As the world celebrates Christmas Day today, clerics in the country have called upon followers and Rwandans in general to emulate Jesus Christ by being humble, joyful and promote peace amongst communities. Those who talked to The New Times yesterday said that Christmas is a time when Christians should reflect on God’s love and the virtues that characterized Jesus which include humility and kindness, among others. Christmas Day marks the birth of Jesus Christ. “Christmas is a good time to reflect on the humility espoused by Jesus Christ. The fact that he came on earth in a human body, the fact that he was born in the cowshed and died on the cross manifests his humility,” said Smaragde Mbonyintege (pictured), the Bishop of Kabgayi Diocese. “Our message on Christmas is that it is fete of peace and kindness from God and which people should exercise and share,” he said. According to Dr. Laurent Mbanda, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Christmas is about celebrating God, Jesus, Joy and peace. “God is a loving because he gave us a gift and the gift he gave us is Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin, he said. He said that Jesus came to ensure a rebirth of the people of the world, give them life in him, new values, new mindset and new transformation because the bible says that for those who receive Christ, the old has gone and the new has come. “I pray that all Rwandans cherish that Jesus who transforms life, the Jesus who brings joy in our life, Jesus who brings peace in our hearts, our lives and in our homes. I thank God that we have peace in our country and encourage everybody to cherish that peace and protect it like Jesus teaches us to, he added. Jerome Muhirwa, of Zion Temple Celebration Centre in Musanze said Christmas is time to celebrate the love Jesus had for the world in its entirety. Christmas is an annual festival, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
