A Light Has Shone Into Our Darkened World
Christmas reminds us of the angels’ proclamation of “peace on earth” and calls us to be peacemakers in our own lives.
At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose message of love and reconciliation is especially relevant in times of conflict.
War is a profound tragedy that starkly contrasts with the joy and hope of the Christmas season. The Church teaches that every human life is sacred, and the violence and suffering caused by war are deeply lamentable.
Christmas reminds us of the angels’ proclamation of “peace on earth” and calls us to be peacemakers in our own lives.
It is a time to reflect on the teachings of Christ, who urged us to love our enemies, engage in deep listening and dialogue, and seek unity and reconciliation.
As Christians, we are called to embody this message by promoting peace, justice, and compassion in our communities and the world.
During this holy season, let us pray for an end to all conflicts and commit ourselves to work tirelessly for peace as our faith in Christ compels us to do.
The Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe SDB is Archbishop of Perth and President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Catholic Church in Australia
Helpless But Not Hopeless
A message from Bishop Michael McKenna
At Christmas, we look to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. The name of the town means “house of bread (food)”. This has great significance for us who believe that Jesus is the bread come down from heaven: for the life of the world. An important detail in Luke’s account of the Nativity is that, after he was born, Jesus was placed in a manger. “Manger” is an old word, no longer in common use, which means feeding trough. From the outset, Jesus is presented as the living bread offered for those who desire to live with God forever.
As our gaze turns to Bethlehem, we grieve for the present reality of the land where the Son of God took his first human breath. The words I wrote earlier this year, at Easter, are still sadly true: “Violence has begotten more violence; and ordinary and defenceless people are being ground up in the unforgiving wheels of history, politics and the arms trade.”
We may feel helpless, but let’s not give in to hopelessness. The true message of Christmas is that a light has shone into our darkened world. God has entered our world to redeem it from within. Each one of us can say yes to this hope every time we say yes to the acts of forgiveness, reconciliation and love that we can decide to do. And we can find the strength to keep doing that when we are nourished by the living bread who is our Saviour — in Fellowship, Word and Eucharist.
Bishop Michael McKenna is Bishop of Bathurst and Chair of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Commission for Christian Unity and Inter-Religious Relations, Catholic Church in Australia
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War, that never-ending horror with its manufacturing and trade in armaments that helps the economies of certain nations and politicians stay in power, while ordinary citizens are killed, maimed and made homeless. The cycle is never broken ! I remember on TV many years ago the whole Catholic congregation (bar one man ) of a town in the Southern States of USA boycotting attendance at Mass because the bishop preached against the manufacturing of weapons which were the main industry of the town . I think the bishop’s name was something like Mathissen , and , the town, Alberquerque, New Mexico ? Peace starts in the home.
It was 1981. The controversial was Bishop Leroy Matthiesen of Amarillo , Texas, who counselled Catholics to leave their jobs at Pantex which assembled all the nuclear weapons for the USA . His church was boycotted + remained empty except for Elroy Ramos who quit his job . I don’t know where I stand on this issue ? Not bad memory for my 80 yrs + fall which should have killed me+cost me for months all memory + being able to spell. For my recovery without doctors + medication , I thank God !