By Rev. Okoth Otura

Toronto-Canada,

Sincere Christmas Greetings from Christian Democratic Movement of Kenya (CDMK), to all Kenyans in Diasporas and homeland, here in Canada we are celebrating a stormy white Christmas from coast to coast, a unique Christmas season, so beautiful but extremely cold in some parts.

Kenyans went through unbearable humanitarian catastrophe moments last December 2007 because of post-election violence, we went through it all.

Some parents still mourn their children, widows and widower seeking justice for their love ones killed in the senseless struggle for power, orphans want an explanation and the many families that were separated wish to unite with their families, refugees and Internally Displaced Persons hoping that peace can return again, that they may go back to their land toil and live a dignified livelihood, many of us living in diasporas praying every moment, wishing that Kenya will get a new Majimbo constitution to provide protection to all Kenyans without prejudice and discrimination.

Through all these unprecedented stressful times in our history, let us keep a spirit of hope noting that this Christmas Eve will pass and bridge us to a new year as a Nation of unity and diversity and let us not forget that Emmanuel “God is with us through times of peace and war, prosperity and famine, in darkness and enlightenment.”

Indeed Christmas session should be a time when the entire world needs to reflect on who this man whom the prophet Isaiah spoke of 730 years before he was born is, “THE MESSIAH, EMMANUEL”.

Jesus the baby is presented to us in the Old Testament as a Warrior King, Suffering Servant, God Himself or the Son of God, nevertheless, many do not recognize the humble and painful path Christ the baby Jesus took after his birth, for our salvation and eternal hope of his second coming as King.

In the Gospel according to Saint Mathew 1:22-23, a fulfilment of the prophet Isaiah 7:14 that “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God is with us.” My message to all of you is “Jesus the baby boy, was born on Christmas Day, today December 25 in Bethlehem lying in the manger, his name is “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us. “Even in these hard times.

Christmas more often comes in gracious times and in worse times too, but this cannot distort the meaning of Christmas at all even if the world is in a recession and war, never to give up our faith in HIM, “Emmanuel, God is with us” Christ Jesus is born in our hearts as our personal Savior. Merry Christmas