“But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Galatians 5:15)
May 27, 2013
Saint Paul uttered these powerful words, “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” to Galatians and to the entire Christian community for we shall recall our unity and end the recent violence amongst. (Galatians 5:15)
Inscribed in the world’s History and in Holy Scripture, mass extermination occurred massively within our continent. The cause of extinction is not the differences in the community but the apprehension and recognition of the world about the differences. Linguistic, Cultural and Ideological differences can be our spark, if properly addressed and be adorned.
On the other hand, the living status and the negative attitudes amongst caused the division and the massacre. Differences are the source of knowledge and division is the source of failure. Thus, no nation or kingdom will ever stand, as foretold in the Gospel; it will fall. The Holy Apostles also taught and advised us to avoid divisiveness and to beware of divisive people.
Severance is the result of deep-rooted fleshly desires. Enemy Satan does not divide people directly but set a barrier to hinder our unity and multiplies our differences. The deep-seated divisions within our country Ethiopia show how far we are apart from the Holy Spirit and surrounded by evil flesh and spirit. It is stated in the Holy bible “the acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.” The Church strongly condemns segregation as it teaches and supports the unity of the people. She insists her children to be aware of their differences and settle, despite their differences in language, skin color, and political ideology. (Galatians 5:19)
The Holy Apostles from the 12 tribes of Israel did not hesitate to stand together in unity for the sake of the gospel. Tribal differences do not cause division. Saint Paul said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” A Church unites people and nation with the lightening of the torch of the gospel. She even broke the yoke between a Lord and a servant with a hammer of the gospel and created a stable unity. (Galatians 3:28)
Holy Church is universal in its nature. Even her existence is linked with the universe of the angels. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which provides the most comprehensive and advanced theological analysis, also teaches us to unify with the Holy Angels in a liturgy of thanksgiving and spiritual joy. For it is evident in the birth of our Lord that the church is one with the Holy angels.
The basis for hatred and stigma is severance. Butchery and obliteration are its main characteristics. If there is division, there can be no development. It is unthinkable to live in peace let alone develop and prosper. Even differences of language, which may be the cause of our intellectual prosperity, lead to hatred; Every time we hear each other’s language, we become filled with hatred.
In the past, we have been blinded by the murders, persecutions, oppression, and alienation considering each other as enemies, with the sentiment of vengeance. As a believer, If we had listened to the words of our God, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” and had kept them in our hearts, we would not have faced the recent societal predicaments and extortion . (Romans 12:19)
The world is accelerating its race to build a village and Ethiopians are increasingly suffering because of our social problems, and governmental affliction, persecution and death. The violence of severance is not part of life but the initiation of our death, defeat but triumph, humiliation but glory. Severance leads to our backwardness. It is impossible to defeat or enemy when there is division between us. As we have learned from books, those who kill and inherit are killed and inherited over. Unless we persevere and acknowledge this truth, it is never changing in the future.
So, awake; we must live in the shield of God, and defeat our enemies who are trying to enrich their earthly life with our wealth and energy. Let’s inherit back our natural identity! Since our country Ethiopia, is the land of God, we must first obey His words and commands in order for God to protect us from the enemy’s oppression and evil. But it is useless to cry out to Him in times of crisis while we are defying the law and displeases our Creator. We must sincerely repent and supplicate Him. Let us return to Him in repentance; for he embrace us with an open arm; let’s get rid of evil, resentment and hatred and live in obedience and unity!
May God grant us peace and unity!