“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)
As we end the Advent week, we are reminded that Christmas represents God’s love story, the greatest love story ever told. Jesus did not come into a lovely world; he came because we were loved. A love so great that, in 1 John 4:9-10, we are reminded that God loved us first and gave us the gift of Jesus, not because we loved him first.
Love is the heartbeat of Advent.
Love is why Christ came.
Love is why we prepare our hearts.
Yet we also recognise that, in a time of multiple distinct crises, when we battle personal, familial, professional, and community challenges, sometimes we wish there were more love in the world. A love for those who are different from us, those who have been neglected and abandoned, and a passion for humanity and generosity. This includes a love that rejects selfishness, war profiteering, hatred, divisiveness, and pride.
Sacrificial Love
Real love requires sacrifice, and we have witnessed our members make sacrifices across the year:
- By pouring human and financial capital into areas that others have forgotten about because of the love for humanity.
- By risking their lives working in fragile contexts where there is a real danger of kidnapping or death.
- By providing social security nets for those who need it the most, even when your own organisation has faced tough funding cuts.
- By engaging with partners and communities on an equitable level, we try to restore long-existing power imbalances.
- By being brave enough to question the narratives we are willing to use to achieve our goals, even if it means being politically ostracised.
Peace, our Gift and our Mandate
Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace, a living gift and a powerful message of unity. He brings peace to those who seek goodwill (Luke 2:14), which is especially relevant in our current times marked by conflict and strife. We have received this gift, and now we have a responsibility to be peacemakers and advocates for peace.
Through EU-CORD, we are putting this responsibility into action with our Peace Series, leading up to a Breakfast Event for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Strasbourg. This event seeks to influence the pre-negotiation phase of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal, advocating for increased, dedicated funding for peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
Our Peace Series will, amongst others, highlight how our members and partners have acted as messengers and implementers of peace. From South Sudan to Ethiopia, Cambodia, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, our members are collaborating with local communities to foster positive peace and create conditions for lasting harmony, fairness, and well-being.
The series will also feature diverse voices from various geographic locations, all reflecting on what peace means to them.
Through this series, we aim to remind the world that light continues to shine in the darkness and to renew our faith in God and our ability to embody the love of Jesus. We have been recipients of a great love, and we can be a part of global efforts to foster more peaceful societies.
May this season draw you closer to Christ. He is the Light who came into our darkness and the Saviour who lives within us. May his peace engulf you and those around you now and forevermore.
Advent Practice
Reflect on God’s love, which is expressed through the incarnation of Jesus.
- Reflect on God’s love which is expressed through the incarnation of Jesus
- Extend mercy, forgiveness, and kindness to others
- Ask God to make us more like Christ
Photo by Burkay Canatar: https://www.pexels.com/photo/small-toys-showing-birth-of-christ-4346869/
