Selected Utterances of Haile Selassie I

Haile Selassie I Speaks On Jesus Christ

"When Jesus Christ was born from Virgin Mary, from that time on He lived an exemplary life, a life which men everywhere must emulate. This Life and the Faith that He taught Us assures Us of Salvation, assures Us also of Harmony and Good Life upon Earth. Because the Exemplary Character of the Life of Jesus Christ it is necessary that all men do their Maximum in their Human Efforts to see to it that they approximate as much as they can the Good Example that as been set by Him.

"It is quite true that there is no perfection in humanity. From time to time we make mistakes, we do commit sins but even as we do that, deep in Our hearts as Christains we know we have forgivness from the Almighty. He taught Us all who seek Him shall Find Him. To live in this Healthy Life, a Christain Life, is what makes Me follow Jesus Christ."

For Christian people no day is as glorious and as joyous as the day on which they commemorate the Nativity of Our Savior Jesus Christ. On this day each one of Us tries to forget his worries and his anxieties and endeavours to alleviate those of his loved ones and friends, and to forgive those who have wronged Him, so as only to mediate on the life of Him who is Supreme Lord in All.

From Our early childhood We are struck by the sentiments of unfathomable mystery, simple and yet sublime, which stirs up in Us the evocation of the Birth of the Divine Child.

The Mystery of Bethlehem reveals itself in our spirits, more fascinating the more we advance on the path of life, and the more we realize the magnitude of the mission each one of us has to accomplish in this world, be it humble or noble, ardous or thankless.

An unheard of event, expected for more then forty centuries has at last been accomplished: the Son of God is born. He has only a stable for His palace and a manger for a cradle. The hearts of the wise are thrilled by this majestic humilty, and the kings of the Earth bend their knees before Him and worship Him.

'Peace on Earth, goodwil to men,' -this was His first message. In the same manner when He went to the summit of Calvery, there to expiate for our sins with the supreme sacrifice, He gave up His last breath invoking forgivness for His very tormentors: 'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.'

In pondering over the life, the goodness, humanity and sacrifice of the Savior of the World, in looking at the laws which He gave us, how much should we be ashamed to call ourselves Christian people, and yet not to follow His footsteps. Had we been Christain people, had we been worthy of the name, peace would have reigned on all the face of the Earth, and would have risen to the level of the immortal angels who always glorify the Eternal God, and the peoples of the world would no longer have remained divided into hostile camps.

In very truth there are no interest or reasons, however legitimate they may be, that can justify war.

The Value of Education

"Life is full of trials and tribulations, and man in his struggle to survive and guide his own destiny has to be prepared to meet its many challenges, particularly in our modern world. Education can harness man's immense potential and enable him to be better equipped in his lifelong pursuit so that he can utilize his strength and intellect to the highest use. Mankind has benefited from this through the ages. Much as man has progressed in the scientific and technological fields, he has not made a parallel endeavor to enrich himself spiritually. The materialism of today is overriding the spiritual values to the extent that today we observe a lot of unrest and social upheavals which have become common phenomena the world over. Unless humanity reverts to the time-honored values which have enabled past generations to overcome with courage the adversities they had encountered in their daily lives, we shall not only be failing ourselves but posterity as well. In order to advance in our respective undertakings, and set ourselves on the right path we have to learn and draw abundantly from the great spiritual heritage which our fathers and forefathers have bequeathed to us. This can give us strength and a sense of continuity which are essential for progress and development. Learning and profound knowledge nurture noble character and impart wisdom. The family unit and educational establishments have great responsibilities in these endeavors for they are the basis of national progress and prosperity. The harvest of life is character which grows with time and it is this very factor that determines one's destiny and future. We shall always bear this in mind and in so doing, we shall avoid personal disaster and will not bring adverse influence on others. It is our expressed hope that the education which you have acquired here will enable you, the graduating class, to face with determination the challenges that you are to encounter in your future assignments so that you will be a positive contribution to the growth and development of your country. You should be well aware of the fact that it is not mere academic achievement that is expected of you. Your knowledge and training, unless put to proper and practical use, will be wasted like hoarded money and you will be no better in this regard than the uneducated. Higher education which you have been fortunate to pursue entails heavy responsibilities and obligations. People who have had the good opportunity of the education you have should always adopt a rational and farsighted approach to problems which they may face in the course of their careers and should likewise endeavor to find lasting solutions to them which are adaptable and applicable to local conditions. In the future you have to serve your beloved country with sincerity and revealing faithfulness in accordance with the Golden Rule, "Love thy neighbor as thyself," for it is only then that you can be useful to yourselves and of service to your fellow countrymen. There is nothing more worthwhile and rewarding in life than to work for the benefit of others. One can derive more pleasure from giving than from receiving. Those who have had the opportunity to learn should always be at the disposal of those who have not had its benefit. Therefore, it is not only the individual but the community at large which should benefit from the virtues of education. The words of the Holy Bible, "Give, and it shall be given to you," are worth observing in your daily lives. It is our firm belief that if you forego self-love and self-indulgence and break away from worldly desires you will be able to make great contributions to your family, community and country. May the Almighty bless and guide the members of the graduating class of this year and crown their future with success."

ADVERTISEMENT:

H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I
Asmara University Graduation

August 1, 1971