Sermon: 2023 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF MOST REV. GABRIEL ‘LEKE ABEGUNRIN – Archbishop of Ibadan

Today 25th December 2023, we gather once again to celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ as a baby. This happens every year and it has been happening for centuries. Today, we celebrate this special day which is Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. (Jn. 1:14)In our present time, we should not celebrate in a frivolous way or affluence but think deeply and look around us. Let us always remember that many people go to bed hungry every day. You need to just look along our streets, and roads and the reality of this will become glaring. We see people with disabilities, communities without health care facilities, people without easily accessible water systems, no food, and those abandoned due to sickness, the situation of life or old age. To these, we can show concern and the mercy of God, active mercy. In the spirit of Christmas, let us be concerned, opening our eyes, ears and minds to the happenings around us; hatred, insecurity, insincerity, destructive rumours and misunderstanding of each other in social life. What messages does social media teach if not untrustworthiness lies and statements that can bring about wars among people? Let us imitate our Lord Jesus Christ in words and actions and be Christlike as He said in 1Pet. 2:11, unless we behave like Christ, it will be difficult to gain from his suffering and death. Hence, let us learn to forgive one another, live in peace and love, put God above all things and love our neighbour as ourselves. Let us give good examples to the young ones, behave honourably, free ourselves of selfish passions, hatred, cheating, robbing others of their goods and laziness. Let us appreciate the coming of Jesus Christ by living a life of freedom from evil and lawlessness. Christ is with us even as a baby, innocent as He is. Let us then learn to be innocent of evils, hatred and divisions and move closer to one another so that we can worship in faith and truth. May this celebration of Jesus’ birth renew our lives for the love of God and neighbour. Let us do our work conscientiously and move higher than those things disturbing us and causing division and hatred and may Christ who came among us as a baby lead us to the Father in simplicity and honesty and humility, who lives and reigns forever. May Almighty God bless you all, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Merry Christmas.