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A CHILD IS BORN IN THE CITY OF DAVID
Century celebration of Christmas reminds me of many things growing up in Nigeria. It reminds me of the spirit of Christmas, reminds all the faithful[s] of our faith, charity during and after this season. For this reason, I appeal to all lovers of the birth of the Son of man even Jesus Christ to shout praises to the Maker of mankind for this day a Child is born in the City of David. This is specially so, as mankind irrespective of our personal and national challenges must remember the essence of being faithful followers of Christ. Even so, non-followers are also welcome to participate in this great event Xmas, for His sunshine and rainfall falleth on all that He made believers and non-believers alike. This is because He made them all, He love them all irrespective of their varying faiths, creed, beliefs, language and color. Let it be said that it does not matter whether you are a Jew or a gentile, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Ibiobio et al. it does not matter whether you are Bond or free. What matters is the fact that this reason is for all mankind because we are at the end of the day His handwork.
Having said that, some trajectory speculate or report that Christmas as a ceremony began approximately somewhere at the end of 2nd century entering the 3rd century. Whichever date it is, is fine, as long as we remember the essence. Children for example remember Christmas because it provides theme the opportunity to visit with grandma, grandpa; visit with friends, fans and family. At this time of the year, children and adults a-like usually deck up in their colorful customary gears to assemblages such as public squares and other gathering platforms. Gathering is a commonplace in Nigeria and other places of interests around the world during this time. Community progressive unions earmark and launch new projects through sectarian and secularly frameworks sometimes through community progressive organizations and so forth. Non-completed projects are reviewed and plans are formulated to get them done for public and private uses. Overtime, this ceremony has gives rise to new impetuses perhaps it has given celebrants the opportunity to showcase the latest and newest apparel in town.
Additionally, it is important to observe that during this season families mingle with families; friends mingle with friends et al. Peace and reconciliation committees are convened to resolve longstanding disputes within the communities. The idea is that this process of mediation is internal, predicated upon on commonality in interests spiced with seasonal decorum that allows the small still voice found in Christmas spirit to reign. One would hope Christmas spirit should be around everyday rather than on Decembers only. The good news is there is beauty and love at home at Xmas.
The bad news is that during this season there is unfortunately to some degree of departures: mishaps do occur during this time. Accidents and other excesses sometimes occupy space. Rather than true love, kindness and charity today and always, we have witnessed the love of men to have waxed cold with diminishing particles in the territory of love, kindness and charity. From Apostle Paul of old, one of the ancient outstanding order found in Corinthians includes - love, kindness charity and amongst these three the greatest is charity, he said. Christmas season ought to be a lightening and sparkling time for human enjoyment. It is occasion that warms and invigorates human spirit[s]. In a way, this season is a healing and revealing mechanism that should resuscitates and exhorts a depressed human-individual spiritually and physically. At time that allots us space to visit with the sick among us. Also, during this period the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed and the bonds are set free as a good will gesture by some nations-states. However, it is pretty challenging to note that these days, Christmas faces a big challenge and scare. You dare not say Merry Xmas so that you do not offend people of other faith. With due respect to other faiths, you hear things like Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza et al. The one they like to share most is Happy Holidays as if there is no reason for this Season. To the contrary, the birth of the Son of Man Jesus Christ is the reason for this Season. From the aforementioned situations, here in the United States, perhaps it is equally obtainable in Nigeria society these days: there is this ongoing commercialization and de-Christianization of Christmas. Many groupings and families rather than face up with reflections and true observance of Xmas by remembering Messiah are busy engaging themselves in abysmal fantasies that ridicules and indeed make mockery of Xmas. It is this writer s appeal to all and sundry to please celebrate Xmas by remembering the Savior more, rather than de-Christianization and commercialization of Xmas by engaging in illegal activities and other indulgences that ends many up in the wrong places.
Having reported and reviewed on the positive news and negative news of Christmas, it is important in this conversation to move the discussion toward the committee of intellectuals and researchers and review what they think about Christmas season.
Some scholars and researchers suggest that December 25, is a date of convenience chosen for other reasons, related to the time of Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine. December 25 in the Roman world was the Natalis Solis Invicti, the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun, but it may not have been as early as Christmas, if it was a Roman reaction to the Church being persecuted then.
Other sectarian leaderships have other reviews, views and dispositions sometimes seem contradictory to each other when it comes to the issues: date and birth of Messiah. Joseph Smith, Prophet, seer and revelator: founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints [LDS] in 1800 opinioned that trajectory and birth of Emmanuel might have been around April the 6th of this same period under discussion. No further explanations given.
In the other hand, other writers point to Romans paganism as reflected on specificity of date postulations and alterations as reflected in the former persecutions under Roman-frontiers: which includes Roman s territorial controls under Roman s influence and expansionism. Jerusalem at this time was under Roman s control as part of its vassal States. It may have served as an attempt to eclipse a precious devotion of Christians, amidst attempts to kill all Christians off. Many of the earliest Christian writings were destroyed during those persecutions. In fact liable sources and other documents also point to boy Jesus under the watchful eyes of his earthly parents to have escaped Jerusalem for Egypt for safety. Mary and Joseph during their journey and subsequent escape to Egypt based on security reasons during King Herod s onslaughts of all children under the age of two [2] must have suffered untold difficulties and hardship in the expanse and or dessert. To Herod another great King other than him was indeed an attempt to dethrone him. Herod therefore moves quickly to remove known and unknown threats, under any pretence[s]. The news, of real and imagined threats posed by the New Born King was fast spreading across the land by the three [3] wise men from the east after they paid him homage. As it were, with the powers of Roman government with, Herod heading the satellite vassal state in Jerusalem, decrees was quickly promulgated in the land with its plausibility and susceptibility; which, by application was meant to protect Herod s leadership and kingdom. Pardon the writer s little digression in this frame, however.
Markedly, St. Hippolytus, who was already knowledgeably defending the faith in writing at the turn of the century, entering the 3rd century AD, said that Emmanuel was born Wednesday, December 25, in the 42nd year of Augustus reign [see his Commentary on Daniel, circa AD 204, Bk. 4, Ch. 23].
Additional calculations are made on the basis of the six-year almanac of Priestly Rotations, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Some believe that this almanac lists the week when John the Baptist s father would have served as a high priest in the Temple of God. As it is implied John the Baptist could only be conceived during that particular period or week; and as his conception is believed to be tied to that of Jesus, it is claimed that an approximate date of December 25 can be arrived at for the birth of Jesus.
However, most scholars [e.g. see Catholic Encyclopedia in sources], believe this calculation to be unreliable as it is based on a string of assumptions.
Colleagues, for the purpose of this piece, the writer will focus more on the spirit of the time and season. There is something special, something unusual in the air during Xmas. The spirit of Christmas is felt everywhere in the world during this period. At this time of the year, new dresses are made for kids; new resolutions are made; we experience the idea of family reunions; the idea of old boys and girls meet in Public Square to reflect on old-good-days and eventually ponder today s challenges and constraints but at the same time still have the opportunity to count their blessings. There are others who lost loved ones as comfort and consolations are wished offered to them for a better life in the future. At Christmas, families always make in puts to mend fences, heal old-wounds with purported long time enemies if successful it is love at home again. If not efforts are made to work it for better.
It has been said that at Christmas, new projects are earmarked, governments world over review and revisit failed projects, and failed policies are jettisoned as new benchmarks are rolled out by policymakers with their sponsors eavesdropping just in case. Attempts are made to forgive each other. Nations pardon criminals and dissidents are set free across the broad as good gesture.
However, the birth of Christ the Law giver who came among men and his people rejected him has more into its meaning than the aforementioned scenarios. It is a spiritual milestone for millions of faithful followers around the world. The master Christ arrival prepared him to descend below all things to make it possible that man s freedom and liberty is not destroyed by the opposition Lucifer the enemy of God.
This redemptive mechanism and mission gave human-individuals the capacity to act and be acted upon through their new found freedom sometimes called free-agency.
What is free agency? Free agency means the right of humanity to choose between good and evil.
Growing up in Nigeria Christmas is usually a big festivity especially amongst youngsters or children. And, families usually pay attention to their children so that it remains a most memorable time to remember when they grow up or when they become adults. It gives them and their families the opportunity to appreciate and share the spirit of Christmas. Christmas season is filled with sparkling decorations and does warms people s hearts.
Here in the United States, the spirit of Christmas is equally wonderful. Big cities like New York and other big cities around the world plus Lagos almost become ghost towns and cities. At Christmas, individuals return to the countryside to spent time with family members they haven t seen for many years. When it is over, many begin their gradual return to their old cities and or gradual relocate to other cities or countryside to start a new life. In most cases, weddings are usually preferred at this period. These weddings are huge attraction that makes you think about getting engaged and getting married to someone. As it were, during this season, human electrons are usually in high frequency, characteristically matching the spectacular warmness of the season. To many, this is a very historic time not to mess with.
Conversely, to others there is nothing to remember or to celebrate about at Christmas.
To this group, the feeling is that of abandonment, frustrations, emptiness, hopelessness and total departure from the spirit of Christmas. Others in this line of thought have faced continuous uncontrollable disasters after disaster and some loved ones are engaged in other international conflicts in far lands. To such this writer hope and pray that they find comfort, peace, joy and rejoicing as they pull themselves up in these many challenges. In their little quest and search of life s pursuit for happiness come unmeant dreams, missions and ambitions. Markedly, through grace, collective efforts and divine intervention man will hopefully find joy and happiness in Christ Jesus. To others who are successful in their careers remember to share with others today and always. Please remember to be supportive of one another especially the needy among us. By being supportive of one another knowingly and unknowingly we would have benefited from it by giving and sharing. There are many ways to share: it could be practically, spiritually and otherwise. The idea of sharing with others must not only be at Christmas, hopefully sharing will be with us always. Other viewpoint states that our intellectualism and other levels of epistemologies and branches of intelligences came from our God thus must be shared. Thusly remembering the essence of this season, by being mindful of each other and somehow get rid ourselves of greed and pride and other dehumanizing or inhumane tendencies is necessary resolutions for new year and always.
In the final analysis, it is therefore important that we show love, kindness, humility, mercy and above all charity unto our fellow beings regardless of our ethnicity, color, creed and national origin.
The writer appeals and hope that we use this season to allow each of us the opportunity to reflect, heal and save our country Nigeria from its current slide towards, God forbid, catastrophe or total collapse. For we have no other country than Nigeria. May we sit back and tactfully re-examine, re-evaluate the matrix of righteousness and unrighteousness dominions, perhaps premium and retain righteous practices and jettison unrighteous practices in Nigeria project. We as a people must bring to bear the kind of organizational leadership, transparency and good governance package badly needed in the land that will become the fundamental foundation for Nigerian-frontiers. Frontiers were nations will flock to like a sanctuary of God, a refuge for safety rather than a place a-washed with lawlessness, dangers and chaos. A frontier, where justice, equity, fairness, meritocracy, will reign supreme; hard work and character as its benchmark not the other way around. A frontier of equilibrium, were equal opportunity becomes the hallmark of its foundation for the long awaited egalitarian society to come.
For the Christians and non-Christians alike, in this scriptures we were earnestly admonished to remember the CITY OF DAVID, in Bethlehem of Judaeh, were a little-young-tender boy called Emmanuel was born in a manger. Remember that he was born to take away the sins of the world.
As we celebrate this season feeling the spirit of Christmas, we should remember prophet Isaiah speaking messianically of Christ which remarked unto us a child is born He shall be the Prince of Peace and shall reign on David s throne.
For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff if his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of Lord of hosts will perform this.
The remarks in quote made a better impression in the writer s mind and other better minds out there. The writer is in affirmative to those remarks thusly, has little to add to it rather than to say that it is important that we humbly remember these things, use each opportunity that comes our way with clarity, focus and with the intent to do good always. Do them the way the reason for this season Christ will do them. Maintaining our talents, our skills and more positively so that at the end of the day we would have assisted, contributed directly and indirectly to better remember what this period really represent. This writer wishes each of you Merry Christmas greetings and a wonderful Holiday. He wishes you a wonderful and productive festive season to better our relationship and our charity with friends, family, country, and strangers and particularly to better our relationships with the most deprived that lives amongst us within and without our areas of influence.
December 20, 2005
Written by Carlisle Umunnah
In New York
contract address: cuu1_liberties@yahoo.com
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