MERRY CHRISTMAS

Sonnie Ekwowusi writes that despite the hard times, many are preparing for Christmas with excitement

It’s Christmas! Peeping through the window of my office I could see some gaily-dressed neigbourhood kids who obviously are on Christmas holiday, prancing around, dancing and rejoicing in the expectancy of Christmas. Already the country’s expressways are jammed with thousands of Christmas travellers who are anxious to arrive home before Christmas. Houses, streets, offices and shops are already decorated with special festoons and rosettes. Overflowing with joy in the expectancy of the birth of the Saviour, Prophet Isaiah writes in this poetic strain, “Let the wasteland rejoice and bloom, let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil, let it rejoice and sing for joy. Let the earth open and bring forth the saviour”. Despite the fact that Nigeria is completely broken down from head to toe by economic hardship, totalitarian democracy and incestuous narcissism yet many Nigerians are still basking in the ego of electrifying joy of Christmas. For instance, yesterday one of the mothers in my neighbourhood reminded me about the children’s Christmas party. Last year we had a successful one. This is why all in the neighbourhoods are longing for the party this year. Why does Christmas hold the world in enthralling suspense? Why is it that at the dawn of Christmas the feeling of happiness is so palpably thick that you could cut it with a knife? Why is Christmas the most celebrated feast in the world today?

Obviously the answers to these questions are not far-fetched. Prior to the first Christmas which occurred more than 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, the hope was widespread in Jewish times that a conquering Messiah-King would come to save the Jewish race and entire human race. Thereafter Kings after kings, emperors after emperors, prophets after prophets, rulers after rulers came, wielded great powers and authority, accomplished marvels, conquered their enemies, built great temples and philosophised about nature and earthly existence and even penetrated the mysteries. But none of those kings, emperors, prophets and rulers satisfied the deep longing of the human heart. That was why when the appointed time came what poet William Butler Yeats dubbed the “uncontrollable mystery on the bestial floor” took place at a relatively obscure town of Bethlehem: Jesus Christ assumed human flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and came to be born among us. As St. Josemaria Escriva aptly puts it: “when the fullness of time came, no philosophical genius, no Plato or Socrates appears to fulfill the mission of redemption. Nor does a powerful conqueror, another Alexander, take over the earth. Instead a child is born in Bethlehem”.

This is the greatest feast that fills us with so much joy today. Jesus Christ, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, is born among us. This is the good tiding that aflame our hearts with the fire of joy today. It is the good news that raises our heads high. And bubbling with joy and optimism we can challenge the sad world to look at us and be hopeful. We live in a sad world. If you reflect on the current history of mankind or the precarious situation of the world today and you will invariably come to the conclusion that many people in the world today are living in fear: fear of existence; fear of terrorist attack; fear of wars and rumours of wars; fear of the very technology wherein many have staked their happiness. In Nigeria the naked are still looking for clothing; the hungry are looking for food; the sick in desperate need of medicine; the homeless looking for housing; the broken hearts seeking consolation and the dreams of men are still empty. To worsen matters, the meaning of Christmas, like in the West, has been lost to capricious expenditure and militant consumerism and free-wheeling hedonism in Nigeria.

This is understandable. Every epoch in human history has grappled with its challenges. We are wayfarers on earth. Our pathway on earth is strewn with sadness and joy. For example, the joy of the first Christmas more than 2,000 years ago was marred by difficulties and sadness. To begin with, Jesus chose to be born in a pen where animals are kept. Jesus is King. He could have chosen to be born in the most equipped and luxurious royal hospital where Kings are born. But instead he embraced humility, poverty and detachment. He humbly chose to be born among animals where he was exposed to cold and all sorts of dangers. Who were his guests shortly after he was born? Animals, shepherds who were keeping their flocks, wise men from the East, the stars and of course the angels. Having been tricked by the wise men Herod ordered for the massacre of the innocent male children in Bethlehem. And after God directed Joseph in a dream, he took the child Jesus and Mary his mother and fled to Egypt where the Holy Family sojourned until God told Joseph in another dream to return back with Mary and the child Jesus. It is instructive that throughout those difficult moments neither Many nor Joseph uttered a word of complaint. If we were to follow our warped human logic, we would think that God would have exempted his only son Jesus Christ and his parents, Mary and Joseph, from the aforesaid sufferings. But God did not do that. Instead he allowed his son, Mary and Joseph to embrace poverty, self-abnegation, self-sacrifice and detachment from material things. Jesus had nowhere to lay his head. He felt hungry. He experienced anguish and tiredness. He wept. He shared people’s anxieties, hopes and aspirations. Finally, he wrought salvation for mankind by dying on the Cross. He could have redeemed mankind through easier means other than through suffering and crucifixion. But he chose death on the Cross.

Therefore as we celebrate Christmas let us focus on Jesus Christ. After all he is the reason for Christmas. Let us not treat Jesus as though he is far away. He is in our midst. So, weep no more. Be patient in your sufferings. Rejoice. Listen to St. Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice...” (Phil 4: 4-5). The Light has come to illuminate all darkness. We are no longer people groping in darkness in search of light. The Light is with us. Jesus is born among us. Therefore let the hopeless take heart. Let the wearied find strength. Let the oppressed find justice. Let men of goodwill find peace. Integrity shall return to the wasteland. With the audacity of David you can challenge the Goliath of our time. Blow the trumpet seven times and the walls of Jericho will crumble once again. Let me tell you one thing which you may find interesting: we shall not weary in standing up for what is right. We shall not flee from our little space on earth. Those who have fled are cowards. But we are not cowards. We cannot flee. This column intones the nunc dimitis today as it signs off for the Christmas vacation. Wishing you and members of your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2020