A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
THE LIGHT SHINES ON IN THE DARKNESS, AND THE DARKNESS CANNOT OVERCOME IT!
Behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people,
to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord
(Luke 2:10-11).
I joyfully proclaim the message of Christmas: God became man; he came to dwell among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”, God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus. This is the Christmas of the pandemic, of the health, economic, social and even global crisis that has indiscriminately shattered the whole world. Yet, Christmas is a sign of hope amid coronavirus pandemic and the global crisis. Christmas brings hope. Not a temporary sense of well-being induced by time off work and a few drinks at Christmas, but something much more profound. Real hope. A permanent hope. A world-changing hope. A hope that changes the meaning and purpose of people’s lives of all times and places, and even the planet on which we live. Hope that brings lasting light and joy. The joy of Christmas is not for a day or a season. It is an eternal joy, a supernatural joy, a joy that no one can take from us because it is the joy of Jesus Christ himself made present in our hearts, in our lives, in our homes and in our world through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The Lord gives us an endless joy which no pain nor sorrow can diminish, and which neither life nor death can take away. In the feast of Christmas, we celebrate triumph of the love and light of Christ over the darkness, sadness and gloom that has plagued our world in this tough year. The Light of Christ illumine the path of our lives and to give us sure and firm hope, especially in this time in which we feel enshrouded in a veil of darkness and great difficulties, problems and suffering. In the unprecedented year of the coronavirus pandemic and global crisis, (a sort of annus horribilis). Yet Jesus Christ is the proof that God has heard our cry. And not only this! God’s love for us is so strong that he cannot remain aloof; he comes out of himself to enter into our midst and to share fully in our human condition (Ex 3:7-12). Brightening the darkness and challenges of this year is the undimmed Light of Christ. There is also a joyous renewal and rebirth of community-mindedness, a desire to participate and stewardship in our parish and the wider community. Christ’s birth is a flowering of a new life for our parish community and all humanity. Above all, we have rediscovered that we are solely dependent on God and each other. The earth has yielded its fruits (Ps 67:7) by our cooperating with God and participation with each other. Yes, there is a good earth, healthy earth, an earth freed of all selfishness, individualism and all lack of openness. May our parish community become a good earth, an oasis and a stopping place which receives and brings forth kindness, compassion, healing, truth, justice and peace. May our parish continue to welcome each other’s gifts and talents in the service of God and the community. Everyone’s gift and talent are valued and appreciated. May the inbreaking of the divine orchestra of light, joy and peace fill you with the fullness of his glory and grace, this Christmas and in the year 2021. Amen Happy Christmas and wish you a Great New Year 2021. God Bless, Fr. Achile Enemaku Umameh Parish Priest