Christmas message

By Mr Andy Gordon, Interim Principal

What I love about the Kindergarten Nativity chapel services we have at this time of the year, is the simplicity.

For 30 minutes I get to experience the events of the first Christmas through the eyes of a five-year-old. I am reminded anew of the miracle that happened in Bethlehem on that day and the message God gave to the world by sending his child to live among us.

As we come to the end of an academic year, it’s a good time to reflect to see how we’re doing at holding in tension our faith, hope, and sense of community.

If the purpose of education is to make the world a better and more peaceful place, to teach our young people to not only engage in things that bring joy to themselves but also to others, should be the goal.

One of my favourite Christmas songs is Jackson Browne’s The Rebel Jesus where the dialogue within the song is a reflective piece of a person wrestling with faith and the promise of Christmas.

The lyrics in the last verse of the song is particularly meaningful:

For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment

What comes through really richly in the song is his respect for the historical Jesus, the Jesus that we read in the Gospels, which is what Christmas is about.

The song ends with a beautiful moment of synergy or salvation where the songwriter says that he knows the Christmas message brings a hope that nothing else can define. How wonderful it is that we are in a community like Radford College – a school empowered by people that have a good education, have great opportunities and who are willing to use those experiences to serve others.

May we not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas as it was revealed to the shepherds in the Gospel of Luke:

But the angel said to them. "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

May our endeavour at Radford College be on the side of the Rebel Jesus.

Merry everything and happy always.

Andy