CHRISTMAS, A NOBLE DAY FOR CHRISTIANS.

“Today true peace has come down to us from heaven; the skies rain down sweetness all over the world”. (Introduction to Christmas Introit).

 We are celebrating the day our Savior was born: light has shone to the world. What a joy, what a moment for rejoicing, what a blessed season, for God who   was made man and the light of the world has been born for us. Let us joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption Oh blessed children of God!  This is a hallowed day on which the great eternal light has shone on us as our justice, sanctification and redemption. And so we sing with St. Augustine: “Let him who glories,   glory in the Lord” 

We happily sing because this is no time for sadness, the birth of life –the life which annihilates the fear of death, and engenders joy, promising, as it does, immortality. Let us then   rejoice in this grace, that our glory may be the testimony of our conscience and may glory, not in ourselves but in the Lord.

This happiness is for all mankind with nobody set aside because our Lord found nobody free from guilt when he came to bring an end to death and to sin, so he became ‘redemption’ for all. Let the saints rejoice, for they hasten for their crown; let the sinners be filled with joy, because he has won their   pardon; let the gentile be emboldened, for they is called to life. This is happiness for all.

God`s son took our human nature at a designated time in order to reconcile man and his creator. Thus   the devil, the father of death, is   overcome by that self-same human nature which he had overcome.

Let us all enjoin the Angels who sang “Glory to God in heaven” and announce “peace for us people of good will”. Let us all, mere human as we are, rejoice at this mysterious undertaking of divine love. 

As we, the elderly, belong to Christ, we are therefore the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he has promised and hence, must thank God the Father for pitying us and offer us new life through Christ and thus reassuring our nobility in Him.  Merry Christmas!  

Fr. Gregory Mashtaki 

Anglo-African Spiritual Adviser