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Principal's Reflection - 2 April

Welcome to the final Principal's Reflection for Term 1, 2026.

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

One of the absolute pleasures of being a Principal is the opportunity to see all the amazing things students do. I am regularly left feeling proud of our students for their achievements, but also for the acts of kindness, displays of fair play, the times they struggle in the face of adversity, and the times they give their best even when the thing they are doing is far from their favourite activity (like Cross Country!) It has been an amazing term, with many highlights. One has occurred in the last few weeks in the lead up to our Easter Worship. Over a number of weekly Worship services, at both the Middle/Senior and Primary services, a group of Year 12 students have been acting out key scenes from parts of the Bible that tell the story between Palm Sunday and the Crucifixion. They haven’t just acted out these scenes word for word; they have mixed in themes that young people often face. Perhaps my favourite was the arrest in the garden, where Judas betrayed Jesus, and after which Simon Peter denied knowing him. The Year 12 students wove a narrative around the story that, for me, centred on the idea that it is easy to do the right thing when doing so is easy.

It is easy to be kind to someone who is already a friend. It is easy to do a favour for someone who has helped you in the past. It is easy to tell the truth when doing so won’t get you in trouble. It is hard to be kind and generous to a stranger, or to speak the truth if hardship will follow. Simon Peter was a loyal follower of Jesus until he was scared for his own safety, and Judas actually did amazing things on behalf of Jesus, until greed tempted him into betrayal. For me, part of the story of Easter is doing things you know to be good and right, even when it costs you something. Jesus did not want to die; he even prayed just before the arrest, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

I am very grateful to the Year 12 students who have performed over the last few weeks, and for Mrs Griffin and Mr Cathcart who have guided them.

I was tempted to wait until after the Easter Worship to write this reflection, because I wanted to see what part of the message would be told next. However, publishing deadlines do not allow it! There is a part of the crucifixion story that is often left out: the story of the two criminals crucified beside Jesus. I’ve always remembered it, in part because of a song my mother played often when I was a child. It is called ‘Too small a price’ by the gospel singer Don Francisco, and is told from the perspective of the penitent thief. Just before Jesus dies on the cross, one of the two criminals ridicules and insults Jesus, but the other defends him. Afterwards, he asks Jesus to remember him in Heaven. Jesus looks at him and says, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Most people know that Good Friday and Easter are about Jesus dying and rising again, that they represent victory over death and the forgiveness of sins, so that believers of Christ can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I have always found it curious that the story of the penitent thief is often overlooked, because arguably that thief was the first person to benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice. All he had to do was believe.

Have a blessed Easter and a happy holiday.

Mr Matthew Hughes

Principal

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