By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Archbishop of the Province of Ibadan (Anglican Communion), Dr Williams Aladekugbe has urged Christians not to be carried away by the festivities and celebrations while leaving out Christ, which he described as the reason for the season.
The cleric spoke while delivering a sermon on Wednesday during the Christmas Service at The Cathedral of St Peter, Aremo, Ibadan.
His sermon was themed: “Where Is the baby?”, with reference to Isaiah 7:14.
Aladekugbe who is the Bishop of Ibadan North Diocese said, many times, people are so preoccupied with mundane things that they do not recognize what can be great and lofty in the future.
According to the cleric, Christmas is celebrated elaborately worldwide, with some distinguishing features including, different weather and free sharing of gifts
Additionally, he said, the decoration of homes, streets, churches, supermarkets, stores and even hotels, add glamour to the joy of Christmas with
people spend lavishly on many things, including those that are not necessary at Christmas, in memory of the birth of Jesus Christ.
He said the situation gets worrisome sometimes, as even banks become cash strapped at Christmas.
He however caution that all of the festivities will amount to mere jamboree when people leave Christ out of their lives and sharing his essence with their neighbours.
Aladekugbe said, “If there is any festival or any occasion in the world that captures the attention of everybody, it is Christmas. Christmas, of course, reminds us of when the baby, Jesus, who came unnoticed, was born.
“Oftentimes, we are so preoccupied with mundane things that we do not recognize what can be great and lofty in the future. Let us examine some great men of history who were born unnoticed, in Nigeria – people like Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Ahmadu Bello, etc. and from outside the country, such people like Archbishop Gordon Vining, Indira Ghandi, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln etc.
“In later years, these men rose to become great and to be recognized. Today, though they are dead, people still remember them.
Lectures, memorials and all kinds of activities are still being held to remember them.
“Over two thousand years ago, however, a child was born by a young virgin in a most pitiable state. He was born where animals were kept, in a manger, while the rich people were busy enjoying themselves in comfortable hotels.
“The civil servants were busy with the census, and the poor were trying to cover themselves from the bitter winter. There was excitement in the air, but only for those who knew about the child who was born. The name given to the baby was, however, very fascinating.
“According to Isaiah 7: 14, the name is Immanuel. This name is unique. The name was different in meaning from all other names. The name means, ‘God with us’. God with us means a permanent sojourning. A person that stays permanently, a person that will not and cannot depart under any circumstance or under any situation.”
He said further: “For over two thousand years, we have been celebrating this glorious birth. The name, Immanuel, has since become a symbol of perpetuity.
“The Christmas is celebrated elaborately worldwide, with some distinguishing features:
The weather at Christmas is different.
The celebration is unique as gifts are freely given and received. The decoration of homes, streets, churches, supermarkets, stores and even hotels, add glamour to the joy of Christmas.
“People spend lavishly on many things (even those that are not necessary) at Christmas in memory of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
“Sometimes, banks become cash strapped at Christmas.
“The first question we should now ask ourselves as we celebrate this birthday is “Who is the baby?” The answer is “Jesus Christ”.
“The second question is “Where is the baby?”.
That reminds me of the story of two women who dressed in their finest attire and went out to have lunch together at a very exclusive restaurant. A third friend saw them and came to their table to greet them. This friend asked, “What is the special occasion?”. One of the women answered, “We are having a birthday party for the baby in the family. He is two years old today”. This friend then asked the other, “but where is the baby?”.
“The mother answered, “Oh, I dropped him off at my mother’s house; she is taking care of him until the party is over. He will be disturbing us if he is here and we will not be able to enjoy ourselves”.
How ridiculous! A birthday celebration for a child who was not welcome at his own birthday party.
“I am sure many of us will regard this mother as wicked or selfish. But can we take a hard look at ourselves. What with all the festivities of the Christmas, yet, many do not know or remember Him.
“Jesus is the person we are supposed to be honouring at Christmas. This is the same manner by which many people celebrate Christmas.
The parties go on, gifts change hands, families gather for merriment, various styles of dresses are on display, headgears and hats as well as caps to match are donned by people at Christmas, yet, the One, whose birthday they are commemorating, is almost completely forgotten.
“Dear people of God, I therefore urge you at this season, despite all your enjoyment and the pleasant time to be spent with your families and friends, make sure that you do not leave out the Lord Jesus. Give Him the honour He deserves.
We must try and capture that joyous excitement by refocusing our attention on the event we celebrate rather than the celebration of the event. The event is the birth of Immanuel who is always with us.
“We must celebrate the event by remembering why He came into the world and the need for His coming, remembering what the world would have looked like if He did not come, remembering the glory and the splendor He left behind, yet He came and was born in a manger, remembering that His birth marks the beginning of modern civilization with the attendant science and technology and remembering that His birth brought peace not to the world alone, but to the hearts of those who receive.”
