“But when the completion of the time came,
God sent His Son, born of a woman,
Born under the law, so that we might
Receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).
Among the peoples of the world, the most common times for celebration is the month of December. The month is within the period of winter and summer. Consequently, it carries the aura of both seasons in terms of its relative provision of abundant food items, wares and warmth of summer.
This has made the season so impactful upon the lives of primitive people living in temperate climates such as trans-Sahara Africa. It is at this time that festivals of great significance to society such as Christmas and others are celebrated.
For instance, December feast was common in Europe because it was necessary to slaughter cattle that could not be fed during the winter, and the meat could be preserved by the cool weather.
More so, with the completion of the harvest and the consummation of end of year activities in the season, farmers and workers of different sectors of society are loaded with provisions and ample time to relax, to feast, to celebrate and to engage in several forms of social activities.
It is from such times and season that the word ‘yule’, which is the Anglo-Saxon word for feast, was coined. It refers to December as a feast month – the seasonal cycles of the sun.
In ancient Britain, such times were marked by the burning of holiday fires for 12 days, and a different sacrifice would be made on each of the 12 days. Lighting of candles and winter fires were used by some worshippers to encourage the rebirth of the sun, similarly tying of fruits to the branches of trees was to usher in the spring time.
The above historical allusion brings us to the celebration of Christmas, its timing, spiritual value and social relevance to humankind.
Christmas, as we know, is a very important religious festival devoted and dedicated to the birth and nativity of Jesus Christ, who is the Saviour of mankind.
It is characterised by a network of social and spiritual activities, which are of various consequence and significance to society. Activities, such as carols, lighting of candles, decoration of Christmas trees, perhaps to usher in spring time and to indicate the fruitfulness of the season, exchange of gift, funfare, church worship to reflect its spiritual value among others are glamorously and ritualistically observed.
According to the Bible, the birth and nativity of Christ was heralded by the lowly, the simple-minded, the wise, the rich and the poor alike. For instance, shepherds came to pay homage, and with all love and joy bowed before the new-born King – Christ. After them, came the most studious minds of the age known as the three wise men (the magi), making a long difficult journey, traversing the pathless desert yet guided by the star just to behold Christ. They offered gift of gold, frankincense and myrrh, all to the Son of God.
All these go to confirm the fact of his indispensability and the importance of the role He was born to play in the redemptive plan of God for mankind. Christ, though a child, is still the King of Kings; though among the oxen, he is still distinguished by His star. If wise men of old came to Jesus and worshipped Him, should not we also?
The value of Christmas is, therefore, not found on punks and pageantry, not in winning and dining or making endless merry through social gatherings orchestrated by man’s social quest to satisfy his flesh at the detriment of the salvation of his soul, which Christ comes to offer. Such desires have often led people to such ambivalent and deficit attitude, and consequent degeneration to immoral indulgences such as stealing of public funds, arm robbery and kidnapping, sexual immorality and other acts of criminality, which are common in the season. This is a total contradiction to the spirit of the season and negates the teaching of Christ, who is the embodiment of Christmas.
Instead, our attitude should be like that of the shepherds and the wise-men of old who were physically separated from Christ, yet they came asking: where is He that is born King of the Jews? Accustomed to broad roads, but unaccustomed to the narrow path, this day pursues that way till we see Jesus and bow before him with all our hearts, finding salvation in him.
As the magi were guided by the sight of a star, let us be guided by faith in the divine spirit, and by the teaching of his word that we might conduct ourselves in the light of great values and virtues that reposition our society for good.
As Christians all over the world still celebrate the nativity of Christ, may we truly be led by the feeble beams of a star to come to Jesus now that we are in the process of charting a new course of credible leadership for the Nigerian society. It is in this wise that He, Christ, extends an invitation when he said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)”.
Amid our celebrations and joyful moments within the season, let us imbibe three cardinal principles which can transform our society and reposition Nigeria as a country to take her rightful place in the kingdom of His glory.
First, let us gather light from this star; second, let us gather our wisdom from these wise-men; and third, let us act as wise men helped by our peculiar star.
The virtue of arms-giving in its purest term is another cardinal thrust of Christmas. The magi and the kings brought gift to the little baby Jesus. In this way, Christians must be diligent in the appropriation and application of the grace of giving to the needy and for other development projects that benefits society. Christians and indeed all responsible Nigerians are encouraged to live in the face of love, peace, tolerance of one another, corporate and harmonious existence as one people with a common destiny.
Happy New Year.