As Christians we need to develop our relationship with God so that we can recognise Him when he comes to us. Archbishop Joseph Harris said this at the close of the Christian Council of Trinidad & Tobago (CCTT) Christmas programme on the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain.

Delivering the sermon last Tuesday evening, the archbishop said when Christ was born “God became human…but many did not recognise Him.” The shepherds, though, had nothing to distract them and because of this they heard the spirit in the voices of the angels.

“This is instructive…God continues to come into the world. God remains present in the world. But so many people do not recognise Him. Why? Too many people get caught up in the distractions of life. They have no time to meditate, reflecting on the things that happen to them. They have no time to spend time in prayer to recognise God acting in their lives.”

Archbishop Harris said the story of Christmas is simple: “God coming into the world to accompany humanity and bring salvation. Few recognised Him then - few recognise Him now.”
Our responsibility as Christians, continued the archbishop, is “to develop a relationship with God and be sensitive to the promptings of the spirit.” He said one of the problems in Trinidad & Tobago is “we no longer have eyes of faith to see beyond externals. Only the eyes of faith will allow us to recognise God in each human being.”

Another responsibility is to teach “those in our care” to develop that faith “by the example of our lives.
“Help them develop a spirit of faith to see beyond externals and recognise the God who comes to us in unlikely people and places,” so that we can recognise God in the vagrant, in people living with HIV and those on Death Row.

God became man to save all of us, and our final responsibility is to continue God’s work in our land. “We are called to be ‘Emmanuel’ - helping others to arrive at salvation. It can only happen when we build a relationship with God.”

Archbishop Harris concluded praying that this Christmas season may be a different one for all as “we come to a fuller understanding of our responsibility to help others to be able to recognise the God who lives in each one of us, especially the most unlikely.”

The T&T Police Service Choir performed a Christmas medley. Photo: Raymond Syms

The final night’s programme began with Rev Derek Walcott doing the welcome. Rev Michael Smith did the second reading and later, the intercessory prayers. Besides delivering the sermon, Archbishop Harris offered the opening prayer and gave the final blessing.

Leaders of CCTT member churches were present including Panama-born Rev Dr Leslie Anderson of the Methodist Church, a president of the Caribbean Conference of Churches. A combined choir sang Christmas carols while the Police Service Band, led by Sergeant Malcolm Boyce, provided musical accompaniment. The Police Service Choir was also on hand to perform an up-tempo Christmas medley.

Acting CCTT president Sr Adriana Noel, O Carm gave the vote of thanks.

The CCTT Christmas programme began Dec 19 with the blessing of the crèche and nightly reflections. There were no services Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

CN staff writer