Opinion - Rising to the Challenge of the Christmas Spirit
OUR little capital of Victoria is glittering once again with silver lights all over the place reminding us that Christmas is on the way. Thank you Mayor of Victoria for organising this. Although not elected to head the local governance of our Capital, you have certainly given effect to the wishes and desire of our people, a majority of whom sees Christmas as the most sacred and important day of the year, writes Sir James Mancham, founding President of Seychelles.
Last week in Sri Lanka, I read of the criticism by the newly appointed Cardinal in Sri Lanka concerning a parish priest who has spent a lot of money in decorating his church this Christmas time. According to my understanding, this Cardinal who is close to Pope Francis, believes that this money would have been better spent to help the poor rather than on all the decorations and the lights.
In fact, in the USA alone, the cost of Christmas decorations in all the cities would certainly total several million dollars which could go to charitable causes. But in a world where hope, which does not in itself nourish man, still keep him in a positive anticipatory mood. And does not the birth of Jesus represent the hope for a brighter future for all?
“Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of goodwill”, is certainly the dominant message of the Christmas occasion and to think that even at that time in Bethlehem they were talking about peace!!”
In my years as a teen growing up in Seychelles, I was an altar boy assisting the priests in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. I was so proud when chosen by the parish priest to assist in the celebration of the midnight mass on December 24 which converges on Christmas Day (the 25th). I can still hear the solo voice of the late Leon Pool or the late Ogilvy Berlouis as year after year one of them was asked to intone that great Christmas hymn, “Minuit Chrétien” –
Midnight, Christians, is the solemn hour,
When God as man descended unto us
To erase the stain of original sin
And to end the wrath of His Father.
The entire world thrills with hope
On this night that gives it a Saviour.
People, kneel down, await your deliverance.
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer,
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!
At that time, bells of the Cathedral were tolling loud and clear and echoing their tune against Mont Buxton and Mont Signal.
The leaders of all the great religions left behind great parables and words of wisdom. Jesus is certainly remembered for his beatitudes –
-
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
-
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
-
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
-
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
-
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
-
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
-
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
-
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Against a background of such beatitudes, what can, we in Seychelles, do to reflect our gratefulness to the Almighty Eternal God that we are still living in peace and harmony and with no one among us starving or homeless?
Now my mind takes me back to those ugly scenes I saw on television this morning about the terrible fate of the innocent children of Aleppo in Syria who are caught struggling for survival because of a civil war of geo-political dimension about which they know nothing. Indeed we have so far been lucky that despite our own geopolitical characteristics, that we have so far been spared with such calamity.
I have just had a telephone conversation with Rose-Mary Elizabeth who last week was the winner of the Volunteers Award and who, I know, is active on the committee to combat violence against women and children. She has assured me of her full support in a common endeavour to appeal to religious leaders to make a special collection for the children of Aleppo at this Christmas time and indeed will also wish to appeal to other organisations to positively respond to this call within the Christmas spirit. There is sometimes more joy in giving than in receiving.
Any money raised should be paid through a designated local bank account to be dispatched to Medecin Sans Frontières which is an international humanitarian aid and non-governmental organisation which recently received the Nobel Peace Prize and which is best-known for its involvement in war torn regions of the world.
The initiative may not bring us a lot of money in relation to the on-going size of the crisis but it will be proof that we are a small nation which thinks big and have a generous heart and that indeed we remain grateful to the Almighty for what we have today.
Merry Christmas to all.
James R. Mancham
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of OCEANUSLive
Subscribe to our newsletter. Receive a weekly round-up of all piracy-related & maritime situational awareness news.
OCEANUSLive.org
Information, Security, Safety; Shared
Submitted by Team@oceanuslive.org