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REFLECTION

Christmas and weeping is the theme for our reflection. The birth of Jesus brought great joy to those who understood the history of the world and the salvation plan God had and executed through the birth of Jesus Christ. However, for the hard-hearted and unrepentant King Herod, the birth of Jesus brought him bitterness and envy which led to the mass killing of male children in Bethlehem and in all that region. “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16)

How do we explain to those parents, who might have believed that the birth of Jesus had brought great joy and peace on earth yet in their homes it has brought great pain and weeping? How can Christmas bring about weeping in some homes? Would the story be any different if King Herod had truly received and honoured the baby Jesus as the fulfilment of prophecy? Dear friend, God’s plan was to give life, joy and peace to the world through Jesus Christ but so long as we have wickedness and evil existing in the world through our willful acts or decisions, weeping will continue even during Christmas. God always has good intentions towards us, in Jeremiah 29:11 He reminds us that “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” However, human beings do not always have good intentions towards their fellow beings and this is the tragedy of the world. This is the reason for Christmas and weeping.

In our time, many continue to suffer on account of Jesus Christ because of religious intolerance and political reasons. In Owo in Ondo State of Nigeria, heavily armed men with guns and explosives invaded the St. Francis Catholic Church on June 5, 2022, killing 40 worshippers and wounding 80. Authorities blamed the massacre on the militant group Islamic State West Africa Province or ISWAP. So long as people like King Herod continue to exist in this world, we shall experience wickedness and weeping but the good news is that we who are in Christ, are only separated from our loved ones who die on this earth, we shall reunite with them again on the day of the resurrection. Those who weep as a result of losing our loved ones, especially our children through the wickedness of others are comforted by the words of Job “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21). The pain is unbearable and it is hard losing a child through the recklessness and wickedness of another person but let us be consoled with the fact that Jesus loves them more than we do therefore He says “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14).

We can be the opposite of King Herod during Christmas by bringing joy to weeping parents and reviving dying children at the Hospital while bringing hope and joy to those at the children’s homes. This is one of the key activities the church can do during Christmas. Unfortunately, this part of the Christmas story is given little attention by Christians or the Church. We most often than not celebrate Christmas only with our family and friends but fail to remember those who weep during Christmas which is the season of joy, love and peace. We can start by changing the narrative and start raising children with love and compassion to dominate the Herods in our world and influence the world with godly virtues. It is not too late to share the Christmas joy and hope with those who weep around you. Inviting them for a meal and sharing clothes and blankets with them can keep them warm during the Harmattan season. Let us remember Christmas is not only shared during the month of Christmas or on the day of Christmas, it is lived, it becomes part of our lives to love and radiate the glory of God which we received through the salvation of our Lord Christ onto others. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, inspire us to share the joy of Christmas with the victims of wickedness and evil in our world and strengthen us to raise an anti-Herod generation filled with compassion and love for others.