Dear Friends and beloved Brothers and Sisters:

I just came back from spending two days with my extended family at Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, and became appalled by the news of the massive destruction of Gaza by Israel.

We were celebrating the joy of being together. After many years of not being able to see each other due to our missionary service at Chiapas, México, we found a date where grandmothers, aunties, uncles, cousins and nieces, daughters and sons celebrated life, celebrated the joy and blessing of being part of a family and what this meant in the context of a God who shared the news of salvation by writing them in the stars “…wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” (Mt 2:1-2). God enabled many cultures to “read” this message in the sky through the light of the stars, though in different ways.

Thus, light is a metaphor for Christmas for we set up lights’ decorations that pierce through the night, just like a symbol for Jesus, remembering what the biblical text says: "…The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” (Mt 4:16) 

Yet it is ironic that during Hanukkah, the Jewish “festival of lights,” a time of joy, of family reunions and light, darkness covered up the lives of thousands Palestinians. After Israel’s total siege of Gaza for over 18 months preventing food, water, medicines, and fuel to enter; Israel “lit up” Gaza and “released more than 100 tons of bombs in the first nine hours of fighting.”  These are “lights of darkness, of sorrow and death.”

I am not fully immersed in the complexities of this war, or in the obscure logic of those deciding the death of so many in order to destroy Hamas’ strength, or disrupt Jewish lives. But I do know that hatred seeds violence and Israeli response to Hamas’ rockets is disproportionate. I know that this conflict have taken too long. I know that Israel's escalating military assaults would not make Israelis safer; on the contrary, it will beget hatred, resistance and violence. I also know that nations long for dignity, belonging and security and each and every human being deserve these. This I learned with my fellow Mayan brothers and sisters.  

I want to believe that the will of the G_d of the Jews and the will of Allah for their peoples is to live “abundant lives.” I want to believe that nations can push their leaders to make wise decisions. In a global community like the one we live in, no conflict is “elsewhere,” for sooner or later it will hit home. I pray that we as Christians do whatever is possible to enhance true peace between Palestinians and Israelis, with whom we share common faith roots. I pray that a light of hope might shine among this darkness. 

Bendiciones,

In Jesus’ Love, Doris García-Mayol