At this Christmas time in 2022, I am drawn to praise God who is my rock and my all.

Why? God made me to know, love and serve Him in this life and be happy with Him forever in the next, as the catechism tells us. Jesus makes this possible. That is why Christmas is such a wonderful and amazing celebration. God’s only Son sent to show us the way.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.” John 3: 16

I am on the greatest ship of all, sailing the seas to my ultimate destination. Those with faith sail life’s ocean securely rather than be tossed about by overpowering waves with no clear destination.

The Church is that ship and we become crew members through baptism. We become the family of God, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Through the Church, the Body of Christ and the People of God, we can be guided in all truth and right living and steer clear of false idols – money, power, the god “me” and making an idol of anyone.

The Commandments point the way but Christians live by Agape love. It is a love which will not permit us to break those commandments. “Love God and do what you will,” says St Augustine.

May those, by the grace of God with faith, have renewed determination to act and speak boldly but with love this Christmas.

If you’re feeling adrift in a small craft in a dangerous ocean remember;

Jesus is the reason for the season

and take it from there.

How many corpses to get the world’s attention?

Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world.

Pope Francis speaking to religious leaders has said violence and extremism are “betrayals of religion” and that for all believers’ hatred of others is the, “greatest blasphemy” (speaking last year in the ancient city of Ur).

In Nigeria alone more than 7,600 Christians were murdered between January 2021 and June 2022.

“Last week, Aid to the Church in need (ACN) launched its annual report in the Houses of Parliament. Bishop Jude Arogundade of the Nigerian diocese of Ondo, where in June 40 people were murdered by gunmen while attending Mass, highlighted the lack of attention paid to the “genocide” taking place in swathes of the north and the Middle Belt. “The world is silent as attacks on churches, their personnel and institutions have become routine.”

There is much the UK can do given amount of aid going from Britain to Nigeria.

To sign the petition linked to “Persecuted and Forgotten?”, calling the UK government to demand the Nigerian authorities step up action to stop terrorist violence against Christians, visit www.acnuk.org/petition-2022

Source, The Tablet, 26^th November