Submitted by Jan on Tue, 13/12/2016 – 11:21
Year A (2016-2017)
Bible Book: John
Verse: 1 – 12
This week it is Christmas, and all over the world Christians come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Every culture has its own traditions; we may all know the Hollywood movies where they are hoping for a white Christmas and are anxious to get home before the turkey is ready. This is in stark contrast with Christmas on the Southern hemisphere, where one is happy to have some coolness.
Christmans is known to be the holiday of light, as we commemorate the Light that came into the world. John describes it as follows: “the true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9, NIV).
This reminds me very strongly on the ‘Salt and Light’ reflection within the Churches, Channels of Hope training. Here it is emphasized that we are called to be the salt and light in the world, that we are called to share Gods grace and that we have a living hope for a better future, a future without HIV and the forces driving the pandemic, such as stigma, gender based violence, inequality and poverty.
And indeed we have a living hope, because the little boy that was born in Bethlehem died for our sins. We are saved because of Jesus Christ, and now we can share the Grace that he showed us to the people around us (Titus 3:4-7, NIV).
Therefore I would like to encourage you to think in the following days, or maybe even discuss over Christmas dinner; how can we show our Light to the people around us. How can I, my family and/or my community bring hope to those most affected by HIV?
How can we show our Light to the people around us?
How can we bring hope to those most affected by HIV?
Written By: Ms Rhodé Janssen, volunteer at CABSA; Trainee at the European Commission and trained ‘Churches, Channel of Hope’ Facilitator