Our Sermons
4th Sunday of Advent
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21 December 2025
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Christmas Sermon – The Soundtrack of Joy
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Over the years, since we began the tradition of having our children perform the nativity play at St Peter’s on Christmas Day, I’ve realized that this is my Christmas sermon. Apart from saying “Merry Christmas” to you—and joyfully hearing our children proclaim it in so many beautiful languages—I won’t say much else!
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In a world that often seems to lack joy, a world scarred by war, terrorism, and violence, it can feel as though there is very little to celebrate. When darkness appears to prevail, we may be tempted to feel despondent and gloomy about the state of things.
Yet, I believe joy remains the soundtrack of our lives. Joy comes to us on Christmas Day in the form of a fragile baby lying in a manger.
But why do I think joy is the driving force of life?
Because joy bridges the future to the present, allowing us to truly live in the now. It expands our hearts and enriches our inner lives. Joy can heal those wounded by violence and hatred. It can restore what is broken within us and in the world around us.
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At Christmas, we experience this profound connection between joy and our inner life. Christmas is about discovering that joy and delight are constant companions. With Mary and Joseph, we have journeyed spiritually toward a land where we long for freedom, spaciousness, and peace.
So, what is joy? How does it look?
First, joy is more than happiness. It isn’t just the pleasure of a good movie or a holiday. Joy is deeply linked to gratitude and is received as a gift. The more you give, the more you receive. To give joy is to give life—and to receive it in return. Even science affirms this truth: joyful people tend to live healthier, more flourishing lives.
Christmas is Good News because it brings joy—the soundtrack of the New Testament, the thread that gives meaning to everything else. The birth of Jesus is the supreme expression of this divine and human experience. Let inner joy transform our lives into outward happiness. When we contemplate the baby in the crib, we begin to see the world through a new lens, recognizing beauty in every corner of life. Let joy become the soundtrack of our days.
Ultimately, joy means encountering God as a vibrant, indwelling presence—within and around us—liberating our minds from fear and despair.
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As Saint John of the Cross writes so beautifully:
Rejoice, my love, with me
And in your beauty see us both reflected:
By mountain-slope and lea,
Where purest rills run free,
We’ll pass into the forest undetected.
May this joy dwell in your hearts today and always.
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