Vebu Khamo
Scripture Text: For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sin against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Whatever has happened to the world, peace and harmony remains wanting! The scenario of human history has changed but with no sense of true freedom and peace. The world still hungers for unity and peace but the search seems naught. The 21st century generation has seen a positive boom of technological advance and progress but not with the absence of terror and dehumanizing activities of human beings. On this pessimistic level, the description of the fallen world can go down and deeper still.
But the flipside story of this fallen world is that God has come to the rescue of all that’s gone wrong with mankind. He promised and he prophesied about this coming Messiah right from Genesis down to Malachi. The Saviour of the world who comes to restore and give life to humans was born in the likeness of humans. His birth was of solitude and silence. Yet the fruit of this story is the salvation of mankind.
The mission of God in Christ initiated through the virgin birth of Mary in a small town of Bethlehem away from the crowded place was a message of serenity and silence. It was God manifested in the flesh away from pompous and noisy celebration of royalty and rich homes. The mention of shepherds who came rushing at the proclamation of the good news about Jesus Christ speaks of God reaching down to the lowest strata of the society. At the same time, the birth of baby Christ in a manger speaks of humility and His identification with the lowly beings. It was this nature of Christ that gave way for humans to reunite with the Creator and with fellow neighbours. The tale of Christmas is the greatest story of reconciliation that ever happened in history. It is the celebration of human and God reconciling together in perfect harmony and unity. It is in Christ that we find reconciliation and peace.
Prayer: May this Spirit of reconciliation flow to our hearts, homes and communities as we celebrate the birth and incarnation of our dear Lord and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
