SOUTH SUDAN: What Will We Bring to Christ-Child as South Sudanese this Christmas?
Four months have passed since the signing of the Peace Agreement between President Salva Kiir and the Opposition Leader Riek Machar to end the civil war which erupted in December 2013 and which has caused enormous suffering to the citizens of the young nation in the world.
However, many are optimistic that the peace deal will hold; among them is the President of Sudan & South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference (SSSCBC) Rt. Rev. Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala.
In his Christmas message to the people of South Sudan, Bishop Hiiboro who is the Bishop of Tambura-Yambio Diocese said that he is “logically convinced that this peace agreement may last because any conscious South Sudanese cannot sponsor war anymore, knowing what we have gone through.”
Despite the fact that there is so much hope among the people of South Sudan for this peace agreement to last, Bishop Hiiboro confirms that still there are feelings and voices of hate among the people.
“Many people are deeply upset by their own lives depending on their individual circumstances such as homelessness, hunger and abject poverty as they strive to survive in a demanding society.”
“These and many more, challenge us in ways that affect our well-being both physically, mentally and emotionally,” Bishop Hiiboro continued, adding that peace is much more than the absence of war, conflict and violence.
“We often hear that ‘the peace of God surpasses everything’, and so it does. However, for many people it seems hard to find peace and to feel it. Christmas message assures us that God is with us no matter what we are going through.”
In reflecting about Christmas festivities which he says have become synonymous with the exchange of gifts, Bishop Hiiboro feels that the meaning of Christmas as a gift from God to humanity is very central to our lives and therefore as believers we are indebted to God and his creatures to return back generously the love and gift of life we have received freely by impacting positively on the lives of others.
“I often question why our Church and society are so wanting of committed volunteers and workers, of ministers and financial resources, etc., when her membership is so gifted with time, talent and treasure. It was the saintly man Mahatma Gandhi who said: ‘There is sufficient food in the world to satisfy human need, but there is not enough to satisfy human greed’ hence the reality of rampant poverty and starvation in the world,” Bishop Edwardo remarked.
Bishop Hiiboro feel that the question that inevitably presents itself to every Christian and to every person of good will is, “What will we bring to the Christ-Child? It is another way of asking, what will we contribute to the advancement of peace building, reconciliation and healing; to bringing trust and solidarity; to promote the progress of humanity; to nation building; to growth of families and homes; and, consequently, to our personal advancement.”
He believes that it is only by adopting a Christ-centred disposition that answers to the many challenges and problems which plague South Sudan today will be realized.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
