Dear Friends,
As I write I am at my desk on Christmas Eve, busily preparing for the next 24 hours and the beautiful liturgy we will share together as we herald in Christmas and the arrival of the new-born child that changed the world forever.
Christmas is a time when we focus on many things that really matter; the love between families and friends, the joy of being in each other’s company, and the need to share our common experiences. I am sure many of us will take the time to exchange carefully considered gifts and enjoy some merry-making at parties and social event.
The story of Christmas is somewhat overlooked by our modern world. Amidst the trimmings and fripperies, the turkey and wine (or prawns!) we forget that Christmas is really about a story of God revealing himself to the people of the world in a unique and unpredictable way.
When God came down at Christmas, he came into a world in need of a visible sign of his love. People were looking for change, for a new way of being with God that challenged the old stereotypes and prejudices. And God delivered!
Jesus comes to us in the most humble and simple of ways. Our King was born into poverty; his royal robes were swaddling clothes, and his throne was a manger. He was not born in a hospital, with doctors and nurses providing for any eventuality. His arrival is meant to challenge us and make us question our lives and the immense privilege so many of us benefit from.
Of course, for some, Christmas is an inherently difficult time. As the western world enters into a frenzy of spending and indulgence, we often forget that there are many who don’t celebrate Christmas at all. For people of other faiths, or for people of no faith, the message of Christmas is often completely lost and becomes a story of excess and indulgence. Perhaps we could all do to spend some time reflecting on the Christian call to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” and ask ourselves why would anyone come to follow a faith which, on the face of it, has become so hi-jacked by consumerism?
And then, of course, there is the endless in-fighting so often picked up by the media. It is a truth, I believe, that those of us at the very heart of the faith so often forget to consider how we are communicating the most basic message of it. Instead, we focus on the “issues” of our churchmanship, our beliefs about sin and our constant desire to be the one true church, in a world which looks on wryly and seems to think we are all just a little deranged!
This year has been a difficult one for Anglicans. Once again, the church is blighted by its failings, and we have witnessed, and are continuing to witness the fall from grace of it’s international leadership. In the UK, the church is in turmoil, and the worldwide Anglican Communion is closely watching what will happen next. I read that there will be greater representation from the Anglican Communion as the church goes about choosing a new titular head, the Archbishop of Canterbury. I think this is a good thing, and hope and pray that the appointment process will be careful, prayerful and humble. I do not envy the next post-holder, and we should all be praying for the right person to come forward and answer God’s unique and wonderful call.
As I reflect on my own experiences this year, I am resolved to give thanks to God for the many blessings I have been granted. I am blessed by a wonderful family who provide me such comfort and support. I have managed to spend some time with my daughter in the UK when I visited her, and here in Australia when she came for a whole month! My son has completed his schooling and will shortly begin university here in Brisbane studying music. I am so proud of them both!
I also celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary in August. Although we couldn’t be together on the day itself (as my wife was on the other side of the world!) we spoke to each other, and we shared the day on social media with friends and family. I am not a big fan of social media, but on this occasion, I was very grateful for it! 25 years is a long time, yet it has gone quickly. I know this is because, despite the challenges of married life we have faced, we were meant to be together, and I give thanks for this to God.
2024 has also been a hard year for me personally as I lost my father in September. When someone as old him (94) dies, there is an expectation of death and people will often say “he had a good innings,” or words to that effect. But the reality is that death is brutal to the human condition. Those of us who are left behind have to find new ways of being and adjust to a world forever changed. It isn’t easy to manage grief, but for me it is tempered by the knowledge of the promise of eternal life.
That brings me back, in a full-circle way, to the message of Christmas. Above all I pray that you will know the peace, hope, joy and love for one another that the Christ-child brings. His is a message which is as unique and timeless as the amazing world we live in: love one another, as I have loved you.
Blessings at Christmas and always.
Fr Duncan