A Christmas Message – this year I have chosen to share with you the Christmas Message written by our Bishop, The Right Reverend Donald Kirk.

“May the peace of Christ's love be with you this Christmas and always. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.”

Reverend Canon Sue-Ellen Chilvers, Rector of the Anglican Parish of Narrandera.

FROM THE BISHOP

Over this year we have witnessed the continuing aggression between many peoples around the world – war between Russia and Ukraine, destruction and conflict in the Gaza Strip – and there is increased tensions closer to home with China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea. Humanity has always played the game of power.

If we think about our own lives and the experiences we had growing up, we can recognise the ways in which people around us have played games of power.

Whether it was in the school playground, or in a workplace, or even within a family, there are those who actively seek to control the lives of others and use their perceived power to dominate and manipulate people to do or to be what they want.

This selfish ambition for power and control is sin. If we fall prey to it our lives are infected by it, and we ultimately destroy ourselves. Such behaviour is the opposite of love. This begs the question how do we overcome this propensity?

The example of Jesus is the only one I know that can truly answer this question. The eternal God of the universe chose to be born as a human child, a helpless baby boy to an unwed mother living in poverty.

This Son of God came to be, as the angels proclaimed, “Prince of Peace.” Jesus lived a life that was all about love: a selfless, unconditional love for humanity.

He taught this selfless and unconditional love as the way to peace. It is the exact opposite of the game of power because it is about recognising the value of the other person rather than seeking to control the other person.

This Christmas, as we sing our carols and rejoice in the story of the birth of the Son of God, I challenge you to take the time to reflect on how to offer love and peace to family, the community, and the world we live in. May we find ways to overcome games of power with the gift of love and help bring peace where we can.

+ Donald Riverina

The Right Reverend Donald Kirk

Anglican Bishop of Riverina