“Let There Be Peace!”

“Let There Be Peace!”(Zec.9:9-10).
I don’t travel much these dsys. You can say I am becoming a recluse. Last weekend I made a trip to Yaounde after about three years. Not much have changed, but I noticed some very significant changes on the way
The mixed security check points at Akum, Matazem and the Customs control post just across the Matazem bridge have been disbanded. This should be a great relief to those who travel by public transport; especially the inter-city buses.
Sometimes I wonder whether it is a crime to travel by public transport.
Before those control points were disbanded, all passengers were compelled to step out of the vehicle, trek a distance to present identification papers and making sure they wore nosemasks. Without a mask one could be detained there indefinitely; unless you paid a thousand frs CFA. I pray that the order that disbanded those control places should do same for Bali – Batibo road and relieve us of the stress on that short stretch of road!
Also, the custom control points at Matazem and Tiko – Douala roads unconsciously reflects boarders between countries.
Ownership of a gun to a North Westerner was a sign of being a real man. A gun was for ambiance, used in social and cultural manifestations to display man-ness and wealth.
Today our children have become so used to seeing sophiscated weapons, war vehicles and they can even at the sounds of gunshots tell you who is shooting, etc.
Here at home and like in other parts of the world the commoners are pawns in the game of masters! We are the helpless hapless ones and we need peace!
Today is Christmas eve and we are given this piece of good news: “Rejoice greatly…See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war horses from Jerusalem and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and…to the ends of the earth.”
Peace is possible, but it cannot come through mere rhetorics! No king rules alone! Christ the king of peace does not rule alone. He rules through us. Christ will stop any war by working through those who have the power to declare war. They are the ones to say ‘Stop the war!’
Can we for once reflect on these words: “…Thy welfare we will win in toil and love and peace…”
Indeed! We didn’t say we will win in war! No, we say we will win in toil and love and peace! So where is the love and the peace? Where has love gone to? And what happened to peace?
May the birth of the Prince of peace gladden our hearts, soften our hardened hearts, caress our egos and take away our pride so that we can ask for genuine peace-talks.
Dear children of God, it is time we stop this tomfoolery whereby we keep treating the symptoms even when we know the disease and its cure!
Let Christ be born in our hearts today and make us veritable agents of righteousness, love, truth, justice and peace!
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ come into my life and make me a veritable agent of your transforming work. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you! Merry Christmas and a fulfilling new year!
Rev Babila Fochang.