Guest editorial - A Gracious God

Christmas calls humanity to believe in possibility, to belief in the power of Christ the “true light” that the darkness of the world will not overpower.

It is a call to hope even amidst so much mistrust and doubt.

As never before, the words and actions of leaders, whether in the area of politics or religion, are put under great scrutiny. Far too often they are found wanting. The result is a culture of suspicion.

When the People’s Partnership came into power in May this year, it did so with a promise to restore trust in government, to bring a new style of governance to the country. Opinions are divided on whether it has delivered on its promise, but even its diehard supporters will admit that they had hoped for more by year’s end.

Government faces a difficult task. It has so far failed to control the rate of crime, public servants remain dissatisfied with wage offers, issues relating to CLICO policyholders remain unresolved and the perplexing controversy between the Board of Caribbean Airlines and Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner has appeared to threaten the very fabric of the coalition.

To be fair, many of the problems the Government faces have been inherited, as it has not failed to remind citizens, but information disseminated to the public has not been sufficient to allow for informed discussion and trust in the Government’s processes.

Failures in the social and political spheres are reflected in family life and lives of individuals. It may be argued that the shape of the family today, which is often not a household comprising mother, father and the children, is as a result of a destabilising lack of trust by its members in one another.

In spite of scepticism, the desire for fairness and peace in the world and in our society has not diminished. Everyone recognises, despite the seeming lack of will to act, that the path to this reality rests on a greater level of trust and a commitment to do what is right, in the society as in the home.

Help comes from God. On Christmas Day, the Gospel proclaims, “grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ” (John 1: 17).

The story of Christmas fascinates. It reveals that the promised Saviour has come into our world, born in a manger, a child who by his very helplessness invites all to put away their bitterness and suspicion.

The story of the Incarnation, of God becoming man to save his people and to usher in the reign of peace – the graciousness and sheer magnitude of such a gift and its implications – may seem too good to be true. But, let us listen more intently this season and enter more deeply into its mystery.

In another reading of the Christmas liturgy, St Paul says plainly: “God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world …” (Titus 2: 11,12).

Editorial reporeduced unedited from The Catholic News