Moderator’s Christmas Message 2016
December 8, 2016
“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth”. Genesis 2:16
The message of salvation is echoed within the weeks of Advent. The celebration of his coming is always warm and filled with hope. In it we are reliving the celebration of Jesus’ birth with joy which has been proclaimed by the angels to the shepherds in the Euphrates. They were simple people, and the marginalized of that day. Be that as it may, they still had a strong family bond.
Family is the design and true work of God for human kind. Thus God is everything to the family and the family everything for God. The family is important, so I invite us all to reflect on “Living together as the family of God” as the reflection for this year’s Christmas.
Family is the smallest unit of a society, but its presence is very important. Through our family life we learn about manners, responsibility, respect for one another and learning to accept differences, talents and hobbies.
However, these things become lost in our family life because of the contradictions that occur in this world.
“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth”. Genesis 2:16
This verse states that God renews his covenant with the salvation of the whole of creation. The rainbow in the clouds is a symbol of our hope in the midst of the problems the world is facing now. We can see this now also with climate change, and the differences that occur in our day to day life.
Christmas events remind us to “live together as the family of God” guided by the rainbow of His love. That it will strengthen our faith, our hope, and life in love for each other as well as the love of God, because God is love. This is what must be kept in relation to living as a family of God.
Due to current life circumstances, the love of most people is getting cold. It is becoming less abundant with the quality fading away. The lack of love has led many to selfishness, self-interest, and saying one thing but meaning the other. For example: pretending to want to understand, but in reality not caring at all.
“Living together as the family of God” should be marked by a life of love. Love for God, love for family members, love of neighbours and love of the environment in which we live and exist in. And for that there needs to be sacrifice. God’s love has been given to us through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ when he entered the world.
“Living together as a family of God,” there must be a foundation of unity. As family members we each have a responsibility unify all creation into live in peace. As Christians we are called to proclaim the sign of God’s presence in this world. We are called to create justice, peace and integrity for all creation. We have a responsibility to realize the family of a peaceful, harmonious, fair and mutual acceptance in diversity.
In the spirit of commemorating the birth of Jesus, we are invited to plant, water and maintain a life together as a “family of God” in peace.
Merry Christmas 2016, May God Bless you
Rev Thresi Mauboy Wohangara
Moderator
