This year, as people search for peace to soothe weary hearts, Rev. Joseph Kassab, President of the Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon, reflects on the true meaning of Christmas. He reminds us that the Christmas story mirrors the struggles of our world today, while also offering a message of hope that shines in the darkness before the light.

Quoting German theologian Jürgen Moltmann, who described Christmas as the beginning of God’s quiet revolution, Kassab said:
“A small child opens the future to the world, showing that divine power is not about control but participation—that God chose to be with us in our weakest moments. The incarnation is a promise that history can be renewed when God enters human suffering and transforms it from within.”

He emphasized that Jesus was born into a narrow space much like our own struggles—not in palaces, but in a humble manger—to show that God does not enter through doors of power, but dwells in our vulnerability. Kassab added, “The night that covered Bethlehem is the same night that shadows our region. Yet John tells us that the light shone in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

“When the angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men,’ the world was far from peaceful. Still, peace was proclaimed. The message is clear: peace begins not when circumstances change, but when Christ is born in our hearts, transforming fear into trust and darkness into a journey toward the light.”

For Kassab, Christmas is not an escape from reality but a chance to see the world through God’s eyes. It is a call to be witnesses of hope in the midst of despair, makers of peace in times of conflict, and hands extended to those in need—not from abundance, but from the depth of sharing and love.

He reflected, “What does it mean for God to become incarnate among us? It means we are not left alone. Every tear on a mother’s face, every father’s fatigue, every young person dreaming of a better future, every struggle to survive—each is held in God’s love. The incarnation declares that humanity is more precious than the circumstances around us, and that hope is stronger than collapse.”

Kassab invited everyone to open their hearts to the child who came not to change history through power, but through presence, and to allow His peace to take root in our homes, relationships, and words. Only then can Christmas become a true celebration—a feast lifted by an unquenchable light.