Hope and light-weight shining by way of the darkness is the overarching message for Christmas, with the joyous time of 12 months stained by a Jewish bloodbath.
Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher stated gentle would shine by way of the darkness following the antisemitic terrorist assault at Bondi Seaside.
Two Islamic State-inspired gunmen allegedly killed 15 harmless individuals on 14 December, which marked the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish competition of sunshine.
“In a season when each Jews and Christians have a good time gentle and hope, we have now been confronted with profound evil,” Fisher stated.
“As many in our metropolis grieve this Christmas, allow us to declare boldly: the sunshine shines within the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
“Christ, the prince of peace, is born amongst us. He walks with us by way of our darkest valleys, he gives consolation to the grieving, therapeutic to the wounded, hope to the despairing.
“Could God bless you and your family members this Christmas and within the 12 months of grace 2026.”
The 2025 Christmas message from the president of the Uniting Church in Australia, Charissa Suli, additionally proclaimed gentle would prevail within the face of fires, floods and conflicts that marked 2025.
In her Christmas message, Suli proclaims the sunshine of Jesus Christ prevails and because of this “Christmas nonetheless issues”.
“That gentle does not ignore the darkness, it transforms it, and it calls us to compassion, generosity and justice,” she stated.
Bishop of Parramatta Vincent Lengthy referred to as for Australians to behave and assist make a distinction within the face of struggling and ache.
“Day by day, our hearts proceed to interrupt after we see the violence, particularly to kids, in locations like Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar — we can not simply watch all this struggling in entrance of our eyes passively,” he stated.
“Collectively because the physique of Christ, we are able to make a distinction.
“My prayer, subsequently, is that every of you’ll really feel God’s closeness and develop into devices of peace within the new 12 months forward.”
