Faith, hope and love

STEVE WRIGHT, COLLEGE CHAPLAIN

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Earlier this year, I shared some reflections on these three key values during one of our Chapel services. These values, central to the Christian faith, are drawn from a famous passage on love in action. It was written by the Apostle Paul as an encouragement to the believers of the time. Although written over 2000 years ago, these values are still as powerful and world-changing today.

As Chaplains, we consider it a great privilege to create space for our students and staff to explore spirituality and faith and to consider some of life’s big questions.

Faith: The dictionary describes faith as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” In

Christianity, that belief is centred in a faith that God is always with us. Faith is deeply relational, and the Bible emphasises the importance of our relationships with othersaour friendships and family – where trust and confidence flourish.

As staff, no matter our role – whether in the classroom, the office, on the sports field, driving buses, maintaining facilities, cooking, or cleaning – we each play a part in inspiring and encouraging the next generation.

As educators, we strive to instil in our children and young people a sense of trust and confidence. In an increasingly unstable world, we want them to look ahead with hope, to face challenges with courage, and to trust in those who journey with them.

Our students have the opportunity to explore faith and spirituality through our Religion and Values classes at Junior and Middle School and Philosophy and Religion at Senior School.

As we create a safe and respectful space for our students to inquire about faith, it is wonderful to see how our students engage in these conversations.

“Faith is not certainty. It is the courage to live with uncertainty. Faith is never easy. The great heroes of the moral life, like the great artists and scientists and thinkers, like anyone who has undertaken to live a life of high ideals, know failure after failure, disappointment after disappointment. What made them great is that they refused to despair.” (Lord Jonathan Sacks).

Hope: Through faith, hope grows.

Our Chapel services throughout the year are opportunities to pause and be still. We live in a fast-paced and busy world and our services provide opportunities to simply stop, to reflect and hopefully be encouraged.

From our whole College Easter and Christmas services to the final Year 12 Chapel service and regular services throughout the year, our Chapel remains a sacred and special place to come together.

These moments of reflection are grounded in promises that have brought peace and hope for thousands of years.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

(Jeremiah 29:11)

Love: The Apostle Paul elevates love above the other values as the greatest!

In the book of Colossians, love is described as the virtue that binds all other virtues together in perfect unity.

The first recipients of these letters, and the followers of Jesus, put love into action through service to others. They fed the hungry, and provided clothes and shelter to those who were without. They cared for the sick, the poor, and the marginalised. They opened their homes to orphans, widows and refugees. They lived out their faith, and did as Jesus had taught them: “love others, as I have loved you.”

Over the last few years we have expanded opportunities for our students to serve others, both within the school and in the broader community. Whether through House initiatives, year-level projects, or partnerships with local charities and organisations, our students have countless ways to make a meaningful impact.

At different year levels we have established ongoing partnerships with local charities, churches and organisations where our students can serve in a practical way.

Students have visited local Aged Care Residences, and assisted with food preparation at Geelong Food Relief and the Salvos Northside Community Centre. They have also prepared meals for local churches, helped with gardening projects and a wide variety of other community initiatives. Each of these, an opportunity for our students to look beyond themselves to the needs of others.

Faith, hope and love work together and hopefully, our students and staff are encouraged by the powerful influence they can have each and every day. To walk with courage and kindness, and be bearers of hope.

In a world that can often feel overwhelming, we may even wonder, ‘What can I possibly do to make a difference?’ Yet every day presents an opportunity to choose love over hate, to act with kindness, and to bring hope to others.

“Love never fails”

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.