Light in the Darkness

At the celebration of Hanukkah and on the eve of Christmas… murder and a mass shooting in Bondi motivated, we understand, by extremism, hatred and racism.

For so many of us here in Australia this event represents a line that has been crossed, and we fear there may never be a road back. Gun massacres motivated by extremism and racism have been things we read about in other countries. Australia is supposed to be the land where we all eat Falafel, Palak Paneer, Bagels and Pad Thai side by side. And so our grief is tinged with fear and anger.

Fear and anger cause people to reach for people or groups to blame and we have seen plenty of this in the past few days. But the responsibility for this awful crime lies squarely with the two men who committed the atrocity and those who specifically encouraged and incited them. Blaming a broad religious group, a racial group, a government or individuals within government can only take us further down this same terrible road. Using this occasion to score political points is deplorable. Should we not rather mourn with those who mourn and turn to God in lament?

Our Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has made a statement which reads in part: We embrace our Jewish neighbours and reject antisemitism, violence and hatred… The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

This is the Christian response. We must reject any expressions of racism, violence and hatred for they are contrary to love. And we must love those who have embraced racism, violence and hatred for we are commanded to love our enemies as our saviour did, even from the Cross. This is the heart of Christmas, that Jesus came into the world as the living expression of God’s love and to save sinners.

As the world moves further to political extremes, we must be careful that we do not seek a solution in worldly politics. Rather, we remain standing on the one true foundation; that we live in the one true light - the light that continues to shine in the darkness. The darkness will never overcome it. It is the one eternal light, the one source of life, incarnate in the flesh, as shall celebrate this week. Come Lord Jesus.

Bruce Morrison
Senior Minister