Christmas Message 2005

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
24/12/2005

The visitors after Jesus’ birth in a cave at Bethlehem 2000 years ago were a mixed lot.  The baby was of Middle Eastern appearance like his parents, and like his first visitors the shepherds.  They were locals, mistrusted by many, poor and often bored by their work with the sheep.

During the night they had been frightened at first by the message of the angel, but had decided to make the short journey to Bethlehem to search out the Saviour, the promised Messiah.

Another very different group also came to visit, but they had journeyed a long way following their star.  They were educated, able to afford their travel; they were the magi, foreign seekers after truth.  On finding the helpless Christ child they paid him reverence and left expensive gifts.

Already a shadow of evil hung over the crib.  King Herod was a neurotic tyrant, frightened and superstitious, hostile to any potential rival, any future King of the Jews.  So he ordered the slaughter of all the baby boys in Bethlehem and Mary, Joseph and Jesus had to become refugees in Egypt.

Interpreted correctly neither the crib nor the cross is a threat to anyone.  Christianity has won followers and spread because it has been able to unite different people into communities of mutual support and respect; rich and poor, young and old, from every race on the planet.

The angel’s message at the first Christmas was “peace on earth to men of good will”.  At this Christmas time we hope this good will prevails, spreads widely and brings peace to all our suburbs.

There are pockets of racists among us, but criminal racism is rare and therefore untypical.  During this summer holiday season let us show the world what Australia really is like; fundamentally decent, tolerant and law abiding.

A happy and peaceful Christmas to all.

Christmas Message 2005 Audio Speech: wma (4.40MB)  |  Mp3 (2.23MB)