Despite the excruciating economic hardship, grinding poverty, and strangulating hunger in the land, the hearts of men and women are still encumbered by the spirit and allure of Christmas. As we speak, country roads are trodden by anxious Christmas travelers eager to arrive in their villages and countryside to celebrate the season. If you listen carefully, you might hear the angels, the Magi, the shepherds, and men and women of our time inhabiting the four corners of the earth chanting in the horizon: “Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle all the way…” in celebration of Christmas.
From Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Montreal, Madrid, and Rome down to Abuja, houses, streets, offices, and shops are decorated with special festoons and rosettes to mark the dawn of dies natalis, the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world.
At Christmas, we are invited to relive that profound mystery that occurred more than 2,000 years ago when the second person of the Blessed Trinity took flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be born among us. As the Psalmist puts it: “A child shall be born for us, and he will be called God, the Almighty; every tribe of the earth shall be blessed by him” (Isaiah 9:6). The prophet Malachi also re-echoes the urgency, immediacy, and eschatological underpinning of His coming: “But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears?” (Mal. 3:1-4).
When peaceful silence enveloped the earth, and the night had run half of its swift course, God, who had taken flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, chose to be born in the relatively humble city of David called Bethlehem. St. Josemaria Escriva recaptured it in his words: “When the fullness of time came, no philosophical genius, no Plato or Socrates, appeared to fulfill the mission of redemption. Nor did a powerful conqueror, another Alexander, take over the earth. Instead, a child is born in Bethlehem.”
I don’t know about you, but I am celebrating this Christmas with *isi-ewu* (cooked or roasted goat head, carefully chopped into tiny pieces, spiced with *utazi* leaves and alligator pepper, and served in a small wooden mortar). An accountant friend of ours is inviting us—his professional friends: lawyers, accountants, medical doctors, architects, and civil engineers—to an Igbo cuisine joint hidden away to tantalize our taste buds with *isi-ewu*. Of course, we will wash down the isi-ewu with palm wine and assorted beer.
There is a time for everything under the sun. Throughout the year, we have been weeping and gnashing our teeth over complaints that Nigeria is not good. Must we continue to complain and gnash our teeth forever? No. Christmastime is a time to regain our cheerfulness. Agreed, the light has dimmed in Nigeria. Grinding poverty a-plenty. Prices of foodstuffs have soared beyond imagination. Dreams have become empty. Deaths plague the land. Agony and misery loom on the horizon. Heaven threatens to collapse on us, and the ground trembles as if ready to swallow us alive. But should we die in our melancholy? No. Amid hardships the spirit of Christmas endures.
While the essence of Christmas is not about reveling in an orgy of self-deification, capricious expenditure, and militant consumerism, Christmas is a special time to relax, unwind, and enjoy the company of loved ones. After a year of hard work and challenges, it is important to take a moment to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, appreciate relationships, and create beautiful memories. Sharing a mortar of *isi-ewu* is more than just a meal—it’s a chance to reconnect, laugh, and recharge in the warm spirit of Christmas.
I can’t wait to savor every moment of being with my friends at the isi-ewu joint. There’s something magical about the experience—the aroma of the spices wafting in the air, the taste of authentic palm wine from *Obeleagu* village, and chilled beer amid the joy of sharing with bosom friends. Isn’t that marvelous?
Mind you, it’s not just about the *isi-ewu* the palm wine, or the beer, but the warmth, fellowship, solidarity, laughter, and memories created around the table. Whether it’s a perfectly spiced *isi-ewu* or not, every bite feels like a celebration of hope and optimism.
So, be hopeful. Everything may seem to be collapsing in Nigeria—politics may have become synonymous with thievery and hypocrisy, and human life may appear to have lost value—but nothing is gained by succumbing to despair, suicide, or melancholy. Be calm. Be patient. Be peaceful. Do not seek to flee from the world. Stop living as if God doesn’t exist.
Agreed, this is not the life we envisioned. Life may have lost its meaning in Nigeria. Nigeria may feel like an accursed land. Can you imagine that, on the threshold of Christmas, thirty hunger-stricken people, mostly children, lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas funfair in Ibadan? Meanwhile, the country’s political officeholders continued gallivanting as if nothing had happened.
Can you imagine that, shortly after the Ibadan tragedy, another ten persons lost their lives while scrambling for palliatives in Abuja? And shortly after these tragedies, about nineteen Nigerians—mostly women—lost their lives in yet another stampede while scrambling for Christmas goodies in Okija, Anambra State.
But, as I earlier stated, nothing is gained by losing hope. Permit me to share a small but significant thought: we must not lose hope amid these storms. Hope is our greatest asset. When we cease to hope, we cease to live. When we cease to live, we cease to hope.
Yes, it is true that we live in a sad world, a world bereft of peace. But with our laughter and optimism, we can challenge this sadness and inspire hope. Writing to the Philippians, St. Paul states: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
It is worth noting that St. Paul wrote these words while he was in prison. He did not allow melancholy to overcome him. He remained joyful and optimistic. The lesson for us here is that no matter how tragic the situation, we should not allow hopelessness to overcome us. Like St. Paul, let us remain hopeful, for the victorious warrior is in our midst.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us remind ourselves that Nigeria needs a new humanism. We must learn to see our neighbors as human beings, not as mere instruments to satisfy selfish interests. Man is a social being. Nobody is an island. We are members of the same human family.
Following the selfless example of Jesus, our political officeholders should bring light to this dark land, hope to the hopeless, justice to the oppressed, and integrity to the wasteland. On the other hand, the people must eschew greed, avarice, laziness, and corruption. It is hypocritical to blame corrupt leaders when the people themselves are guilty of the same vices. The self-sacrificing service of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph during the first Christmas is a call for us to be less self-centered and to attend to the needs of our fellow men and women.
Finally, Christmas highlights the importance of the family in nation-building. Jesus was born into the family of Joseph and Mary. Everything in the Holy Family exemplifies values of concern, service, dedication, and altruism.
The family is the nucleus of society. It plays a vital role in shaping individuals. The values imparted by the family in childhood form the foundation for an individual’s future behavior. No wonder the family has been dubbed the “cradle of values.” In Africa and Nigeria, the family, viewed from both historical and cultural perspectives, often serves as a provider of “social safety nets” that nurture individuals into responsible members of society. Therefore let us rejoin our families in this Christmas to savor with them the affection and warmth of family life.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
