The nation’s church leaders have focused on peace, hope and joy as well as threats to faith in their annual Christmas messages following a year of challenges for religious Australians.
Melbourne’s Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier said Jesus was born into a land as troubled as modern society – but came to embody joy and peace.
Melbourne’s Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier.
AAP
Christmas “can be challenged by the pace, pressures and pain of ordinary life but reflecting on Jesus Christ and how he fulfilled the promises of God is inspiring,” the archbishop said.
The joy of Jesus brings hope and “transcends the painful circumstances in which so many people find themselves,” he said.
Sydney’s Catholic leader, Archbishop Anthony Fisher, used his message to warn against “secularism” and threats to religious freedoms.
While Christmas is a time for coming together with loved ones and celebrating the birth of Jesus, he said, the “season of goodwill is becoming one of the few occasions when the public expression of religious faith is tolerated”.
Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher.
AAP
“A year ago there were promises of new measures to ensure religious freedom is protected in this country. A year later and governments have done nothing about this. Indeed, we’ve gone backwards and discrimination against people of faith has become more acceptable in some quarters,” he said.
“The Christmas message of hope and healing is religious freedom writ large, not for exclusion or power but for love and service.”
Deidre Palmer, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, said the Christmas story speaks to humanity’s deep longing for love, peace, liberation and hope.
“Through his life and teaching Jesus shows that God’s love overcomes the boundaries that divide us, those barriers that are created through fear of the other, barriers created through social class, economic status, age, gender or political allegiance,” Dr Palmer said.
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Deidre Palmer.
vimeo: Uniting Church in Australia
“Christian communities and organisations around the world today are working to address poverty, injustice and inequality motivated by Jesus’ way of compassion,” she said.
“The Christmas message is as powerful today as it was 2000 years ago. It speaks of light shining in the darkness, love winning out over fear, hope overcoming despair.”
Moderator-general of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Reverend John Wilson, insists the story of Christmas is so “unbelievable” it must be true.
“You couldn’t make it up,” he said.
“God enters the world through a baby. It leads us to think higher thoughts. To think God’s love was so great he was prepared to be born as a child among us so he could grow to be the crucified saviour – the perfect Lamb of God. This is amazing love.”
