Withstanding suffering? A Christmas message?
by Pastor Tim Castle-Schmidt
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For this I toil and strive with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me (Colossians 1:29).
Read Colossians 1:24–2:7
On this, the fourth day of Christmas, the church typically commemorates the Slaughter of the Innocents, as Herod unleashed his vengeance following news that a new king had been born by ordering the execution of all male children who were two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16–18).
As I write this, I am overcome with grief as I consider the slaughter of innocent children in Palestine in an equally senseless act of revenge. And yet, as I read from Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, I sense that God inspires us with energy to confront evil and withstand suffering for the sake of the world.
While we will never understand how humans can inflict such wanton cruelty on others, we can, hopefully, learn to look for Jesus among the suffering and recognise that Jesus is present here, today, in the world’s suffering. In becoming human, Jesus takes on all of our humanity – including the very worst – so that our worst can be redeemed.
As we continue through this first week after Christmas 2023, may we, like Paul, be inspired and energised to withstand suffering so that we can confront the evil in our world, knowing that the Prince of Peace has taken it all on in his own flesh, both on the cross and in his body, the church (you and me). May we live in this inspiration, and may it lead us into the New Year as we prepare to confront evil and withstand suffering for the sake of the world.
Lord, you work through all things to bring about your purposes. Work in us and in and through all our circumstances so that you may be born anew every day in this dark and troubled world. Amen.
Tim Castle-Schmidt is the pastor of Onkaparinga Lutheran Parish in the Adelaide Hills. After spending many years as a teacher in Lutheran schools, he finally listened to God’s call to the pastoral ministry. Tim is passionate about social justice and engaging the church with contemporary society. Tim shares his life with Fiona, Miranda, a Jack Russell called Otto and 11 chooks. By his own admission, Tim Castle-Schmidt is a broken man. Broken in body, mind and spirit, he is learning that God is at work in and through human brokenness. For while God has not ‘fixed’ him, God continues to work through his brokenness to connect with the world.
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