Israel-Gaza War - Make Peace At Christmas As Once Upon A Time Jesus Christ Walked Those Streets Preaching Of Peace. Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

Once upon a time Jesus Christ walked
those streets of Israel and Palestine;
Christ who was born out of a virgin mother
in Bethlehem and he lived in Nazareth;
Christ revered every where though
in that manger he was born in Jerusalem;
Christ who grew up in those streets and lanes,
and preached atop the mountains and hills,
in simplicity and sanctity he lived.

But today in those cities
where he preached of peace and love,
tanks and soldiers keep rolling,
imposing upon people explosions and injuries,
deaths and grief, helplessness and disunity
as war has long turned out to be so merciless.

I will therefore not celebrate Christmas
momentously or enthusiastically
as my heart is already filled
with intense anguish and agony;
and as I see the sufferings of the people,
of those families and their children
their situation and afflictions aggravate
my own foresight and sadness
as the war has made their life
so unpredictable and so difficult
that they keep running from North to South,
they keep dreading the tomorrows
and no one knows if one will survive or just vanish
as the bombs keep suddenly exploding
on their homes turning their life
into ash and dust.

And as evening turns into dusk,
I keep asking myself-
Why must there be so much of hatred
why must there be so much of pain and peril
when in those streets has walked Jesus Christ
once upon a time, once upon a time
preaching of peace and love;

How will I then sit and sing - Merry Christmas?
how will I stop forgetting their sufferings?
Christmas is here and everywhere
the festivity of Christmas is celebrated
all over the world
with fervor at the end of every year
in this month of December;
and it is Jesus who was born in those cities
it is Jesus who gave us this blessing of Christmas
yet I will not celebrate Christmas enthusiastically
as my solidarity and sympathy rushes
to the people of Gaza and Israel.

So, how will I celebrate Christmas with fervor
when people out there keep facing hardships
due to the consequences of a war
that has been so brutal and uncompromising?
if only could the two countries who are at war
recollect and reconnect the legacy of Jesus
and his preaching that mutual forgiveness
can yield a reconciliation,
compassion and peace will prevail
as Jesus Christ had walked those streets
to promote peace and love among them,
once upon a time, once upon a time.