Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – Christmas “reveals from the start, and quite clearly, God’s way of thinking” says Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya), in his Pastoral Letter for Christmas 2008, which has been published in English and Kishawili.
In a country still suffering from tensions and conflict, which in some areas of the population can lead to the temptation to obtain money at all costs and resolve problems through violence, the Cardinal mentions that “the sign given to the shepherds in order to recognize Him is surprising. They are not told that they will find a child wrapped up in light, with the face of an angel, a halo on his head and surrounded by a heavenly company. Nothing like that! They will find a perfectly normal boy child with just one particular characteristic: he is poor and is among the poor people.”
“This birth reveals from the start, and quite clearly, God’s way of thinking. Some people tend to think that the power of evil can be overcome by using their weapons: money, deceit and corruption. They also think that violence can be eliminated by even greater violence; that bloody wars can be ended only by other bloody wars. Instead, the message of Christmas night tells us of a God who chooses poverty and weakness, and teaches us to discard the human way of relying on human power and strength. A kind of logic that even we Christians may be tempted to disregard and fail to accept.”
For this reason, “from his birth, Jesus has chosen to be among the lowest and last in society: the sinners, the outcasts, those who suffer most, and those who lack everything in life. They, not the 'just,' are the ones anxiously expecting the liberating and saving Word of God. Jesus will continue to be with these people. He will speak their simple language; will make use of their comparisons and their parables. He will share their joys and sufferings; will side with them against anybody seeking to isolate them from society. The poor, the ignorant, and the despised recognize him immediately and welcome him with joy because Jesus comes to transform them to better their situation.”
“On the other side are those who have: the rich, the powerful, the warlords; those who live aloof in their palaces far from the people and their problems, convinced that they know everything and possess all that is required to make themselves happy; and sometimes they run the risk of thinking they are self- sufficient. They hardly see the needs of those who do not have. For these, too, Jesus comes to assist them to learn the theory of enjoying and sharing what they have.”
The Cardinal concludes his message by expressing his hope that the we may all allow “the fire of love and a passion for justice to mobilise us, impelling us to go beyond feeling sorry to seeking a solidarity that transformations and begins with our own ongoing conversion.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2008)
