In their Christmas message, filmed at Launde Abbey, Bishop Martyn and Bishop Saju share what it means for the birth of Christ to have brought joy to the world, even in times of uncertainty and conflict.
Bishop Martyn: This year as we sing our Christmas carols and as we hear the stories read again of Jesus being born in Bethlehem, the names of places will be only too familiar to us from the news at the moment. This part of the world, Israel, Gaza, Palestine, is a place being torn apart by war at the moment. A place where we know that so many people have suffered and are grieving the loss of loved ones. And yet when Jesus was born in Bethlehem all those years ago, things were not so different.
We know that Israel at that time was under occupation. A cruel ruler had all the babies in one village killed in order to try and stop a newborn king. There was unrest, there was unhappiness, in all sorts of ways, the land was being torn apart.
And yet the Bible tells us that at the right time, at just the right moment, God came among us. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Bishop Saju: That might sound like right there and then, all causes of pain and suffering in the world came to an end. Yet, that wasn't the case. Jesus and his followers still experienced oppression and persecution.
And when we look around us, we see natural disasters and wars still continue. And in our own lives, we experience hardship and loss. But we still sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come". We still believe that one of the great gifts that God has brought to us in Jesus Christ is the gift of joy. What then is joy?
Joy, we suggest to you, is not happiness. While happiness is circumstantial, joy is beyond our circumstances. Joy is not pleasure. Jesus didn't invent chocolate or produce your favorite TV series, although he certainly enjoyed the company of good friends, and even went to parties. But we know that pleasure comes to an end.
We've finished the bar of chocolate. The TV series comes to an end. We've finished opening all our presents. And then what? As Christians, we believe that we can experience joy even when things aren't going our way. Even when times are rough. The Bible teaches that God is a source of joy. One of the Psalms says to God, You have filled my heart with joy.
Jesus tells his disciples, I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. And he goes on to say, Nothing can rob you of that joy. So joy is not something that we acquire, buy, manufacture, or entertain ourselves into this Christmas. It is what we receive from what we open ourselves up to God in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Bishop Martyn: And so from both of us, joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King, let every heart prepare Him room. A very happy Christmas to you all, from both of us.