Kanishka Raffel, Sydney Anglican Archbishop – pre and post Bondi messages
Archbishop Raffel has released a new version of his Christmas message post Bondi.
This year, a pall of darkness was cast over Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. The attack that brought that darkness targeted the Jewish community — our fellow Australians.
So, it is understandable that we have mixed feelings as we approach Christmas. How can we celebrate when there is such darkness in the world, and it has come so close?
The Bible speaks poignantly into this very moment. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
For Christians, that light is Jesus.
Christmas isn’t escapism. Christmas is God’s rescue. The God of justice and mercy comes into this rebellious and messed-up world where evil plays havoc, to bring the light of life.
Hope was born when Jesus came into the world.
Later, Isaiah speaks of a time when all conflict will end and God will establish a government of peace and justice forever. How can this be?
“For, to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Those familiar words of Christmas speak with even deeper power amid the terrible events we have witnessed in recent days.
God has not turned his back on us; this Christmas let’s turn to Him in faith, love and hope.
Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney
Original pre-Bondi version
Mark Short, Anglican Primate, on vulnerable lights
Living in an area of LED lightbulbs and powerful searchlights, it is easy for us to miss how fragile and vulnerable light sources were in the ancient world. A candle could be snuffed out, a torch could be extinguished by the wind, an oil lamp made of clay could be dropped
and smashed.
It’s one reason why the Jewish story of Hanukkah – the account of a supply of olive oil sufficient for one day which miraculously lit the re-dedicated temple for eight days – resonates so profoundly with members of that community.
Perhaps because of this fragility, the ancients were also aware of the power of light. Light protected you from danger, it guided your way and strengthened your hope.
This combination of apparent fragility and profound strength is evident in the first Chapter of John’s Gospel. John meditates on the events of Christmas. In Jesus, the true light, which gives light to everyone, comes into the world (verse 9). Yet that same world does not recognise Him for who He is (verse 10). But to all who do recognise and receive Him, there is the power to become God’s children (verse 12). “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.” (verse 5).
Here is the wonder of Christmas: the vulnerable baby lying in the feed-trough is also God’s eternal Word. This Word is powerful enough to hold together the entire universe; strong enough to still a raging storm, mighty enough to defeat sin and death forever.
Where do we find the strength to confront the kind of evil that was unleashed on Bondi Beach the evening of Sunday, December 14? Perhaps where we least expect to do so; in the light of the world, whose apparent weakness is strong enough to give life and hope and a future to all who believe in Him. Even now, He commissions His followers to bring that same light to their world by mourning with those who mourn and by making peace (see Matthew 5:1-16).
Metropolitan Basilios, Antiochian Orthodox, on a radiant feast
On this radiant feast of the Nativity, we stand before the most wondrous mystery in all of history – the Infinite choosing to become finite, the Creator stepping into His creation, the King of Heaven arriving not with armies, but in the quiet humility of a manger. This is the Incarnation: God with us, not as a distant ruler, but as one who shares our breath, our tears, and our joys.
In this divine act, heaven and earth are forever joined. The angels’ song is not just for shepherds long ago – it is for us today, proclaiming that peace and goodwill are now our inheritance. The birth of Christ is not merely a past event; it is an open invitation to share in the life of heaven even while we walk on earth.
May this season remind you that no heart is too humble for the King to enter, no life too ordinary for His glory to shine through. As we celebrate, let us carry the joy of this holy mystery into our days – living with the courage, hope, and love that come from knowing Emmanuel, God with us, has made us heirs of His eternal kingdom.
Robbie Townsend, Baptist World Aid, asks ‘What is in your hand’
Christmas is about the birth of Christ; I don’t ever want to minimise that. But if I am honest, I must admit that I celebrate Christmas within a culture that is often fed by a steady diet of capitalism, consumerism, and self-interest.
That’s why Christmas, for many of us, comes wrapped in layers of indulgence, excess, wastefulness, and over-consumption. Chances are, most of us will participate in those cultural trimmings this year—whether we admit it or not.
A few weeks ago, UBS released its annual Global Wealth Report. Here’s what it revealed:
- Australia ranks second in the world for median wealth (the USA sits at 15th).
- Australia has more millionaires per capita than any other nation.
- 1 in 14 Australians has a net worth of over $1 million USD.
The truth is, the ‘Western Church’ is the wealthiest in history. Followers of Jesus in the global north have more access to resources than any generation before us.
Now, I get it—life feels expensive. Mortgages, children, bills. Most of us don’t feel particularly rich. But when Scripture talks about ‘the rich,’ could it be talking about us?
Could it be that we’re tone deaf to where we sit in the Kingdom of God when it comes to resources?
Jesus tells a story in Matthew 25—the Parable of the Talents. A master goes away and entrusts his servants with his property:
One gets five talents.
Another gets two.
The last gets one.
The first two invest and double what they’ve been given. The third buries his talent in the ground. When the master returns, he celebrates the first two, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ But the one who hid his talent? He’s called wicked and lazy.
Here’s the point: everything begins with God’s ownership. Everything. Our time, our abilities, our money—they’re entrusted to us, not owned by us. And what we do with what God has given us matters. He expects us to invest it wisely for His Kingdom, not ours.
I believe Christians in countries like Australia can have a blind spot. Our wealth—our access to resources—might be the biggest discipleship challenge we face. It’s not a sin to be wealthy. But it is a sin to hoard this wealth for ourselves.
Unless we’re intentional and prayerful about how we handle what God has placed in our hands, culture will lead us to the default of building our own kingdoms. And that’s not what we’re called to.
It’s as if Jesus is asking: Do you understand what I’ve placed in your hands—and what it’s for?
This Christmas: As we head into a season overflowing with excess, noise, and distraction, may we tune our hearts to the sound of grace. Remember: everything we have is entrusted, not owned. We’re building God’s kingdom, not our own.
And may we steward our resources, our work, our influence, our lives—in a way that’s in tune with the heart of God, and his heart for communities in need across our world.
This Christmas as we head into a season overflowing with excess, noise, and distraction, may we tune our hearts to the sound of grace. Remember: everything we have is entrusted, not owned. We’re building God’s kingdom, not our own.
Pastor Joel Chelliah, ACC National President: ‘with Him, all things are possible’
In the midst of one of the busiest seasons of the year, God has a message for every one of us. It reminds us that this indeed is a season of miracles.
Consider the very first Christmas. It began with the appearance of an angel who brought a message from God to a young woman named Mary. You can read about her encounter in Luke chapter one. The angel told her that the Lord was with her, that she was blessed and had found favour with God, and that she didn’t need to be afraid.
The Angel Gabriel went on to tell her that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, and His kingdom would have no end. Mary’s surprised reaction was ‘How can this be?’ but the angel gave her these final words of
assurance: ‘For with God nothing will be impossible.’ (Luke 1:37 NKJV)
These powerful words give us the same assurance today. No matter what we are facing in life – a serious health challenge, a financial crisis, a relationship breakdown or an uncertain future – God’s message to us is the same: with Him, all things are possible.
‘Behold, I am the Lord… is there anything too hard for Me? (Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV)
The birth of our Saviour Jesus, that first Christmas, set in motion a miraculous season that continues to this day.
It is about the impossible being made possible; of faith replacing fear; and despair making way to a hope-filled future.
My prayer is that this Christmas, you will open your heart to Him afresh, invite him to be a special guest in your home and believe for Him to do the impossible. With God, all things are possible.