Christmas 2011
In the rush and busyness of Christmas, as we wind up school and work for the year, and look forward to the holidays, let us always remember that at the heart of the first Christmas was a message of God's concern for the poor. Jim Wallis of the Sojourners Community puts it this way:
It is theologically and spiritually significant that the Incarnation came to our poorest streets. That Jesus was born poor, later announces his mission at Nazareth as "bringing good news to the poor," and finally tells us that how we treat "the least of these" is his measure of how we treat him and how he will judge us as the Son of God, radically defines the social context and meaning of the Incarnation of God in Christ. And it clearly reveals the real meaning of Christmas.
The other explicit message of the Incarnation is that Jesus the Christ's arrival will mean "peace on earth, good will toward men." He is "the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace." Jesus later calls on his disciples to turn the other cheek, practice humility, walk the extra mile, put away their swords, love their neighbors — and even their enemies — and says that in his kingdom, it is the peacemakers who will be called the children of God. Christ will end our warring ways, bringing reconciliation to God and to one another.
Micah Challenge members are a part of a global campaign to mobilise Christians against poverty. The campaign aims to deepen Christian engagement with impoverished and marginalised communities, and to influence leaders of rich and poor nations to fulfil their promise to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For us this is the real message of Christmas. "Jesus ... always had the nature of God, but ... of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like man and appeared in human likeness." (Philippians 2:5-7).
Mary, a teenage girl from a poor family in a middle eastern country occupied by a foreign army known for its use of violence against any resistance, faced the greatest challenge of her life when she was told of the baby that she was to have. Her response was to say:
With all my heart I praise the Lord, and I am glad because of God my Saviour.
He cares for me, his humble servant.
From now on, all people will say God has blessed me.
God All-Powerful has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
He always shows mercy to everyone who worships him.
The Lord has used his powerful arm to scatter those who are proud.
He drags strong rulers from their thrones and puts humble people in places of power.
God gives the hungry good things to eat, and sends the rich away with nothing.
He helps his servant Israel and is always merciful to his people.
The Lord made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his family forever! (Luke 1:46-56 CEV)
Micah Challenge members wish you every blessing of Christmas
- and we invite you to think about "Gifts with a difference" - gifts that will help people living in poverty. Visit the sites of our member organisations for a variety of options:
Find Us on Facebook
 We have a Facebook page. Click on the badge to go to the page. Encourage your friends who are on Facebook to become fans. Join discussion groups on global poverty issues. Look for ideas of things to do, and for others who are supporting Micah Challenge.
The Micah Call is a global petition and the way to join our campaign against poverty. Churches, organisations, families, women, men and children, please add your voices by signing the call. Click here to read the Micah Call and to find out how to sign up
|
