As I meditate the five point-ended Christmas star this year, I can figure out in each point-ended side a story:
The first point-ended side: The German supermarket, Edeka, made an outstanding move by calling on people to mark Christmas through demonstrating mercy and conviviality towards one another. It depicts a pale 70-year-old man who recounts past life memories. He prepares his meal and eats it while being lonely. His sons and daughters are preoccupied with everyday life and chores. Moments later, all of them receive a phone call that makes tears stream down their eyes. They become dressed in black. What happened? Their father has died. They rushed to the house whose lights were turned off. When they entered the house, they saw tidily prepared meals on the table. Suddenly, "their father" emerges from the kitchen and tells them: "This is the best way I had to embark on to be able to see you. The four-minute film came to an end with all of them eating the food together as a loving family as laughter and joy prevailed. The film producer says: "The feast is the day when one returns home." The bottom line is that the feast is the time of love and mercy par excellence. This can, at least, be achieved by eating meals with family members and the elderly.
The second point-ended side: A few days ago a unique restaurant called "the Restaurant of Mercy", which is the brainchild of Caritas Jordan in cooperation with the Latin Vicariate, was inaugurated in Amman. What is unusual about it? It is charitable. In other words it serves hot meals on daily bases to 500 people who come to the restaurant. There is also free delivery to locations where there are poor people. This endeavor is a reaction to His Holiness Pope Francs announcement of the year 2016 to be the Year of Mercy. It is really remarkable to note that several young people expressed their desire to volunteer to work in the restaurant either by preparing food or in the delivery service. I assume that this initiative, which was launched in Amman's Jabal Weibdeh quarter, will shortly cover all the governorates, in the hope that there will be in our society branches of the mother restaurant "Restaurant of Mercy". This very restaurant is definitely more impressive than all slogans and speeches.
The third point-ended side: There is nothing more impressive than what the little Iraqi girl, Mariam, who was forcibly displaced from Qaraqosh, in Iraq, 16 months ago. She says: "I forgive them because Lord Jesus asked us to love others and forgive them.'' She adds: "When there no war, there will be love, and with love justice prevails." It is hoped that Mariam would chair the Security Council for a few hours and explain to the world this ''roadmap". This is more expressive than the resounding speeches. It will save money and abridge the road to whoever seeks genuine peace free from the maze of politics.
The fourth point-ended side: This year, marking the coincidence of the Prophet's birthday with Christmas celebrations, the decorated trees were given names that reflect solidarity. In Fuheis, northwest of Amman, the Christmas tree was named "tree of love". In Na'our, south of Amman, the Christmas tree, named five years ago "the national unity tree", was lit up by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and the Charitable Khalil Al-Salem Association. Director of the association Hala Al Jarf decorated the tree with photos of those who fell in Jerusalem recently. Furthermore, Sheikh Mustafa Abu Rumman, Dr. Amer Al Hafi, came to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Na'our, while members of a number of civil society organizations presented gifts to children. Moreover, Caritas Jordan presented aid to the poor families in Na'our township, and Mrs. Turath Dababneh launched a charity campaign called, "Think of the Others" and she was named director of the Peace and Friendship International Organization in Jordan.
The fifth point-ended side: A friend of mine Dr. Mohammad Sammak, secretary general of the Islamic-Christian National Dialogue Committee, congratulated me as usual on Christmas. I reiterate what he says: "On Christmas, hope reemerges for peace to prevail in the region where He lived and from where He rose to Heavens so that peace would prevail in the whole world. The Christians of the Orient who suffer with us, and we suffer with them from the phenomena of savagery and injustice are entrusted to continue disseminating the message of love and hope as well as bearing testimony to justice in memory of the birth of the One who resuscitates of hope and love. Merry Christmas.''
