Christmas Reflection
As we approach Christmas, many of us find ourselves caught in the familiar preparations of finalising meal plans, organising gifts, and tying up commitments before stepping away from work and school. In this hurried pace, it can feel as though we are racing from one thing to the next. Yet it is precisely in this busyness that we are invited to pause and to reconnect with the true meaning of this sacred season. Beyond the commercial noise lies God’s enduring gift to us: the promise of hope, love, and joy.
Across time and cultures, naming a child has carried deep significance. For the Hebrew people, a name often expressed hope or signalled that something extraordinary was unfolding. In both Isaiah and Matthew’s Gospel, this hope is never clearer.
“The Lord will give you a sign. It is this, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7: 14)
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him, Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us’.” (Matt 23)
The hope of the people was that their prayers for God’s help, especially in times of great suffering and despair, would be answered. As a faith community, this remains our constant reassurance: God walks with us through joy, challenge, suffering, and renewal.
May this Christmas bring peace to your homes, hope to your hearts, and moments of rest and renewal. And as we look to the year ahead, may we continue to walk together in faith, compassion, and gratitude.
Wishing everyone a joyful and peaceful Christmas.
2025 Celebration Video
I invite you to watch this short video of the wonderful highlights from across the 2025 College calendar.
Tina Apostolopoulos
