At CHRISTMAS, as we experience uncertainty and fear in the face of the unfamiliar and unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Christians are called to trust in the promise that “God comes into the world to bring light and life and hope in the midst of all the difficulties we still face”.
In his 2020 Christmas message to all the LWF member churches, the President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, speaks of hope and calls for perseverance. Likening the fears of Mary and Joseph to the unrest of today, Musa is convinced that “the birth of this child, laid in a manger and worshipped by humble shepherds, will bring new hope and new light to a dark world”.
The President said that the Lutheran communion has watched with fear and unrest as the coronavirus disease spreads across the world “in an extremely painful way, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives”.
In his message, he refers to the many ways in which the LWF churches continue to support those hardest hit by the pandemic, including those who were isolated, without sources of income and in danger. “We are inspired by stories of the innovative ways in which churches have kept people connected, to worship God, to serve and to bear witness to the gospel,” he adds.
Yet this year’s festival will be unusual for the many who will be unable to be together with their loved ones, and who will seek new ways to honour God and sing the traditional Christmas carols without attending church.
May the light shine into the darkness of our lives and into the lives of all people, as the astonished shepherds received it from the angels on the first Christmas night. And may the birth of the child in Bethlehem bring unexpected joy to you all and to your families,” Musa concludes.
The full text of the Christmas message follows.
Unexpected joy in an unprecedented Christmas
And she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Lk. 2:7
Dear friends, sisters and brothers in Christ,
Once again we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to hear the familiar words that tell of his birth in the stable of Bethlehem.
Yet, as we prepare for Christmas, we also realise with sorrow that this year’s festival will be unusual for those who will be unable to be together with their loved ones, to gather for worship in their usual churches, or to sing the traditional Christmas carols together.
Since the beginning of 2020, we have all experienced unfamiliar, unprecedented problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic. With fear and unrest we have watched the disease spread from one country to another, from one continent to another, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. It is deeply painful.
We have had to adapt to the many drastic changes imposed by lockdown restrictions, as governments and communities sought to protect people and stop the spread of the virus.
Yet we are also inspired by the many stories of solidarity and support that our churches offer to those hardest hit by the restrictions, those who have lost their source of income or who are now in isolation, loneliness and need. We are inspired by stories of new ways in which churches keep people connected, to worship God, to serve and to bear witness to the gospel
But for many of us, as we prepare to welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts, this time of traditional joy and celebration can be uncertain, full of fears about the future.
Yet, reading the familiar words of the Bible, we can imagine that Mary and Joseph felt similar fears, both for themselves and for the future of their child. Their child was born in a stable, far from their familiar family. The animals all around and the straw in the manger that would serve as a cradle certainly did not match their plans for the birth of the child. From the Gospel stories we know that later, too, in their flight as refugees in Egypt, they still felt fear and insecurity.
And yet we know that the birth of this child, lying in a manger and worshipped by humble shepherds, will bring new hope and new light to a dark world. Despite the unexpected, unplanned, uncertain circumstances of the birth, we know that this baby is the Messiah, the Son of God and the Prince of Peace, who gives new life to all who believe in him.
That is why we too can trust in this promise, just as Mary and Joseph did. We can once again listen to the story of God’s coming into the world, bringing light and life and hope in the midst of all the difficulties we continue to face.
May you have new hope as you once again hear the familiar words of the gospel and find new ways to honour and celebrate this year’s Christmas online or together with others, as circumstances allow.
May the light shine into the darkness of our lives and into the lives of all people, as the astonished shepherds received it from the angels on the first Christmas night. And may the birth of the child in Bethlehem bring unexpected joy and the freshness of heaven to you all and to your families this Christmas.
I wish you a joyful and blessed Christmas!
Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa
President of the Lutheran World Federation
NUMANA, Nigeria/GENEVA
17.12.2020.
Source: The Lutheran World Federation
Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert