The Story of the Nativity

No time is too late for God to show his might, love, empathy, and care. He does care and wants to identify with us. Zechariah didn't see it coming. It wasn't a lottery, but he won the greatest affectionate draw in biblical history, following in the footsteps of Abraham. That's one of the implications of the nativity. The coming of 'God with us' opens every door.

No time is too early for God. Humans exist in time and space, but God doesn't. 'Why me?' Mary asked. 'I'm but a virgin.' Doing the impossible in the eyes of mankind is a way God puts his stamp on the envelope of salvation history. He posted his good news of redemption through an innocent, childlike, simple girl. His Son is the Good News because he's salvation himself.

Then the new and old met; the virgin and the barren embraced; the young and the elder entertained. Her greeting was simple but powerful. She said: 'Hello Elizabeth!' The child in her womb leaped for joy. And peace, love, and hope sprung forth like flowers in his path. Her nativity story was full of blessedness.

At times when God mixes with us, there seems to be confusion. The child was born. His relatives were shocked and surprised that God could pull such a miracle. Astounded, they wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah. His mother objected. However, only one person could decide the name of the boy. The dumb father then wrote: 'His name is John.' His power of speech was restored.

Nobody was left out in his nativity; the mighty and the lowly were all involved. The shepherds watch their flock at night against perhaps, wild beasts and thieves. They also indirectly (not unknowingly) kept watch as the new-born King arrived at the world. The stars and moon were very bright unlike many nights. The glory of God was more than they could stand. They were terrified.

At last, love became incarnate; the Word took flesh and dwelt among us. He's 'God with us,' 'Wonderful Counsellor,' and 'Prince of Peace.' He came borrowing everything: He adopted the stable as hospital, took the manger as a crib, and the flock volunteered as nurses and midwives. His nativity is the story of your life.

Comments

Oriri Akpakpa in Ufuma (Igboland) vis-à-vis the Christian Lent

The concept of Oriri Akpakpa (literally "The Feast of Maize") in Ufuma, Anambra State, provides a fascinating cultural intersection with the Christian season of Lent . While one is a traditional feast and the other a period of liturgical penance, they share deep themes of community, sacrifice, and spiritual transition. The following is a developed exploration of this relationship, examining how traditional Igbo values mirror and diverge from Christian practice. Understanding Oriri Akpakpa In Ufuma, maize is often the first crop to be harvested after the long, gruelling planting season. While the community waits for the "King of Crops" (the Yam) to mature, the arrival of Akpakpa provides the first sign of relief from the period of scarcity known as Unwu (the famine or lean season). The Symbol of Hope: Oriri Akpakpa is a celebration of the "first green." It marks the moment when the community moves from the anxiety of empty barns to the first tast...

Same-Sex Marriage in Igbo Cultural Traditions

Table of Contents The Igbo Tribe Same-Sex Marriage – Definition & Brief History Same-Sex Marriage in Igbo Cultural Traditions Conclusion This writing claims that same-sex marriage in Igbo culture is necessary, an improvisation, and a ‘like with like’ construal. By construal, it places Igbo same-sex marriage in a social psychological context and views an individual as finding out ways or means to understand and interpret his-her surroundings, and the behaviour and actions of the people around and towards him-her. The reason for this claim is not far-fetched. The Igbo Tribe The Igbo is a major ethnic group in Nigeria with an estimated population of about 32 million. It is one of the largest in Africa adding to 18% of the total 177 million people of Nigeria. Igbo land consists of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states of Nigeria. However, Igbos can be found in these other states of Nigeria: Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River. Outside of Nigeria, the Igbo tribe ...

Early Contacts between Christianity and Islam

Table of Contents Early Contacts between Christianity and Islam Monk Bahira The Migration to Axum Kingdom Christianity and Islam have always been two noxious bedfellows and yet always proclaim and wish peace on earth. It would not be a crass assumption to state that the two religions have over the centuries crossed paths and re-crossed paths many times. Crossing paths might have been in their ideologies, conflicts, doctrinal interpretations and even sharing some physical spaces. Therefore, in this brief writing, we will explore the early contacts between Christianity and Islam and see how they have influenced each other. Early Contacts between Christianity and Islam The early contacts between Christianity and Islam were not short of frames. According to Kaufman et al., “frames are cognitive shortcuts that people use to help make sense of complex information.” They are means of interpreting our world and perhaps, the world of other people around us. Such interpretations helpe...

The Myth of Mmamu (River) and Ajanị Uvume (Deity): Benevolence and Malevolence in One

Every community carries a set of stories that function as its spiritual DNA. They are not merely tales; they are frameworks for understanding the world, the land, and the unseen forces that govern both. In Ufuma, originally Uvume, one such story has endured across generations: the myth of Mmamu River and Ajanị ‑Uvume , the principal deity of the land. I grew up with this myth. It was not taught formally; it lived in the pauses between conversations, in the warnings of elders, in the hushed tones of mothers telling children not to wander too close to the riverbank. It was a story that explained danger, reverence, and the consequences of communal choices. It was also a story that revealed the complexity of the spiritual world our ancestors inhabited. A River Seeking Belonging The myth begins with a river in search of a home. Mmamu, like many rivers in Igbo cosmology, is not simply water flowing through land. She is a being: feminine, conscious, capable of desire and em...

The creator god, Tirawa - the Pawnee of the Native American Tribe

Table of Contents The Pawnee The Holy Corn Tirawa and the Stars Culture of the Stars The religious beliefs of the Pawnee Native American tribe stand out as practices that are primarily Astro-theological and astronomical. As such they use or interpret the laws or culture of the stars to determine when it was safe to plant corn. Accurate calculation of these laws or cultures means a better harvest for the people. They were possible because Tirawa was their causer, teacher, and sustainer. Corn is an essential crop that is not only a means of subsistence living for the Pawnee, but it is also a symbolic mother through her, and with her, the sun goddess, Shakuru blesses the people. The Pawnee The Pawnee are a North American Indian tribe who originally lived in Nebraska and northern Kansas before finally settling in today’s Oklahoma. Linguistically, they belong to the Caddoan family and call themselves the Chatiks si chatiks , meaning “Men of Men.” As with many Native American I...

iPostThisWeek

Search This Blog