That “Jesus is the reason for the season” is no longer a strange assertion associated with Christmas among many Christians. Indeed, there can be no Christmas without the birth of Christ. The season generally receives a warm welcome and comes with various implications to different people. For some, it is the holiday period they anticipate. To others, it is the time to share and receive, beautify, and redecorate, or spend time with family and friends. Christmas, certainly, is a period when lasting memories are created. However, despite this huge effect that Christmas has on the world, Jesus’ birth with the surrounding circumstances was not in any way suggestive of a future popular celebration. Right from conception, He was “the stone that the builders rejected [which] has become the chief corner stone” (Psalm 118:22). Indeed, Jesus made a mark on earth in his lifetime and his footprints remain undeniably visible till date, as partly evident in annual Christmas celebration. Jesus’ case was not that of “an empty barrel making the loudest noise.” His sustained noise today is rather from the depth of his lifestyle, and principles which are communicated in his teachings. It is these teachings, beliefs, and way of life that dovetail with Ọmọlúàbí’s foundational ideas.
Ọmọlúàbí is a Yoruba (southwestern Nigeria ethnic group) terminology that describes personal identity in a moral sense. Being arguably the largest ethnic group among Black Africans with widely researched history, well-established traditional structure, and reputation for being the most literate people group in Africa, the Yorubas drive all traditional education towards making everyone become an Ọmọlúàbí. This concept is a philosophical and cultural representation of someone who possesses good virtues. Ọmọlúàbí is the yardstick for determining the morality cum immorality of any act in the society. It is a set of qualities that enable one to be recognized as well-cultured, good-mannered, honourable, and respectful. Jesus, certainly, did not only teach the attitudes and principles that make for an honourable life – and by implication, Ọmọlúàbí – as we see, for instance, in the “Beatitudes” (Matthew 5:3-12), but He was also a paragon of excellence in character himself. Jesus is a quintessential Ọmọlúàbí, and as such, the “pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). This piece is, therefore, a brief reflection on the birth of Jesus (which reveals the principles He would later uphold, model, and teach all His life) through the lens of Ọmọlúàbí to glean relevant instructions and Christmas attitudes.
1. Inú Rere
Inú rere (goodwill) is one of the pillars of Ọmọlúàbí. It is the quality that pushes Ọmọlúàbí to easily give to the community both in deeds and actions. Inú rere finds expression in unbiased and unrehearsed benevolence such as was demonstrated by God in Christ when he forsook His glory in heaven and took on human flesh (as a vulnerable baby) for the sake of mankind (Phil. 2:6-8). We also observe inú rere in the action of the shepherds who had to hurry off to Bethlehem, leaving behind their flocks, just to pay homage to the new-born child, Jesus (Luke 2: 15-17). They even took precious gifts along. The lesson here is quite clear, Christmas is not just for holidays or celebration, it is a reminder to express inú rere towards one another. Goodwill would imply taking the focus off oneself and reaching out to others at Christmas and beyond. Indeed, there will always be a needy family or a hurting acquittance that would appreciate a moment of care and support from us. As Jesus similarly affirmed, “you always have the poor with you…” (Matthew 26:11) to whom we can always show unreserved hospitality and love.2. Ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ and Ìtẹríba
Ọmọlúàbí is also one who has ìtẹríba (respect) and ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ (humility). These two are inseparable twins in Ọmọlúàbí that makes Ọmọlúàbí to be magnanimous even in victory. These qualities find expression in Jesus’ nascence for sure. Rightly so, as we reflect on the unlikely and unattractive manger-birth of Christ, ìtẹríba and ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ are certainly illuminated; for how could Christ, the Saviour, not find a place in the inn (Luke 2:7) but choose to be born in a food container for animals? How could the manager have qualified as a most suitable alternative for the King? Yet, a manger it was, and we could learn from this expression of what I believe to be a deliberate portrayal of ìrẹ̀lẹ̀. This we could do by approaching Christmas as a reminder of the virtue of humility in our dealings with other people such that we are quick to acknowledge their rights regardless of age, social or political status, and/or moral standing. Everyone would, by implication, be accorded respect based on their humanness. Moreover, no one would think of himself or herself “more highly” than he or she ought to (Romans 12:3) for we are also reminded that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).3. Ìwà
Ìwà (character) which is embedded in the etymology of Ọmọlúàbí itself (omo + ti + olu + iwa + bi is a popular rendition of Ọmọlúàbí and literally translates as ‘a child begotten of chief of ìwà’), is an indispensable hallmark of Ọmọlúàbí. Ìwà can either make one more valuable ( as in ìwà rere – good character) or less (as with ìwà búburú – bad character) such that an individual who is deficient in ìwà – or who demonstrates ìwà búburú – is reckoned as unfit for trust or responsibilities in the society. This principle certainly finds credence in the conception of Jesus, for a frivolous Joseph or Mary was not going to be entrusted with the great responsibility of birthing and nurturing baby Jesus, excellent character personified. It had to be the righteous Joseph (Matthew 1:19) and the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18, 23). Therefore, Christmas must reverberate in us the need to cultivate good character in a fast-decaying society. Good character (which includes chastity and faithfulness as seen in Mary and Joseph) must no longer be considered outdated or unimportant in our world. Ìwà is a necessary emphasis of Christmas and must not be downplayed in our celebrations and social relationships.There are certainly many more lessons we could unearth from juxtaposing Ọmọlúàbí ideas with the occasion of the birth of Christ, but the stress here has been on goodwill, humility, and good character. I hope as we celebrate another Christmas, we will find ways of retaining these truths beyond the season and make Ọmọlúàbí tenets a part of our daily living as spotlighted by the birth of Christ.a frivolous Joseph or Mary was not going to be entrusted with the great responsibility of birthing and nurturing baby Jesus, excellent character personified. It had to be the righteous Joseph (Matthew 1:19) and the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18, 23).