I am sure that you are as appalled as I am by the tragedy at Bondi this week. The darkness that seems ever-present in our poor planet has come home to us, to somewhere as quintessentially Australian as Bondi Beach, and we grieve at such acts of hatred. Lord Jesus, have mercy.

How can we possibly celebrate Christmas in a time of mourning?

Perhaps celebrate is the wrong word. We treasure Christmas, because we recognise our deep need of a Saviour.

At Jesus’ own birth, innocent children from Bethlehem were slaughtered by an envious and paranoid king. Jesus was gifted with spices used in burials. And he was driven into exile for years. Evil is not a modern invention, even if we keep inventing new ways to demonstrate it.

Our theme for Christmas this year is ‘The Hopes and Fears of All the Years’ – can I encourage you to reflect on just how much we are conscious that these are the right words for today? We are thankful that God sent his Son to rescue us, the Prince of Peace, the Light of this dark world, the one who understands our human suffering because he has shared it, and borne more of it than any of us ever will. He is our only hope: oh come, oh come, our Emmanuel!

The Archbishop has shared his own response to the attack, in word and video, and was interviewed at greater length here.

As you speak to those around you in the weeks ahead, make sure they know that we mark Christmas, not in ignorance of tragedy, not in heartlessness, but in weakness: we know that Jesus alone is the hope who can meet all our fears.

Anthony Douglas
Locum – Archdeacon