The Meaning of Christmas
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES [2.24 p.m.]: On behalf of the Christian Democratic Party and as the most junior member of this Chamber I wish honourable members who are leaving every blessing in their future. I extend to the House and to all those who help us in Parliament House Christmas blessings. It seems strange to be wishing people peace on earth and goodwill to men at a time when the face of the earth is feeling the armed foot of the most powerful nation on earth treading over small countries, when terrorism has crossed international bounds, when families are uprooted from their traditional homes and sent across national borders, when people are forced to become asylum seekers, when many live in fear and terror of unprovoked attacks, when costs are rising and so many people do not have the capacity to pay, and when among so many people there is an atmosphere of despair. It seems rather incongruous to wish peace and goodwill among people at such a time.
I am not talking about Christmas 2002; I am speaking about the background to Christmas in the first century. In those days, it was the armoured heel of the mighty Roman Empire walking across little nations of the Middle East, when families were forced to flee across borders for their protection, when terrorism had attacked some of the great cities of the ancient world, when Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus were forced to flee as asylum seekers down into Egypt for their own safety from the murderous King Herod, at a time when Caesar Augustus was ordering the whole world around in order to increase taxation, and when poverty and despair among people were widespread. The Bible says that it was at this time, “When the time was right, God sent forth His son born of a woman.”
This is the time when Christmas greetings between people of goodwill need to be at their most sincere. The needs among ordinary people in our community are enormous. Who could possibly decide with any logic that this is a time when the despairing should not receive a word of encouragement, when the depressed should not receive a word of hope, when the fearful should not receive a word of courage and when those who live all of their lives in despondency should not receive a word of life? The whole coming of Jesus Christ into a world of despair, despondency and death was that God might meet us in our need and meet our deepest need with His deepest resources.
Of course, modern centuries have overlaid accretions of religion, culture and commerce. The religious accretions need to be stripped away that we might see ourselves in our personal need and see God’s clear answer. The cultural accretions should be used to help people see the real story behind the events of Bethlehem. The commercial accretions should at least be celebrated for bringing employment and income to so many. Behind the myth of Christmas lies the reality that is needed today. Children, for example, need to be told the real story of St Nicholas—the story of a bishop in Turkey in the fourth century who cared for the poor, visited children and gave them gifts, and encouraged people to provide hospitality for the homeless. In our world every Santa Claus should be used to help people think of underprivileged children, the poor and the homeless. One does not improve society by removing everything that enriches and enables it. We must make sure that it is used wisely for the betterment of people. On behalf of the Christian Democratic Party I wish you, Madam President, and all honourable members the blessings of what we call the real Christian Christmas. 5 December 2002.
