Because we bear your name December 2025 – January 2026

I firmly believe that in their deepest souls, young people yearn for a religion that gives them meaning and purpose in life. Young people are showing an ever-increasing commitment to service and charity. In fact, the age group with the highest involvement in volunteering in Australia is 15–17-year-olds, alongside 65–74-year-olds.

Christian history tells us the story of a young Christian man who became a beacon of hopeful gospel meaning and purpose almost 1000 years ago in the land historically known as Bohemia. We know this young person as King Wenceslas. He was just in his 20s when he was assassinated and had only ruled for about five years.

We would never have heard of this young Christian if it had not been for Englishman John Mason Neale, who wrote the story of Wenceslas into a popular carol: ‘Good King Wenceslas’.

The story in this ballad about Wenceslas begins on a cold and frosty ‘feast of Stephen’. This is the day after Christmas, and the king’s dining table is set for the days of the Christmas festival. But in the carol, this focus on feasting takes a surprising turn: ‘Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gath’ring winter fuel.’

Scholars tell us that Wenceslas was a real person murdered for explicitly promoting Christianity in what was a non-Christian land. As a new king, Wenceslas worked for social reform in his country to change the future for people who were cast aside or trampled down. But this charitable Christian way of life was not welcomed among his enemies, so they sought to rid themselves of this king and his religion of charity. In his death for his faith, Wenceslas became an admired hero for the people. Christian teachings subsequently spread throughout the country.

In John Mason Neale’s carol about King Wenceslas, the king has looked out into the snow and seen the beggar: a man in poverty, hungry and gathering wood, as he is unable even to buy fuel for his fire. This tells us that the man would have been unable to buy food for the feast. In the story of the hymn, Wenceslas asks his servant who the man is. It turns out he is more than ‘just a beggar’. He is a homeless beggar. We hear that this beggar is welcomed into the palace for the feast, having been sought out by both the king and his page, who both go out into the snow to bring this man into the feast.

This is our Christian faith. Because we have been given a place in God’s gracious heart by faith in Jesus Christ, we can thank God by works of charity for those in need. That is why many of our Lutheran congregations promote the appeal from Australian Lutheran World Service at this time of year. Many congregations also promote other charitable activities at Christmas, including inviting poor or lonely people to their Christmas feasting table.

This Christmas Christian faith helps us, and especially helps our young people, to know that we are not simply consumers driven by sales and marketing. We are loved by the God who went to the cross for us. We are people whom God delights in using to bless the poor. As John Neale writes in his carol, ‘You who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing’.

But there is one more important thing to remember about Christmas feasting. As our homes are filled with fine food and drink, God’s home is also filled with feasting. We gather at church to eat and drink the body and blood of the Christ at Christmas.

When I receive holy communion at God’s table, I am like the poor man in the carol of Wenceslas. I am the one the Good King Jesus has gone out for, to fight death and the power of the devil; to gather me into the warmth of his love and forgiveness; to restore me and wash away sin.

So, maybe you can remind yourself of this gift of grace by writing on your Christmas shopping list: FOOD IN GOD’S HOUSE (holy communion).

A holy and blessed Christmas to you.

In Christ,
Paul

‘Lord Jesus, we belong to you,
you live in us, we live in you;
we live and work for you –
because we bear your name’

‘But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days’ (Micah 5:2).