Let us celebrate with great joy the birth of Jesus Christ

23.DEC.10

by Fr. Atonio Pio – President
Rt. Rev. C. Leopold Friday – Vice President
Adrian S. Odle – Major Pierre Antoine

We have journeyed through another year with all its hopes, successes, strengths, advancement, weaknesses, challenges, disappointments, broken promises and failures. For some, the journey ahead is clouded with despair and emptiness, and for others there is expectancy and anticipation. The same events in our state have been experienced and interpreted in different ways by various people for one reason or another.{{more}} Whether due to one’s social condition, economic status, state of unemployment, party affiliation, social consciousness, religious beliefs, activism, intellectual prowess or field of human endeavour. It reminds us that our society is made up of people who are not all the same, and thus the need for us all to be conscious of the needs, views, hopes and aspirations of those outside our level of human existence as we together seek to chart the way forward.

The Church believes and teaches that we are a part of God’s creation, made in the image of God. Which means that we are free to make choices, to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation, each other and with God. However, we have misused our freedom and done what is wrong. We have sought to put ourselves in the place of God. We have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Who can save us from this state? Christmas presents us with the answer. His name shall be called Jesus for He will save His people from their sins.

Consequently, as we journey forward as a people and a nation it is imperative that we not only see the negative influences in others but also in ourselves. There is the need for us individually and corporately to assess and concurrently acknowledge our contribution to the present state of divisiveness in our beloved nation and by the grace of God seek reconciliation. Yes, there must be acknowledgement that we have wronged each other for which we are truly penitent and that we intend to walk in the ways of righteousness and peace.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the prince of peace. The Christmas message is one of hope, peace and joy, for it informs us that amidst all the division, unrighteousness, disappointments, broken promises, failures and weaknesses in our nation and the world, there is hope because there is God who is in the world and in control of it. He came at Christmas to redeem and save the world.

So let us celebrate with great joy the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord, and share with one another the love and peace He came to bring, remembering always that He cannot be contained in a match box and used to our own whims and fancies.

The Christian Council calls on all to continue to pray for this nation. May you have a Blessed and peaceful Christmas and New year.