Generous gift to the world
On Christmas Eve, the Catholic and Anglican Bishops of Christchurch, Paul Martin and Peter Carrell deliver a joint Christmas message, and reflect on calls for a single cathedral in the city to serve both dioceses.
Why do we give gifts to one another on Christmas Day? Behind this wonderful, generous custom lies the Christian story told by St Matthew, of Magi from the East who bring gifts to the baby Jesus Christ, born to Mary in an obscure town, Bethlehem, on the outskirts of the Roman Empire. Their gifts were in homage to one they believed was destined to be a mighty king.
Subsequently, Christians have recognised that the birth of Jesus is itself a generous gift to the whole world. In this baby we recognise the mystery that God – Creator of the Universe – became one of us. In this mystery, God loves us generously by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to be with us and, ultimately, to die and rise again to eternal life for us.
Through the coming of Christ into the world, God blesses our dignity as human beings, each made in the image of God, offering us the opportunity to live a new life in Christ.
In this way of life, we are called to work with Jesus in establishing the kingdom of God – a way of living marked by peace, justice, joy and, above all, generous love.
Reflecting at Christmas on this mystery of God’s identification with us through Christ is to celebrate the possibility of a better life: imagine a world in which we focus on peace not war, justice not oppression, joy not misery, love not hate?
Yet the contrasting brokenness of our world is obvious: at the end of 2019 we look back with sadness on a turbulent world, marred by conflict, tragedy and suffering, and becoming more anxious as climate change grips our planet.
The name ‘‘Jesus’’ means ‘‘he who saves’’. Christmas as a celebration of life is also a challenge about our lives.
Will we allow Jesus to work in us to transform us to become the best we can and should be as human beings?
Changing the world for better begins with ‘‘me’’ before it begins with expecting those around me, let alone on the other side of the world, to change.
We write as two church leaders, grateful for the opportunity not only to serve our respective Catholic and Anglican dioceses, but also to contribute to the rebuilding of our city through a new Catholic Cathedral and a reinstated Anglican Cathedral.
We are excited by progress through this year on our cathedrals and we are conscious of the interest our fellow citizens are showing in these projects.
The Catholic and Anglican
Christian communities share much in common but we are distinctive communities with real differences in some important aspects of our shared faith.
Our cathedrals are focal points for each faith community, housing the cathedra, or seat of the bishop, and accommodating the many services and gatherings each community arranges as expressions of its vibrant life in Christ.
We acknowledge the sentiment behind an appeal for one cathedral for both faith communities but one cathedral would not accommodate all the activities that each community wishes to undertake, nor be able to give expression to the distinctive characters of each diocese.
When opened, our cathedrals will join with hundreds of churches at this time each year as sacred spaces in which all are welcome to celebrate the mystery of God’s generous love, expressed through the gift of the Christ child.
... we are distinctive communities with real differences in some important aspects of our shared faith.