MAY THE CHARACTER OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE BRING HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS 2018

Christmas may not be merry among most Filipino families. These children sleeping on street islands reflect the suffering of most Filipinos because of soaring prices and a weakening economy — the result of greed-oriented policies and corrupt system of governance. But we still shout, with much conviction, that in the midst of these painful realities, God is with us. Immanu El! The Creator chose to visit us as a human being. The Eternal One chose to dwell with us as a mortal. This is Hope Incarnate!

“Refugees: La Sagrada Familia.” Kelly Latimore

Right now, religious leaders who are voicing against oppression and injustice are ordered to be killed. For our journalists, it is becoming more dangerous to report on our national social realities than for them to cover combat zones. Meanwhile, the families of 48 environmental defenders killed in 2017, the highest number ever in an Asian country, are still crying for justice. Then we’re stunned by the news that Martial Law in Mindanao had been extended for the third time.

Yet in our community, we intentionally look at all these sad realities through the lenses of Faith, Hope, and Love. These perspectives are based on our personal experiences of transformation since we started following Jesus individually and since we have voluntarily bonded together as a community, seeking to live in accordance with the character of Jesus.

That the Creator visited this planet and dwelt with humans as a human being is Good News. That the Creator chose to experience human suffering and demonstrated how to be truly human in the midst of human suffering is Hope! The Gospel of St. Luke (2:52) says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Jesus went through a process of maturation as a human being — intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. He went through the harsh realities of being a member of a subdued nation. The Jewish people were oppressed and harrased by the Roman Empire during his time.

  • The baby Jesus was born as a Jewish child, most probably the subject of gossips in a small town because he was conceived by a young woman before marriage;
  • The folks from the East — referred to as ‘Three Kings’ in Christian narrative — who visited him and his family most probably were Arabs;
  • His family escaped an insecure, bad-mouthed, lying, self-centered political leader who waged a war — a cowardly act — against young, unarmed, helpless children;
  • He and his family became a trans-continental refugee — from Palestine, west of the Asian continent; to Egypt, north of the African continent;
  • He earned his living as a carpenter;
  • He incarnated Love and Peace and built a community marked by Love;
  • He incarnated Unconditional Love to the point of offering his life for others;
  • He was executed by the Empire, in collaboration with the religious and political power-players of his own nation, because he proposed an Alternative Reality that debunked the myth of the Empire;
  • By the power of the Creator’s Spirit, he transcended death to show that the final reality is Life;
  • He commissioned his followers or disciples to make more followers or disciples of the Great Commandment: that is, to love God and to love neighbors as one’s self; and, neighbors include enemies.
May the Joy of the Prince of Peace embrace us all as we celebrate
his birth! From the PBCI-CFP Family. December 2018. Davao City.

The life and works of Jesus inspires us. He commissioned us to propagate the multiplication of the faithful followers of the Greatest Commandment — to love God and to love neighbors as one’s self, and neighbors include enemies. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are energized and sustained as we stand in solidarity and as we walk with the people who are oppressed by the present Empire and their collaborators among the power elites in our land.

In the midst of the systemic unpeace and injustices wherein we are sent, we look towards the Alternative Reality envisioned by Jesus characterized by Truth-and-Love, and by Justice-and-Mercy.

May our Christmas celebration, though may not be merry, be full of Hope. May our love for God and our love for our neighbors characterize our celebration of the Birth of the Prince of Peace.


WHAT I PRAY FOR AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM THE CREATOR

A strong movement of broad, multicultural coalition — of indigenous peoples, of common people; not the oligarchs; not those who enrich themselves through public positions and funds; not those whose thinking are boxed in an ideology-of-anger; but those genuinely human-loving, earth-caring peoples’ representatives who will actually serve as stewards of this group of islands in harmony with the Creator, in harmony with their being, in harmony with others, and in harmony with the creation.

Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2018/12/may-the-character-of-the-prince-of-peace-bring-hope-this-christmas-2018/

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OUR GLOBAL PEACE COMMUNITY

We are sent by Mennonite Church Canada Witness in partnership with our international community.