From the RT. Rev. Dr. S. Tilewa Johnson
(Bishop of The Gambia and Dean of the Province of West Africa)

Your Grace, MiLords, Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Incarnate Lord,

Greetings.

When proclaiming the birth of Jesus  the time when God came to live among us as a human being  the angels sang:

"Glory to God in the highest Heaven!
Peace upon earth among men of goodwill!" ...(Luke 2: 14)

Christmas is traditionally the time when we reflect upon peace and goodwill in our world and in our lives.  As we are witness to such a lack of peace in our world, it is important to do this at least once in the year!  It is sad to see how so many people seek their own agenda, ignoring the impact their actions may have on those around them.  When such a path is undertaken by those who hold power, it can be detrimental to the lives of so many people.  The selfish quest for power invariably impoverishes and disempowers those who are already vulnerable.

We see so many examples where there is a lack of peace  and even overt violence and warfare  in our world, and maybe in our own close communities.  A good starting point for our reflection on "peace in our world" could be to ask ourselves  what do we need for the establishment of peace around us and within us?  At the outset, it is important to note that "peace" is not merely an absence of conflict, but something that goes far deeper.  The ultimate peace must be a state of "shalom", whereby an holistic peace is attained  a peace of body, mind and spirit.

The birth of Jesus was predicted by Old Testament prophets.  The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that a boy child would be born to reign over his people.  His Kingdom would be one of "justice" and "righteousness"  a kingdom of "boundless peace" (Isaiah 9: 6 and 7).  Jesus teaching often referred to the Kingdom.  The Kingdom he spoke of is beyond value  he likens it to a pearl that, when discovered, it is worth giving up everything else to obtain it.  He says the Kingdom is around us and within us.  In the gospel according to St. Luke Jesus said, The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say. "Here it is," or "There it is,"because the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17: 20 and 21).  The Kingdom of God is where Gods will is recognised and obeyed.  It is where there is wholeness and peace that come from justice and righteousness.

We have to admit that our world can provide many examples where peace is lacking due to a lack of justice and righteousness.  It is easy to identify areas where peace is absent due to open conflict and warfare.  However, the widespread lack of "shalom" due to poverty can be far less obvious.  The quiet violence of poverty is to be found in every country, to varying degrees.  There is great inequality between the nations of the world, and also within nations.  If justice is to be interpreted as fairness, we can see what a long way we have to go.

In a recent speech, Nelson Mandela stated that, Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity.  It is an act of justice.  It is the protection of fundamental human rights.  Everyone everywhere has the right to live with dignity, free from fear and oppression, free from hunger, and free to express himself or herself and associate at will.  He also gives hope in the belief that poverty can be overcome, saying, poverty is not natural.  It is people who have made and tolerated poverty, and it is people who will overcome it.  What an encouragement this is to us in our struggle to create a fairer world, where all people can have a decent standard of living, in peace.  However, in reality, we know the task is not easy.  It is only possible by God's power.

The message of Christmas tells of the birth of a boy child.  God came to live among us on earth as this person, Jesus.  Jesus came to proclaim God's Kingdom of righteousness, justice and peace.  The light of Jesus Christ reveals God's Kingdom to us.  The Kingdom will come to fruition when the rule of God is established  that is, when God's will is done on earth as it is in Heaven.  We pray for this to come about every time we say the Lord's Prayer.  The Lord's Prayer is, in effect, a prayer for God's grace to live according to His will and for His Kingdom to be fulfilled here and now. 

We may feel that there is little we can do about world problems.  However, if every person takes responsibility for their lives, change can come.  The effects of a changed life  more in accordance with the will of God - can permeate the surrounding society in which we live.  When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom he likened it to a mustard seed: a very small seed that grows into a tree, which attracts the birds of the air to come and roost in its branches.  Again, he likens the Kingdom to yeast, which, when mixed with dough spreads throughout it, and affects all the dough to rise.  The Kingdom of God can grow and spread quite miraculously  but we must be willing to participate in the process, by allowing God's rule to guide our lives.

During this season of Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus  that is, God in human form coming to live among us.  Jesus came to free us from sin and death, and to re-establish a close relationship with God, through his sacrificial death and resurrection.  Jesus came to guide the way for us to live more closely to God, and how we can participate with God in bringing to fulfilment God's Kingdom here on earth.  Let us now  today  recommit ourselves to God's rule of love, righteousness, justice and peace.  In so doing we really can change lives, and even change the world!

We wish you joy and peace this Christmas and always.

+Tilewa                                                                                             Bishop of Gambia and Erstwhile Metropolitan ad interim, CPWA