Theme: “Rethinking the Christmas Story: Jesus, Born A Baby Yet The King” Isaiah 9:6
Greetings in the name of the incarnated King and Saviour!!!
My dear friends in Christ, the core of the Christmas story is about how God desired to save and set right the world that had not gone according to the plan he had envisaged at the genesis of His creation. God sought to do this by bringing heaven down to us here on earth through the incarnation of His Son. This is why the “logos” (the word of God) became flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:14)
The mystery of the Christmas story is a gentle reminder of how God sought to execute this salvation project not with power and might but in meekness and humility. He was born a baby in a manger because there was no place in the inn for him — and not in a mansion. (Luke 2:7,12) He was surrounded by sheep and shepherds — and not by royal servants and guards. (Luke 2:8). However, the irony is this: he was attended to by angels signifying that the baby who was born was a king.
(Luke 2:13-14). There is great virtue in humility. Unfortunately, we have not treasured and sought after the virtue of humility for the simple reason that we have been preoccupied with our greedy
quests and unbridled desires for wealth, coupled with our insatiable thirst for power and control. An attitude which all-too-often causes us to miss our vocation as Christians.
The incarnation story cautions us once more that when God sought to save the world and set it right, He did not send arsenals of tanks, rockets, and shells or any military material. He did not deploy the mightiest and most powerful, He pointed us to the poor in spirit, the meek, the lowly and humble.
In humility, the frail baby born of Mary would be enthroned the ultimate king of the universe while the Caesars of the so-called powerful Roman world would be dethroned forever. For “He brings down the powerful from their thrones and raises up the lowly”. (Luke 1:46-55). This is the reason why St. Luke carefully opens his gospel by recording the names of the rulers on the various thrones of power at the time of the birth of Jesus. St. Matthew on the other hand, takes his time to take us through the powerful arrogance of King Herod in Jerusalem. At the end of the story, it is Jesus who draws all men to himself as the true king of the universe. Remember, He was crucified ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’ and Pontius Pilate caused this to be written in Hebrew (Aramaic), in Latin and in Greek. John 19:19-22. At the end of the episode, it was not Caesar who had the title King, it was Jesus – for what was written was written.
The silent and most solemn Christmas night loudly reechoes Jesus’ instruction to his disciples, “If anyone wants to be great, he must be the servant of all, for the son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”. The Christmas story my friends is the story of humble beginnings with far greater endings. Jesus came not only to give us an example to follow: he came to die for the wretched and miserable sinners so that we may have life and have it in abundance. Jn 10:10.
And it was in all humility and meekness that He came down to earth as the Prince of Peace, with the angels proclaiming “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” That wonderful peace that Jesus’ birth brought into the world is still a promise that our world continues to squander. And this Christmas we find ourselves at a time when conflicts are raging across different regions of the world, and even in our own sub-region. In the Gambia we have the good fortune to have been blessed with peace.
On behalf of the Clergy and the Lay Leadership of the Anglican Diocese, we want to seize this singular opportunity to thank his Excellency Mr. Adama Barrow, the President of the Republic and his government for the peace we enjoy as a Country, and for the climate of religious tolerance and harmony that continues to be the hallmark of this beautiful country. On that note, I wish to seize the opportunity again to wish the political leadership and the entire citizenry of The Gambia a Merry Christmas and Happy festive season.
Finally, to you my beloved members of the Anglican Diocese and the rest of the Christian community, may your joy and happiness never cease as you celebrate the birth of the baby who is born the King.
Issued At the Bishop’s Court, Banjul, The Gambia
