Shikrot Mpwi – Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Year B – Dec 25, 2023
Readings: Is 52:7-10; Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1-6 (R.v.3); Heb1:1-6; Gospel John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5.9-14.
Theme: Christmas Lessons from Rural Africa!
In Rural-Africa, the excitement of children when light or power supply is restored after it has been interrupted for days or weeks is akin to that joy you feel when Santa Claus knocks at your door on Christmas morning to surprise you with a box of gifts. Perhaps an erstwhile gathering of African kids at the family compound or village square for tales by the moonlight tells the story of light (energy) deficit in Sub-Sahara Africa, more.
Power Deficit in Africa
The African Power and Energy Outlook 2023 states that “more than 600 million people (or 44% of the population) lack access to electricity.” The report surmises that “Africa is racing to add capacity to electrify rural communities and secure baseload supply in urban and industrial zones.” Many families in Nigeria are unable to catch up with the Christmas vibes in terms of watching the nativity story or Christmas Carols on television. Countless Nigerians are also unable to watch or listen to Christmas jingles or advertorials because there is no electricity.
When there no is electricity, we suddenly ask, has Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) suddenly become a “kill joy?” Well, friends in Christ, I tell you – not even the darkness of PHCN can kill the joy of Christmas. Does this scenario of the absence of light connect to the misery of a people living in darkness and unfolds the joy that comes with access to light or power supply?
Pastoral Lessons: Celebrating Christ Our Light
1. Support poorer nations: Power outages in Rural-Africa and third world countries occasioned by poor leadership have some good news – the birth of Christ illumines the world and challenges the superpowers to ensure that the shortfall of infrastructure in smaller countries is addressed.
2. Ensure justice: Beyond demanding reforms from United Nations or G-8 countries, Christians, the Nativity of Christ challenges us to walk the talk by bringing the light of Christ to others in such a manner that it dispels the darkness of secularism, modernism, and consumerism thus entrenching justice, development and peace.
3. Walk in the light: At Christmas and beyond this season, we are encouraged to cast off the works of darkness and put on the amour of light (Cf. Romans 13:12) so that through us others might give glory to the father (Cf. Matthew 5:16).
4. Worship Him: Our reading (Cf. Hebrews 1:1-6) assures that God spoke through His Son in the last days and gave Him the sacred duty of purifying sins while insisting that we imitate the angels in worshipping Him –
5. Be joyful: We are called to equate the sadness and gloom we feel when there is no light (power) by rejecting sin (darkness) and embracing the joy of the (light) at Christmas and beyond.
Conclusion
The joy of children in Sub-Sahara Africa when power is restored which we earlier referred to should be ours when are reconnected to Christ and disconnected from the darkness of sin. It is the joy for which the prophet Isaiah in the first reading (Is 52:7-10) says, “Together they shall sing for joy.” The joy of Christians at Christmas is, we won’t have to wait for 2080 to achieve universal access to light because Christ Our Light shines 24/7 – Merry Christmas!
