The colourful decorations in offices and domiciles, plus the shopping bonanza visible in different markets and stores tell it all. It is Christmas.The day has much significance to Christians, to whom it symbolises the birth of Jesus Christ.On this day, even the most irregular of churchgoers attend Christmas mass. Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Pastor Antoine Rutayisire, of the Anglican Church, Remera Parish said: “I thank God that the wounds of the Genocide against the Tutsi are healing. We, however, continue to see some cases of hatred in society which should not exist,” the cleric said.Rutayisire said beyond hatred based on ethnic divisions, gender-based violence also continues to plague families.On this Christmas Day, there is need to remind believers that Jesus was pro-peace, Rutayisire said.He cited Proverbs 14: 34, which reads thus; “Righteousness dignifies a nation, but sin disgraces people.”Bishop Gerard Karimba, of Shyogwe Anglican Diocese challenged Christians to embrace the etiquettes espoused by Jesus, to ensure peace in the universe.The etiquettes, he added, include unity, urging people to think beyond ethnic lines.“This is what the Ndi Umunyarwanda initiative is all about and it should be embraced by all,” Karimba said, referring to the campaign rolled out a few months ago, aimed at promoting the Rwandan identity, devoid of ethnic differences.Lydia Umulisa Masasu, the senior Pastor at Restoration Church, Remera told Christians that; “Christmas, is not about merrymaking, eating and drinking. It is rather an occasion of celebrating the salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ who illuminates the path of mankind.”
