Written By Askanwi Gambia
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2024
By Most Rev’d Bannie E F Manga Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church The Gambia and Chairman of The Gambia Christian Council
December 2024
The Gospel according to Luke chapter 2 verses 25 to 40, sets a vivid backdrop of the ministry and work of Jesus Christ, the reason for this season of Christmas. It reads thus:
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people, lsrael.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
The context presented in this story resonates with our local Gambian reality in that when a child is born, elders within the society bless the child with aspirations that they anticipate for the new member of our family, community, and generation. These aspirations are usually pivoted on family roles and values. One of such family values is the prayer for the newborn to take his/her rightful place within the family. This, it is envisaged, will strengthen family unity. In the family, everyone is important and gifted with individual gifts and graces for the common good of all. However, in our family unity, one must never discard the personal responsibility of members. Family bonds are meant to reinforce the task and mission of each member.
Within this context and understanding, I will be centering my thoughts on the gift of children. Psalm 127 verses 3 to 5 enjoins us with these words: “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court”.
In children, most people don’t see possibilities and often see stubbornness and costly expenditures. This is premised on the fact that we do not know the future. Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 11 and 12 anchors this truth- “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live”.
Now the question is, how do we juxtapose the uncertainties associated with the future with our ambitions and prayers for a good and happy life, especially for our children? How do we secure a better future for our children from the perspective of integrity, love, and dignity? How do we create a world where our children can grow stronger in faith, in wisdom, in statute, and in favour with God and humanity?
We do not need to reinvent the wheel, as our local faith context has created a picture that we can promote. This picture is anchored in the story of Jesus’ birth. In the birth narratives that we celebrate in this Christmas season, few truths are embodied for our study. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Mary kept all these records in her heart. The experiences of Mary with reference to the pre-birth and birth narratives of Jesus allowed Mary to contemplate, treasure, and probe into the significance of Jesus’ mission. Her special closeness to Jesus did not exempt her from the occasional difficult process leading to an understanding of God’s plan. She needed to learn from the baby Jesus by recognizing the signs of the Messiah. We too, like Mary, have to seek the grace of God upon our lives and especially that which is on the lives of our children.
2. The Name associated with the Child. As is our custom here in The Gambia, children are named 8 days after they are born. Jesus was born ‘under the law’ (Galatians 4 verse 4), and eight days after his birth he received the name Jesus, which means, the one who saves’, the one who earns us the power to call God Abba Father’. In his birth and naming, Jesus becomes part and parcel of our human race. He ratifies the priestly prayer of Numbers 6 verse 26. In Jesus, the Lord’ makes his face known to us and gives us peace’. By becoming human, the Son of God transforms every human face into the expression of God’s presence and exigency. This revelation must challenge us therefore that no child should go hungry, no child should suffer abuse and cruelty, no child should go begging to exist, no child should be deprived of education, no child should be seen-and allowed to be insignificant, and no child should be written off from the purposes and plan of God.
3. Creating an environment of Peace. Peace is the absence of conflicts. It is not necessarily the absence of differences and temporary misunderstandings among people. When love is the bond uniting us, peace will be built up step by step. Negative encounters and confrontations will disappear, and relationships will become more transparent. In this Christmas season of 2024, I stand very much afraid that the rhetoric emanating from our political and community leaders is unhealthy. We are not seeking to develop a United family called The Gambia, but it is so obvious that we are grooming a society that will be divided by selfish and unpatriotic tendencies that will destroy our sustained heritage as Gambians. This heritage, which is celebrated on Christmas in the various family traditions, celebrations, and community engagements, must be preserved and strengthened for the benefit of our children.
In this Christmas season of 2024, I beseech all who are listening and watching to rethink the future of our children. In Jesus, the hopes and aspirations of salvation for the people of God were met. In Jesus, women reclaimed prominence in the life and witness of Mary in salvation history. In Jesus, the Lord God restored the human face with dignity and freedom and challenged us to take up our personal responsibilities. In his birth and ministry, Jesus stamped the need for peace and a peaceful existence.
Please let us celebrate this reality of the salvation offered by Jesus Christ as we commemorate another Christmas festivity. On behalf of the Methodist family in The Gambia, I pray for a peaceful, refreshing, and enjoyable Christmas to and for everyone. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas.
