Chaplains’ Chat

This week at Shore we have celebrated Harmony Week. Harmony Week celebrates Australian multiculturalism and the successful integration of migrants into our community. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging. Apart from food trucks, reflections in Tutor Groups and hearing of other peoples stories, I was fascinated at Shore to see the many different backgrounds and countries that our teachers have come from. Of course, in a country like Australia, this will always be the case in most workplaces.

As part of Harmony Week, we were reminded in Chapel that the God of the Bible is the God of great inclusion. The last book of the Bible gives us a picture of people from all different backgrounds before God. As Revelation 7:9 says these people were from “every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Ms Domingo helpfully reminded us that this is God’s wonderful plan for His world. All people are precious and valuable in God’s eyes as we are all made ‘in God’s image.’ Here is the basis for wonderful inclusion for everyone. Of course, the outworkings of this is how we relate to people around us. Just as we see God’s love for his world most clearly in the death and resurrection of Jesus, so we are to love all those around us. As we approach another Easter this year, may we marvel at God and his goodness to us all.

Rev. Anthony Benn
Chaplain