Christmas and Prayers for the Wicked
By: Elias Bejjani*
December 24/10
The most effective, productive and everlasting participation that we can offer
on this Holy Christmas Day is our authentic and honest prayers for the
repentance and salvation of evildoers. We must pray for those evil and wicked
world leaders, rulers, politicians, fundamentalists and outlawed militants whose
devastating culture of greed and vicious acts of terrorism are threatening
peace and tranquility over four continents.
Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Romans speaks about these evil people and
describes thoroughly their thinking and conduct 03/10-18: "As it is written,
‘There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There
is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together
become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.’
3:13 Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit. The
poison of vipers is under their lips; “whose mouth is full of cursing and
bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in
their ways. The way of peace, they haven’t known. There is no fear of God before
their eyes."
One might wonder why we should pray and particularly on the Christmas Day for
those that are creating world-wide havoc, advocate grudges and hatred, classify
us as infidels, allege we are their worst enemies, call openly for our death,
and proudly legitimize our slaughter?
The answer is very simple. We should pray for them because they are lost, evil,
morally sick and need our help. Jesus has already answered this question in
Matthew 9/12 & 13: "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but
those who are sick do. But you go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and
not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.".
The faithful and righteous man has an obligation to love his enemies and forgive
them as well as to bless those who hate, persecute and curse him. Luke 6:28:
"bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
The secret and magic formula word in all this holy cycle of forgiveness,
meekness, patience, endurance and acceptance of others is LOVE, and as the bible
teaches us LOVE is GOD. Proverbs 19:11: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it
is to his glory to overlook an offense".
Apostle Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians explains what love is and
what it encompasses: 13/4-13: "Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy.
Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t
seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 1 bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there
are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages,
they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we
know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has
come, then that which is partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I
spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have
become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror,
dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully,
even as I was also fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain—these
three. The greatest of these is love."
If we love those who love us, help those who do not need help, pray for those
who are righteous, and feed those who are not hungry, we do nothing different
from anybody else including the sinners and wicked. But when we can tame
ourselves to love those who hate us and help those who need help, than we are
making something different. 1 Samuel 24:17: "You are more righteous than I, he
said. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly."
Almighty God loves us, we His children, and wants us to return back to His
heavenly mansions that have been prepared for us. Therefore, He has sent His
begotten son to be humiliated, tortured, persecuted and crucified in a bid
absolve our original sin and be a role model in love and sacrifice. John15/12 &
13: “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved
you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his
friends"
With the Christmas Spirit let all genuinely pray for those of us who are hurt,
lonely, feel betrayed and deserted by their beloved ones. Those who are enduring
in silence pain, anguish, and are deprived of happiness, warmth and joy on this
holy and adorned day.
Let us all take Jesus a role model in our lives. Let us learn from Him the
graces of forgiveness, sacrifice, love and the obligation for helping those who
need our help and even those who hate and hurt us. Romans 12:20: "If your enemy
is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing
this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
May God Bless you all and shower upon you, your families, friends, and beloved
ones all graces of joy, health, love, forgiveness, meekness and hope. 1
Thessalonians 5:15: "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always
try to be kind to each other and to everyone else".
I call on you all to pray for the salvation of our beloved country of Lebanon
and ask Almighty God to lead and bless the peace endeavors of righteous
politicians and leaders all over the world.
On this Christmas Day may Jesus Christ, God of love, justice and mercy, dwell in
your hearts, minds, souls and conscience to purify you and lead your steps into
righteousness.
Merry Christmas
*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political
commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com &
http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.