Change your ways and change the world

The birth of Jesus Christ and the Christmas season compel us once more to share with all God’s children the wonderful Good News that God has not for one moment given up on his creation and his people. At the fall of man due to the sin of disobedience, God promised to send a saviour, a redeemer who would deliver His people. The prophets announced it. (Isaiah 11, Matt. 4) God fulfilled his promise. He sent Jesus Christ His only son so that all who believe in him may be saved. With the coming of Jesus, Emmanuel, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1). With the coming of Jesus, God has done all He can to save us. No controversy, he gave his only son out of love and to die not to live.

Christmas is a call to change, to repentance. God’s action is pure love for man and it is a great sin to abuse that love. Sin is at the root of all the misery and suffering we go through in the world. If we do not cooperate with God’s plan, no amount of carol singing or Father Christmas parties can save us. We will continue to run on the spot and suffer from death, poverty and fear. We cannot blame the devil. He is not as hardworking as we claim. Men and women are the ones who work for him and cause all the evil.

Christmas is a call to all - government, politicians, clergy, parents and people - to live an upright life. Stop all the lying and stealing; stop all the cheating and killing. Stop the conflict and the destruction. Let all priests, pastors, imams and traditional leaders be true fathers and examples to the people in their care, remembering that all positions of power are transient and God will one day judge them (Joel:1, Matt 25). Let them be humble and generous! That is why Jesus came as a “powerless baby” to show that all power belongs to God. If not, we shall continue to suffer. What goes around eventually comes around.

Work for peace

As we look forward to a new year I call on all to think deeply and work for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. Let us walk humbly and justly before God (Joel 2: 12ff). What value has your life on earth if you do no good for humanity? Do your part more than you point fingers at others. Instead of accusing man forever, God did all he could. Look in the eyes of every child around you and find a reason to build a better society for the future. Jesus came as a baby to remind us that we were all once children and God has plans for children.

Fight corruption, for it kills, especially the children through collapse of the education system, health services and the sustenance of families. I call on us all for their sake, as Pope Benedict XVI has said, to change for the better. You may have seen Father Christmas but try harder to see Jesus. You may have bought and got presents but try harder to earn salvation. The only ticket you need is faith, true love and service.

We cannot lose hope. As workers in God’s hope industry, we declare that our world is God’s own project. But he has entrusted it to us. We must cooperate with him. God’s arms are not too short to save his people (Isaiah 29). God has done all He can. Let us love like he did. This may mean turning against our own greed, selfishness and pride. That is exactly what it means to see Jesus, as the Holy Father teaches.

In Nigeria we pray, and pray well. Yes, but we also sin, and greatly by embracing corruption, exalting fraud and condoning injustice. That is why armed robbery, conflict, death, hostage-taking and poverty endure. Prayer is good but ours is rendered powerless by sin. Sin may bring wealth, power and fame but it destroys the soul and spirit of the sinner. Experience the power in St. Paul’s words as he urges us to look more for the things of heaven (Colossians 3). God has done all he can. If Nigeria fails we are all guilty. If we follow God’s commandments, all shall be well yet with Nigeria and God’s world. A peaceful 2009 to all!

Rt. Rev. Badejo is Coadjutor Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria.