The Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan has on December 19, 2023 calls on families across South Sudan, to set aside divisions and disputes over clothes or food during this Christmas festive.
Archbishop Justin Badi Arama says the celebration of Christmas should not bring quarrel, divisions or disputes among husband and wife, but joy and hope of the new born Jesus.
“The celebration of Christmas should not bring any quarrel, divisions and disputes in our families, it is the joy and hope that the new born child brings into our own situation.”
Arama adds that families should have the joy that comes from the Lord, not because they have meat in the house or they have new clothes.
“I encourage all families to have that joy that comes from the Lord, not because we have meat in the house, or we have new dress, or we have some other good things, but the joy comes from that love of God which was demonstrated by sending his son Jesus.”
The Archbishop discourages the misconception of people fighting for new things during Christmas rather than rejoicing together in Christ for his protection.
“The misconception that we have, we should avoid it and rejoice together though we have no meat, though we have no new cloth, let the joy of the Lord fill our hearts and make us all to celebrate with one another.”
The birth of Jesus on Christmas day demonstrates God’s love for the world and God’s intervention in human situation, “says the Episcopal Archbishop.”
He states that people face many challenges in South Sudan, they should look to the self-emptying Christ Jesus who put aside power and glory to be born in fragility, vulnerable, displacement and refuge.
The archbishop urges the people to pray for the end of inter communal violence in South Sudan and the political dilemma of the country at the end of transitional period in December 2024.
“The world indeed needs a savior as we are faced with the clamour of anxieties and the struggles, the ongoing destructive wars around the world, the constant inter communal violence in our country and the political dilemma of our country at the end of the transitional period in December 2024.”
The Episcopal Archbishop appeals to South Sudanese to remove the spirit of violence and increase the spirit of joy, hope and peace in to the New Year 2024.
“Remove from all of us the spirit of violence and increase in us the spirit of joy, hope and peace into the New Year 2024.”
He calls on the entire people of South Sudan to let the welcoming new born saviour be genuine, wholehearted, and sincere.
The Episcopal Archbishop of South Sudan delivered his Christmas message at his office in Juba.