wfn.org | Humanity needs core values to bind it together

[Theo Coggin, Quo Vadis Communications]

The Anglican (Episcopal) Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd
Njongonkulu Ndungane, was given the opportunity to write the leader on
Christmas and the New Year in the Christmas Eve edition of the Cape
Argus, the largest daily newspaper in Cape Town, and a member of the
large Independent Newspaper group in South Africa.  Here follows the
text.

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Christmas is a remarkable season.   Conceived as a Festival for
Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of
humankind, many could be forgiven for thinking it is a festival for all.

Believers, agnostics and atheists notwithstanding, crowded shopping
malls and industrious rural stores are full of people of all faiths
buying gifts and food and humming the tunes of Christmas carols.

What is it that binds people of various faiths in one common
celebration? It is not just crass commercialism, though that plays its
part.

The answer is to be found in an earth ethic in our global village that
underscores the wholeness of our being and through humankind can give
greater honour to Creation.  It is to be found in a recognition and
acceptance of values of immense wholeness and holiness. Innately, people
know that they celebrate this time because it is about an omnipotent God
who cares for all, with a bias towards the poor, the despised and the
vulnerable.  This is the God who has kept the promise he made our
ancestors to help us (Luke 1:55).

As we celebrate Christmas and approach a new year and the coming
millennium, humanity has to search for the core values that can bind it
together.  Africans need to understand what it means to be part of this
continent, so that we can celebrate Africa's renaissance; as citizens of
the world, we have an awesome responsibility to do good to all, and to
promote peace. Such things lead to holiness, rather than to division.

The essence of our humanity is to live in harmony.  That is why this
Season announces the birth of the Prince of Peace  –  and why we
celebrate it.  

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Tel: (011) 648-5461/1093; Fax: (011) 487-1994
Cell: 082-900-0168
e-mail: coggin@sn.apc.org

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