NU OLI — Glad Tidings (Advent) - Sunday, December 31
NU OLI — Glad Tidings (Advent) - Sunday, December 31
"… Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
We Natives in Hawaii cherish our history. As Christians, we can recall hearing the Gospel message for the first time. Before Jesus, we had many gods whom we feared and found no comfort in. But then, glad tidings came and brought us great joy!
This passage from the Gospel of Luke was chosen to be heard at the first public worship in Hawaii on April 23, 1820. A large crowd of Hawaiian people gathered around the missionaries. Immediately, they were attracted by the hymn singing. Because it was the first time they had ever heard a choir with four-part harmony and aided by the playing of string instruments, the people were very quiet as they listened in awe to these new sounds. They were “much pleased.”
Our attitude toward others should always reflect good tidings. We remember our joy in believing and know it will be the same for others who come to believe as well.
Like our ancestors, we continue to rejoice in God’s love. His love is everlasting and He is always faithful. His peace toward us is unparalleled, and the heart of our Lord and Savior is inexhaustible and boundless without end! God came to the Hawaiians that day to start a new beginning with them as sons and daughters of His Kingdom.
All of this is Good Tidings—Nu Oli! He joins us in our humanity, cloaking Himself in our flesh as a humble baby, just as new Native people start their journey with Him to a new covenant of faith and life as followers of Jesus!
Lord, remind me often that You have been exceedingly generous to me. Help me to extend that generosity toward those around me, so that they may know who You are and have this “Good tidings of great joy," a Nu Oli in You! This we pray in Your name, Amen.