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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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What is peace, and where can we find it?The Bishop's Christmas message - 2006 |
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Many of our Christmas carols call Jesus the "Prince of Peace", but 2000 years after his birth there seem to be more wars than ever. Whilst some trouble spots like Sudan and Northern Ireland have gained a measure of peace, the Middle East where Jesus lived and walked is in turmoil. Unrest continues in the Pacific Islands which used to be called "Paradise". Many Tasmanians experience not peace but conflict - with parents or partners or children over Christmas dinner, or with workmates at the Christmas party, or neighbours with the loud music! Peace is not helped by under-employment, family poverty, bushfire and drought, loneliness and homelessness. So where do we begin to find peace? One response to war and conflict is to withdraw from them. We withdraw from the terror on TV into our safe island State. We withdraw from our struggling fellow Tasmanians into our own comfortable cocoon. We even withdraw from our family and friends into shallow surface level relationships. We withdraw into a private world, so that Christmas becomes a private retreat of gifts, good food and holidays. To me, that never seems enough as a way of celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace. Another response is to take a pro-active step towards peace. Consider forgiveness, love, healing, hope, joy, life, mercy and justice from the perspective of Jesus; the ultimate peace maker. Talk to someone who walks the Jesus way, talk to God, maybe drop in on a church service. Be reconciled with God. Take the first step towards changing troubled personal relationships. Spread the true spirit of Christmas to those Tasmanians who find this a difficult, not a merry time. Ask our political leaders to promote peace on a global scale, even when it costs us as Australians. St Francis prayed many centuries ago, 'Lord make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon; where there is despair, hope.' May we act as we pray, 'Lord, if I see conflict help me to be an instrument of your peace. If I see racial tension, help me to celebrate difference. If I see damage to people, make me an instrument of healing.' Thus, the true spirit of Christmas spreads. Have a gentle Christmas and a peaceful 2007.
Bishop John Harrower |
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