A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly; it is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. (Jer. 31:15)
How many times have we wept and lamented in this land? Up till today we lament and weep over our fellow Igbo captured and sold to the Americas, Europe, Arabia and Asia. Then at the hands of our colonizers, we wept at our elders being shaven against their wills and humiliatedly imprisoned. From Northern Nigeria and elsewhere, we have run for dear life, barely escaping, knowing and weeping that many others were captured and slaughtered; even pursued to our own homes.
Only recently, with the so-called “Operation Python Dance” a number of our youthful children were swallowed up, with a number of them still unaccounted for.
Away from home, our youths and adults, try the perilous sea-journey to Europe, through Libya, only to perish in the bellies of sea-monsters or getting washed-up dead on some unknown shore.
Nearer home, kidnappers daringly kidnap and kill, leaving families in pain and dread; a spill-over of the violent culture expanded in the 1960s and systemically rampaging our land.
Still nearer home, the lamentation has reached an all-time high with the military-civilian government induced poverty in our land. Eke-ukwu market in Owerri, now lying in ruins, reflects the dispirited hearts of traders, civil servants, pensioners and the common Imo man, in the face of the mass poverty and sadness in our land.
In our deserted and desert situation, the voice of God echoes through:
Console my people, console them, speak to the heart of Jerusalem (Igboland, Owerri) and cry to her that her period of service is ended, that her guilt is atoned for. (Isaiah 40:1-2)
This voice of God, this voice of consolation for groaning people has been resonating for ages, not only for Israel, but for various nations of the earth.
Two thousand years ago, this voice of Godly consolation became a human being, in the person of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Child of Mary. At his birth, the Angels released on earth, the GLORIA, the glory to God, sung in the halls of heaven, while the frightened but excited shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, to behold the wonder child.
From far away land in the East, three kingly wise men suddenly arrived at King Herod’s palace in Jerusalem, curiously asking:
Where is the infant King of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage. (Matt 2:2 )
Alarmed at the mention of another king in his own domain, King Herod readied himself for the worst. Waiting in vain for the wise men to return and brief him about their visit to the new-born king, Herod not only flew into a rage; he sent out soldier-murderers to kill “all the male children … who were two years old or less, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men” Luke 2:16.
The lamentation and weeping of families all around Jerusalem was like it was in Ramah and as it is today in Imo State and across Nigeria.
God in his mysterious-saving providence sent the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph packing and running for dear life, to escape the murderous hand of King Herod. He spared Jesus’ life and called him out of Egypt for the work of eternal consolation for all humanity which still lay ahead.
Beyond the tragedy surrounding Jesus’ birth, beyond the tragedy of Jesus’ own death and in the face of our own lamentation and groaning, we can still lift our spirits and raise our voice to celebrate Christmas, because our Consoler, the Child-Jesus, rose from the dead and lives forever, no more to die. In Jesus’ own words:
The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
With the Lord God there is hope and fullness of redemption. The worst in our human calculation may or may not have happened. But in Our Lord Jesus Christ there is permanent consolation and new expectations.
With the singing and chorusing angels I bring this message to you:
Do not be afraid. Look I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:20)
Fill your lungs with the carols and songs of Christmas. Let the children construct mangers or cribs with left-over tins, pans, sticks, straw and clay, with paper or wood or whatever.
They can make Christmas joy come alive in your home or neighbourhood. Share whatever little food, drink and clothing you have at Christmas with family, friends and neighbours, beggars and strangers. Let the children do the Christmas dance and merry-go-round with their kom-kom and kq-kq-kq. Let the young men put on a Christmas-face, angel’s faces and stop intimidating travelers with demon-faces; drop the machetes and other instruments of monetary harassment. Let everyone bring some joy and consolation to our bleeding and groaning land. Breathe in the Christmas spirit as:
Joy joy fills the air
shepherd children spread the news
Mother Mary ponders deep
Here behold the Saviour-King
May the Child-Jesus, Son of God and son of Mary, bring fresh consolation to you and your family.
Console my people, console them!
A consoling Christmas to everyone of you!
Anthony J.V. Obinna
Archbishop of Owerri
