Christmas is the time to sing Gloria in Excelsis!  It is the time to stand side by side around the manger with the shepherds and the Wise Men, amazed and awed by the miracle of God's birth among us.

But Christmas is also a time when we hear many other voices.  But which voices bring us salvation?  It is the voice that cries in the wilderness:  "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths." 

After Annapolis, we hear many voices crying out that, finally, it is time for peace in Palestine and Israel.  Many voices are joining together to call for that peace that we so desperately need.

Yet there are other voices. More than before, it seems a cacophony of confusion and chaos as world leaders and everyday people try to discern what really will make for peace, in the world and in our hearts. 

Despite the voices of peace and reconciliation from the lofty levels of the leaders, on the ground, illegal settlements, the wall and land confiscation continue.  Rockets and missiles continue to fly.   People continue to talk of revenge and counter-revenge.

And in the midst of this peace talk, the voice of extremism drones on, finding ripe recruits in people who see no place at the inn for themselves.  These voices of extremism all claim to speak for God, and waste no opportunity to turn a political conflict into a religious war.  And they all claim that it is only their actions and perspectives will bring  justice and liberation to the Middle East.

There are even voices this Christmas that claim that the Christians who are leaving Bethlehem are leaving because of conflict with the Muslims, ignoring the continued good relations for centuries between Palestinian Christians and Muslims.  Also, conveniently ignoring the reality of occupation, the prison-like existence behind the wall in Bethlehem and the fact that it is hard for them to hear the voice of hope in a hopeless situation.

And, as always, there is the voice of cynicism and despair that sounds its refrain that nothing will ever change here, that the hatred is too entrenched and the pain too deep.

Jerusalem is a city surrounded by desert and rough terrain.  In ancient times in the East, the road was easily erased by the blowing sands of the desert.  In the West, the road was hard to follow in the rugged terrain that sloped downward to the sea.  When an important person came to Jerusalem, it was necessary to make a better road.  Brush was cut away, holes were filled, obstacles were flattened, bridges were built or repaired.  This has also been done throughout the years to receive pilgrims.  This is what inspired Isaiah and John the Baptist:  "A voice cries out in the desert:  Prepare the way of the Lord." 

Someone who is greater than everyone is about to come:  He who must come, the desired of the nations.  A road must be made for Him, the path must be prepared so that He can arrive. 

This is also true of the heart and in one's life.  To prepare, we must still our hearts and celebrate the voice that sustains and that penetrates all the clouds, confusion and chaos… it reminds us:

"Prepare the way of the Lord.  Make straight the paths!"

Prepare to hear the true voice of peace, which echoed in the song of the angels to the shepherds and still tells us in the midst of our dark nights:

"Be not afraid!  I bring you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

It breaks into our world and silences all other voices.

Today is no different than the world into which Jesus was born.  Many leaders of that day followed voices and values that made the blessings of life only for the wealthy and the powerful.

Then, like now, there are the Herods, whose voices of power, might and the sword leave innocent children dead and cities devastated.

Then, like now, there are the Caesars, whose voices will command anything to keep their empire in place and on top.

They, like many leaders today, would create a "peace" by the sword, built on submission to power, military might, exclusion and injustice. 

This season we remember that we follow a different voice.  It is the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the voice of the Babe in a manger testifying to the way, the truth and the life.    

This voice creates a peace that passes all understanding based on inviting all to share in the warm glow of the manger and God's blessings of life abundant.  Here there are no swords, but a young woman who bears eternal Light into a dark, Bethlehem night. Only poor shepherds who were once afraid and are now at peace.  Only wise men who journeyed long to kneel at the feet of a child.  As poet Ann Weems writes:

The World Still Knows

The night is still dark

   And a procession of Herods still terrorizes the earth,

     Killing the children to stay in power.

The world still knows its Herods,

   But it also still knows men and women

      Who pack their dreams safely in their hearts

And set off toward Bethlehem,

   Faithful against all odds,

     Undeterred by fatigue or rejection,

                                                                        to kneel to a child.

And the world still knows those persons

   wise enough

            to follow a star,

  those who do not consider themselves too intelligent

   too powerful

      too wealthy

                                                                                    to kneel to a child.

And the world still knows those hearts so humble

   that they're ready

      to hear the word of a song

           and to leave what they have, to go

                                                                                    to kneel to a child.

The night is still dark,

            but by the light of the star,

                        even today

                                    we can still see

                                                                                    to kneel to a child.

Do you hear what I hear? 

The voice of life and love that calls us to kneel to a child, to prepare the way for a better future for all of our children, for salvation, peace, justice and hope.  The voice of the ones who don't have a place at the inn.  The voice that today calls Palestinians, Israelis and our whole world toward justice and non-violence and away from war and extremism. The voice that calls our leaders to take up their power and lead in a different direction: Preparing the way of justice, for justice is the only way that will lead to a comprehensive  peace, security and freedom for all.

Muslim, Christian and Jewish faith leaders in Jerusalem have formed the Council of Religious Institutions to make religion part of the solution and not part of the problem, to break down the barriers that stand in the way of justice and peace by seeing God in the other and accepting the right of the existence of the other.  We are committed to education for our children that teaches tolerance and mutual respect, preparing fertile ground for the healing and future of our children.  We are committed together to liberate ourselves from fear and conflict to live in freedom, security and justice. Please pray for us.

Do you hear what I hear?   The Word has become flesh and lived among us, and it is possible that justice and forgiveness can become flesh among Palestinians and Israelis.  This voice calls us to join the symphony of peace and justice which cries out with the angels:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace among all human beings."

 Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a Blessed New Year in 2008!