The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev John Oyejola has charged Nigerians to spread love of God and be “beacons of light in the darkness that is gradually enveloping our nation.”
In his 2024 Christmas message issued on Tuesday, Oyejola asked Nigerians, especially Christians, to thank God for witnessing this year’s Christmas despite the nation’s extreme hard times.
The message is titled: “Christ our Light comes to us full of Truth and Grace.”
“As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us be reminded of the profound impact of this sacred event on human history especially for our salvation. The birth of Christ, the eternally begotten Son of God, brings hope, joy and light into a world often shrouded in darkness, deceit, corruption and hypocrisy.
“In a world filled with uncertainty, fear, division, hunger, poverty, sickness, violence and criminal activities, the message of Christmas is a powerful reminder of God’s unwavering love for humanity. The birth of Christ declares that God is with us, that God loves us unconditionally, and that God desires to dwell among us, if only we allow him a space in our societies, families and our hearts.
“As we reflect on the Nativity scene, let us remember that the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb are all connected. The baby born in a manger in Bethlehem would grow up to be the saviour of the world who would die on the cross for our sins and rise from the dead to give us eternal life. As the Gospel of John tells us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
“The holy season of Christmas, reminds us of the values that Christ embodied when he took on our human nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was born in time for our redemption. Among the many virtues that Christ demonstrated, truth and honesty stand out as essential characteristics of His ministry. He is the truth, the way and life,” Bishop Oyejola said.
He added that, “In a world where truth is often distorted, manipulated, brutally silenced, denied, and often ignored, Jesus’ commitment to truth and honesty is a powerful reminder of the importance of integrity in our lives; which sadly is in short supply in our country Nigeria.”
For Oyejola, authentic Christians are to uphold truth and honesty in season and out of season.
“As we read in John 1: 14, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the embodiment of truth, and his birth, life and mission are a testament to God’s faithfulness and commitment to truth. As we celebrate Christmas, let us be guided by the light of faith that Christ brings, let us re-commit ourselves to truth and honesty, these are values that will lift our nation up from the dungeon of corruption and underdevelopment to the height of glory and comfort for all and sundry.
“The political class, civil servants and all those who hold public offices in trust for the people should be alive to their responsibilities with truth, honesty and integrity as the guiding principles.
“The citizens of our struggling country, regardless of our creed and religion, must strive to be truthful in our words and actions, honest in our dealings with others, and transparent in our intentions and motivations. We must become beacons of hope and honesty in a society that thrives in deceit, selfishness, and often values expediency and convenience over integrity and honesty.
“This Christmas, let us hold on to hope. Let us be beacons of light in the darkness that is gradually enveloping our nation. Let us share the love of God with those around us. Let us remember that Jesus is the reason for this season. Like the wise men, we must follow the star of hope to the saviour of the world. Despite the economic gloom around us, let us be calm and bright, we must look towards the crib and join the angels to sing “Glory to God on high, and on earth peace to men of goodwill.” In the footsteps of Mary the Mother of God, we must treasure the gift of Jesus in our hearts and proclaim the good news to all.
“May the joy and peace of Christ, the truth of God’s love and redemption be the guiding force in our lives this Christmas season and throughout the New Year. May God bless you and keep you in his abiding grace. Merry Christmas and happy new year in advance,” the prelate stated.
