CHRISTMAS

The year 2012 is coming to an end. In Ghana (and some other parts of the world) this year has also been a year of ending of some of our great and prominent kings and chiefs. We have observed the passing on to eternity or to their villages, some kings and chiefs, and an end of their earthly reign. We have also seen the ascension of new kings, queens, chiefs and a president to their thrones or stools. Each new king, we equally observed as their custom, assumes a new title, and so we have Otumfour, Oseadeyo,  Dios Torpoderoso,Dios Ominipotente and the rest.

Christians or Catholics also ended their liturgical year and acclaimed Christ as their King. But Christ is a different King. He is a King whose reign does not end- His reign lasts forever, and his “Kingdom stretch from shore to shore till moon shall wax and wane no more.” At each Christmas we do not enthrone a new king, but we give new titles (meaning) to our eternal king.

These titles are derived from the living experience of our encounters with him. It is rooted in what he has done for us, what he has helped us to achieve and his continual protection of our lives. We re-live his birth in a special way and we recall that compassionate move of God to reconcile Heaven to Earth in one single act of the incarnation. At Christmas Earth is joined to Heaven and in the manger we see the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father, He is the Word made flesh that dwelt among us full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14). He is the first born from the dead, and He is the first born of Mary. And so he has the right to the throne of His Father. I sometimes wonder what name we could give him, what title we could give our Jesus. Some may run like this: Ewuradze Nyankopon, Osagyefo,Obaatanpa Nyame, Odumankoma,  Chineke Marama, Oba Alade Alafia, Jesus the Alpha and Omega.

Yes, Jesus is still a King, he is not the first or the second or the third, He is Alpha and Omega, and He is the beginning and the End.

What is the news then? That Jesus is born today!

He is born each time we allow him come into our hearts. There is always good news when we allow him establish his throne in our lives. It is then that we can hear the angels’ voices telling us “for to you is born this day in the city of (Nekede-Nigeria), a saviour who is Christ the Lord.

May this Christmas be for each one of us a grace-filled experience of the joy of God, may Jesus’ birth renew our commitment to work and our various activities, and may his Peace dissolve all tribal divisions and make us one. And may our church as a family grow in the likeness of the Holy Family.

Merry Christmas!!! Afinhyia pa ooo!!!!