It is important that Christians in Fiji help their non-Christian neighbours understand the depth of the Christ‑event, that it is not just a religious festival.
This is the Christmas message from Methodist Church in Fiji’s General Secretary and President-elect Rev Epineri Vakadewavosa.
Vakadewavosa says this season is therefore not just the celebration of a past event but the participation in the act of hoping and envisioning a world where kindness and humility are not seen as weaknesses.
He says before Santa Claus, before the giving of gifts, before the public holiday and festivities, God chose to be incarnated in Jesus, a brown Middle Eastern child of Jews who was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn.
Vakadewavosa says as they prepare for Christmas, in the midst of preparing for safety during the cyclone season, there should be a reflection on the significance of Christmas, the birth of the Messiah who sought out the least in the community so that they would experience the compassionate heart of God.