Many are grateful that they live in a land called Australia, a land that has never experienced war. In this wise, Australia is said to be the most peaceful country. Yet, the global conflicts reach to here and cause pain, suffering, angst and tension among us. Just as the Magi mounted their camels and went on a journey of faith to find Emmanuel – God with us – so also, Bishop Philip reminds us that the season of Christmas is what binds Australians in a strong resilience. The Angels sing Peace on Earth to all persons of Good Will. Anticipating Christmas 2024, we also may pray – in our own way – for peace and goodwill on Earth.
Aware of all that is happening in the Middle East; thinking about Peace and anticipating Christmas 2024: A Reflection
St.Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne has beautiful crosses, hearts and nativity scenes made of Bethlehem’s olive trees.
I have placed them where I meditate and pray.
They are with a painting of the ‘Holy Land’ by Bishop John Bayton.
As I contemplate, this seems to convey both the beauty and the pathos of our approaching Christmas.
The beauty is in the story which is eternally enchanting. That young family arriving late and finding shelter in a stable; the birth of baby Jesus and the joy of this in the angel’s song to the sleepy shepherds; the star in the night sky guiding those Magi from nowadays Iran, to that manger scene of radiance.
We celebrate the love of God amongst us.
Jesus, God amongst us born of Mary in such humble, vulnerable circumstances.
Jesus, who later and forever says, ‘love one another’; ‘give and forgive’; ‘love your enemies’, ‘pray for those who persecute you’.
Jesus, who therefore gives us no licence to harm one another.
Christmas usually is such a delightful time … It’s a holy day and a summer holiday with all the contemporary additions of Santa and shopping for gifts, as the Magi once did, long ago, before climbing aboard their camels.
This 2024th birthday of Jesus is beautiful for all these reasons but it is also vividly poignant.
The relentless killing and destruction in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon as well as other places has led to many calls for this misery to end.
Still it continues. Those who could stop the misery refuse to do so, thus far.
There seems to be nothing much we can do that makes a big difference, at this distance.
We say our prayers and send aid through trusted agencies, yearning to see an end to the killing and the destruction of people’s homes and communities.
We may not agree with various tactics, but we can understand why some can’t stand by and silently watch Christmas here whilst so aware of the suffering of innocents in Gaza and Lebanon.
An incident in Melbourne last week as regards the Myers Christmas window conveyed this anguish and complexity.
Showing understanding is what we can do locally, in a unifying way this Christmas.
We have tried to do that through the year-going where we are invited; reaching out to those we know who have strong ties to one side or the other.
Their grief and trauma is the same, God knows.
Thankfully the 2024 Scanlon Report on Social Cohesion, released on Tuesday 19 November, conveys that our social cohesion remains strong, albeit impacted by the effect of overseas conflicts on local relationships.
Given the media’s amplification of conflicts and tensions, the fear was that this Scanlon Report would have seen a sharper deterioration in social cohesion.
In this context, the way to think about peace as we anticipate Christmas, in my view, involves a way of life with at least these features: contemplative prayer and meditation, including so as to better listen to others; being attentive to the brokenness of those around us with a view to offering practical acts of kindness; nurturing and strengthening our community’s ways of care and support.
For people of faith it involves always trusting in divine providence and promptings by the abiding Holy Spirit to show us next steps; being patient with ourselves and each other amidst the signs of stress and trauma; praying and working for healing …
Just a few suggestions for consideration and elaboration by others, these days that lead to Christmas 2024. A quiet, honest dialogue together can only be helpful to peacebuilding.
BISHOP PHILIP HUGGINS
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Bishop Philip Huggins is a bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. In 2019, he was appointed Director of Centre for Ecumenical Studies at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. Bishop Huggins is a Patron of Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, and member of the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Bishop Huggins is also a member of the National Executive of Religions for Peace Australia.
