Politics
Christmas: Reflecting on the reason for the season
This is another Christmas or better put, Mass of Christ, a season during which Catholics celebrate the remembrance of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This period, which usually takes off with the Christmas day {December 25}, is a feast adapted from a traditional Roman feast, known as the feast of sun god {dies natalis solis invicti –birthday of the invisible sun}.
The celebration of Christmas came into being because Christians insist that Christ was the true and real sun of justice, righteousness and the light of the world. It is good to note that the word Christmas is derived from old Latin words Cristes Maesse or Cristes Masse meaning the Mass of Christ. This season reminds Catholics of the birthday of their Saviour who came that we might have life-life to the full.
This Christmas is unique and shrouded in mystery. This is the day heaven and earth reunited in a wonderful joy after the fall of our first parents. The joy was so wonderful that the Angels in heaven could not but burst out in a solemn song, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased’ {Luke.2:14}.
This Christmas is the Christmas of the year of the Lord 2025. It is very unique because it is the first time in history that we are celebrating Christmas for the year 2025. We all have longed for it, imagined it, fantasized it, look up to it and here it is passing over. This has become the tomorrow that we longed for yesterday and soon it becomes the yesterday that will never come. What a mystery!
Reading through the Sacred Scripture, one notices so many attributes of Jesus be it the one he identifies himself of or the one the Prophets and Evangelists mentioned about Him (called Him}. In the Gospel of St. John for instance, Christ identified Himself with so many imageries/ attributes. He called himself the gate, ‘I am the gate’ {John 10:9}; good shepherd, ‘I am the good shepherd’ {John 10: 11}, ‘the way, the truth and the life; the true vine, ‘I am the true vine {John 15:1}; ‘I am the vine’ {John. 15:5}. The prophet Isaiah speaks of him as a man of sorrow acquainted with grief.
Today, that man of sorrow is born on a manger in the animals’ home; he is not born on a bed in the house made for human beings. That was the genesis of his sorrow and grief. He meets the sheep to let them know that he is their shepherd. He came with a mission {mandate}.
Every child, as I have recalled often {in some of my writings} is a great gift, not any kind of gift but a paschal gift- a redeeming gift. You {the human person out there} are a precious gift, a rare gift, a redeeming gift like the Christ who is born for us today. And that is why we cannot get tired of saying that abortion is evil. The aborted baby could have been the best president, governor, bishop, priest, mother, father, a good professional {journalist, banker, paramilitary, etc} which we never had, because life is the primus of existence {ndu bu isi}.
Let us say sorry to God through Christ His Son, the child that has been given to us, for the many times we have snuffed life out of the innocent children be it directly or indirectly.
Does simile cost anything?
Take a look at a new born child and you will observe how the face of that child glitters and shines brightly like the morning star. Here we recall the attribute that Christ bears as a child, ‘The smiling Jesus’ what does a smile do? {It is an invitation of joy, hope and goodness}. A smile brings back a straying soul or one that is about to do so. It revives a lost hope. Why not try to give out such during this season and even beyond?
“A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs to smile so much as he/she who has no more to give.”
When we pray to God to let His face shine on one, what we have asked for is His blessings on such a fellow. A brief look at the Priestly blessing as contained in the book of numbers will be good. Therein, the Lord spoke to Moses to instruct the priest Aron to bless God’s people. And Moses did and that made Aron to bless the people. Aron blessed the people thus:- May the Lord bless and watch over you! {Numbers 6:24}; May the Lord let his face shine over you, and be gracious to you! {Numbers 6:25}; May the Lord look kindly upon you, and give you his peace! {Numbers 6:26}
It is no other face that shines on one but the smiling face of Jesus who is God. The verse twenty seven {27} of that chapter six {6} said, “In this way shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them {numbers 6:27}.
May Christ’s smiling face shine on you at this great season of joy and all the days of your life. Amen. Our prayers and wishes to you is that the Christ who came in time to give us life may let His face shine upon you all the days of your life. Amen.
Try also as much as you can to let the light of your own face shine on your brothers and sisters especially those in need. And “May the Holy Family, icon and model of every human family, help each individual to walk in the spirit of Nazareth” Amen {St. John Paul II}
Happy Christmas and may the good light from your face shine also on others. Amen.
Fr Iwuji can be reached via:
08156198851
