Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Dr Callistus Onaga has urged Leaders , politicians, and Christians to preach salvatbion , feed and clothe the less privileged , putting smiles on their faces especially at Christmas period.
He also urged leaders on good governance , kidnappers to set free people they held in hostages, saying that Christmas is a period that the Church celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, preach salvation and the person of Christ.
He made the call on Tuesday , during his 2025 Christmas /New year messages, held at the Bishop’s court, Enugu .
According to Onaga, Christmas ” s a period that one begins to talk about salvation and the person of Christ…. In most Christian churches, we’ve had forms of preparation, both spiritually and physically., ” he said.
He condemned kidnapping of ciitizens , appealing to those holding people in hostages to free them, showing the freedom, Christ has brought to man.
Bishop Callistus Onaga
Urging Christians to show love to one another, the clergy noted that “Christmas is the celebration of God’s love for humanity..
“When the first man, Adam, misbehaved and fell out of the love of Christ, God, in his infinite love, thought of the best way of coming back and the whole episode of the Annunciation of the birth of Christ by Angel Gabriel gives us the why of Christmas”, he said.
Recalling the history of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Bishop noted that , ” God said, I am going to come in the form of human beings so that human beings can understand me more. That’s how the whole Immaculate Conception took place. That’s a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit conceived.”, he said.
Continueing, Bishop Onaga said,, “Jesus Christ came from a human root that dates back to Abraham, but was of the heroic and big dynasty of David. He was raised from Abraham down to Joseph, the foster father.
“God, in his own wisdom, in his own love, decided to pick man up again. Came in the form of man, that we call Jesus Christ. That is the story of the Incarnation, how it all started.,” Bishop Onaga said.
Speaking on man celebrating Christmas Bishop Onaga said, Christ preached a message of love, the blind see and the deaf hear
He noted that “,Christ was born as a very simple being, Poor human being coming to perform the action of a messiah. He is the Messiah. Christ . was poor and was kind to people,” he said..
Calling on Christians to emulate Christ and do good, Bishop Onaga said, “You don’t need to be born a prince in order to save. You can save human beings, bring succour and happiness to human beings..
“These things are very symbolic. The blind see, they see the truth. The deaf hear again. People who died were raised up. Above all, the good news was preached to the people. Good news of love.Good news of redemption.
“So my dear brothers and sisters in Nigeria, let us take these things that symbolise the personality of Jesus Christ. Giving people light.; Making people to hear better. Giving them the good news of hope.These are the things we should preach.
So, as you are eating your rice and taking your cake and taking your shawarma, remember there are people who cannot even take good drink. Today, make effort to go and feed them. There are old people who have been left by their probably rich children.If they are around you, try to show them some kind of love. Street beggars, give them something. You know, it is not enough to tell them it will be well with you. Do something. And never you say you cannot do anything. Remember that Jesus Christ whom we are celebrating was a poor human being.Though a very rich God. So, in that circumstance, do something to keep this day a very happy day.
” For those who are governing us, we are begging you. Every year we continue to talk about the bad situation. We are pleading.. I will be very slow in saying that this year’s Christmas, economically, is better than that of last year. But please, make effort to make sure that that of next year will be better”, Bishop Onaga appealed.
He wished everybody a peaceful and joyous Christmas.
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