Christmas 2010 – the end of the first decade of the 21st century. The children born this decade are 21st century citizens. They never knew the last century. In another ten years they and their friends will be judging us 20th century types. That’s what happened a hundred years ago when the twentieth century people passed a savage judgment on the nineteenth century, the Victorian era they called it.
What will they say? They won’t be too happy at our reckless consumption, our materialism. They will look back in wonder at our brutal wars. They will be astonished that we allowed family life to decay and created a world of selfishness and aloneness. They will groan under the weight of looking after aged baby-boomers without friends or family. Perhaps they will find a lot to condemn in our legacy and if they can judge us, I suppose God will find it even more simple.
But I am filled with hope for them, and I won’t mind their criticisms. Human failure is not the end of the story. We can’t beat God that easily.
Each year will still end with Christmas until the end of time. Christmas says this: Our failures, our sins, are not the last word. Hope and peace with God are still possible. God is bigger than our failures. Christmas says this: Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world came to dwell among us, and save us from our failures. When we turn to him, we will find hope rekindled and peace restored. Happy and hopeful Christmas!
— Dr. Peter Jensen is Archbishop of Sydney
