an improvised partnership from creation to eternity. In children's happiness at Christmas and in the joy of people in meeting with each other, remains the deep meaning of the occasion which is the birth of the saviour.

The salvation road is the road which Jesus drew for us between his birth and crucifixion, and although Christianity finds its essence in resurrection, it is not a religion only waiting for resurrection. It is a religion for every-day living. We find in the saviour's parables emancipation from the taboos of the old law and a surge toward endless virtues. Christianity recognized the one God, and one God only. Christianity said God is for all mankind, not only for one people.

The Lord Jesus did not tell us not to steal (as was clear in the old law), but said: Give. He himself gave us everything, allowing us more pleasure in giving than receiving.

The Lord Jesus did not tell us not to kill (as was clear in the old law), but said to sacrifice yourself for your own, as he sacrificed himself for us all.

The Lord Jesus did not tell us not to witness falsely (as was clear through the old law), but to witness for truth, as he witnessed unto his own crucifixion. He said also that we know the truth and the truth will make us free.

And after he made himself in our likeness (man), he called upon us to be made in his image and likeness. He told us that he is the son of God and made us his brothers and taught us to pray, saying: "Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

He swept our fear from us, making love the basis of our relationship with God. He called us to love one another as we love ourselves. He gave us direction for our actions in life and said to accept for others what we would accept for ourselves. This is the salvation road in history, on earth today and for all eternity.
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