140,000

PRAYER PAUSE  

Wednesday 1 November 2017, All Saints

140,000

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Then I heard how many were sealed; a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.” (Revelations 7:2 …14)

Reflection. All Saints and All Souls, two days back to back at the changing of the seasons from hot to cold in the northen hemisphere and from cold to hot in the southern, owe their origin to a pagan (pre-Chrustin) festival of the Celts, or so I am told – by a Celt. Seemingly it was considered the moment when the dead came closest to the living – when the seasons kissed. The Church took over the festival and made it a moment of celebration of the new Israel when the “twelve” new tribes – each with their “twelve” thousand  would be “sealed”. The symbolic number – of the tribes and of the apostles – stand for the countless number from every way of life who “will be like him and see him as he really is” (1 John3:1-3).     

Prayer. Lord, we rejoice even now in being part of your people, destined to share in the joy that will finally satisfy our restless hearts. Amen.

THE ENTIRE CREATION HAS BEEN GROANING

PRAYER PAUSE  

Tuesday 31 October 2017

THE ENTIRE CREATION HAS BEEN GROANING

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth.” (Romans 8:18-25)

Reflection. Paul has been developing his description of God’s way of working in his people, culminating in the coming of Jesus who reveals that we are made one with God through faith. Paul goes on to say that all of creation has been groping its way towards God and today’s gospel (Luke 13:18-21) speaks of the leaven gradually transforming the whole batch of flour. This may sound abstract but when we look at the elections in Kenya we see our neighbours struggling to find a way forward. Some are “groaning” towards a Kenya that is really free and resolves the long-term tensions in society; others are pushing back and clinging to the past desperate to hold on to what they have now. This struggle, Paul says, is within ourselves as we wait to be set free. The groaning goes on but step by step we get there.

Prayer. Lord, help us to trust that you are working in creation; in our lives together and in our personal lives. Amen.

SHE STRAIGHTENED UP

PRAYER PAUSE  

Monday 30 October 2017

SHE STRAIGHTENED UP

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “’Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’, and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.” (Luke 13:10-17)

Reflection. “The synagogue official was indignant” that Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath. He makes the ludicrous comment,“There are six days when you can be healed. Come on one of them!” Jesus cuts through all this hypocrisy and heals – as he has come to do everywhere and in all time. What is striking is the sheer authority with which he speaks and acts. It is a revelation of who he is. And people recognised it – beginnngh with woman who had been “held bound these eighteen years.” The people were overjoyed but were they able to carry that joy into their lives in an on-going conversion that would change the world?  

Prayer. Lord, as we rejoice in recalling your words and deeds as described in the gospels, help us in our turn to heal our world in the ways available to us. Amen.

A LITTLE FLOWER

A LITTLE FLOWER

I have been deeply affected by the death of Plaxedes Ruvadiki Kamudiya, a teacher at St George’s intermediate school in Harare. I do not live in Zimbabwe at the moment and I may not have all the facts correct. It seems she went to Mutemwa, the settlement near Mutoko where people living with leprosy and other disabilities are cared for. Mutemwa has drawn people who wish to “go away for a while” (Mark 6:31) since the time John Bradburne – the “vagabond” of God – who lived and was killed there in the 1970s.

Plaxedes was one of these pilgrims and she wanted to share with her young students the experience of peace and encouragement the place gives. She went with a friend to plan a pilgrimage and, after the logistics were settled, she went up the mountain alone to pray as many have done before her. But a man saw her and attacked, raped and killed her. She had resisted and when her body was recovered from the dam, where the man had dumped it, it had several bruises and had been bleeding.

I cannot say I knew Plaxedes well but we met a number of times when working together preparing the liturgy in her school. She was a beautiful person, centred on God and his people and she used her gifts of teaching, singing and composing that gave joy and hope to many hearts. Her family and companions in the school, especially her young students, must be in shock and profound sadness.

We crack our heads to make sense of such tragedies. All is quiet and then suddenly evil erupts like a volcano spreading its darkness and ashes over the earth. We cannot “explain” evil but we know it presses on us as part of the struggle we are all in. Something similar happened to a young Italian girl, called Maria Goretti, at the beginning of the last century and, in the 1960s in the Congo, Anwarite Nengapeta endured the same fate. Maria and Anwarite were honoured by the Church as models of courage in the struggle against evil which Jesus came to lead.

Once again, as so often in our faith story, weakness is greater than strength (1 Cor. 1:25). Maria forgave her attacker and wanted him to “come with her to Paradise.” Plaxedes, when she was a religious for a time, chose the name Ruvadiki, little flower, fragile and beautiful. She seems to have kept that name together with her religious vows when she left religious life, if I interpret the photo on the internet correctly. She, like John Bradburne, shared in the death of Jesus and added her name – ‘little flower’ – to that of the ‘vagabond’ in consecrating Mutemwa, a place for the ostracised, as a source of courage for Zimbabwe.

29 October 2017                                 Sunday 30 A

Exodus 22:20-26                                 1 Th. 1:5-10                             Matt 22:34-40

I HAVE COME TO BRING DIVISION

PRAYER PAUSE  

Thursday 26 October 2017

I HAVE COME TO BRING DIVISION

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Do you suppose I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Luke 12:49-53)

Reflection. “Peace on earth” was the angels’ message at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14) but it was a peace that would come through a change of heart, a welcoming of the gospel such as the “woman who was a sinner” gave (Luke 7:36). To achieve peace a decision had to be made. Some would make it, some would not. Even families would be divided  in responding to the gospel. Jesus had come to provoke a response. The Jewish leaders, representing many leaders before and since, chose to ignore the gospel and kill Jesus. Our prayer today has to be that we make our decision for the gospel even if it creates division. Many of us have a default position of avoiding confrontation. It is time to examine our conscience on this.

  

Prayer. Lord, may we have the courage to challenge where challenge is called for. Let us not run away out of fear from the discomfort of opposition. Amen.

HAPPY THAT SERVANT

PRAYER PAUSE  

Wednesday 25 October 2017

HAPPY THAT SERVANT

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds her at this employement.” (Luke 12:39-48)

Reflection. I was shocked and saddened yesterday to hear of the cruel murder of a teacher who had gone to Mutemwa, the settlement in NE Zimbabwe where people living with leprosy and other disabilities are cared for. She had gone to plan a pilgrimage for her students and went up the mountain to pray and there she was attacked and raped. She resisted her attacker and this seems to have enraged him and he killed her and threw her body in the nearby dam. I knew her a little – enough to know she was a beautiful person, centred on God and the task he gave her in life and she used her gift of singing to give joy to many hearts. Now, I believe she is happy in the sense of the gospel, though it will take much time for her family, friends and students to experience the consolation of her victory. We pray too for her murderer that he too may find healing one day.

Prayer. Lord, we pray that you will find us attentive to our tasks when you come each day and we pray for our teacher whose young life was so abruptly snatched from her; and for the one who did the snatching. Amen.

THIS IS THE FAITH

PRAYER PAUSE  

Monday 23 October 2017

THIS IS THE FAITH

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying’ Abrahaml.” (Romans 4:20-25)

Reflection. Paul is absorbed by the transition from “rules” (the law) to faith. It makes all the difference to our life. It opens the door to going beyond the “normal”. The widow made an offering in the temple of “all” she had and would,in the new age, receive care and food, as we know in fact happened in the early Christian communities where widows were cared for. Karl Rahner’s prediction that the Christian today would be a mystic or else not a Christian at all sounds ever more wise as see  “rules” losing force all round us. 

Prayer. Lord, may we grow deeply into an understanding that you stand at the door and knock. Amen.

I CANNOT SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE

Welcome to Wales, or at least to a Welsh word; Hiraeth! It means a longing for home. But a home that is unattainable. To feel hiraeth is to feel a deep incompleteness and recognize it as familiar.

Today we do not like incompleteness. SHOPRITE thrives on responding to our every need. The marketing world searches for empty niches in our thirst for completeness. We like to insure ourselves against anything unforeseen.

But this desire for self-sufficiency runs the danger of closing us off from hiraeth, a state where, in the words of Augustine, “our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee (God).” Restlessness is a good thing! A healthy thing! It exposes us to be at ease with our incompleteness.

The Pharisees, in the gospel, are good examples of people who wanted to provide an answer to everything. The way Jesus kept pushing out the boundaries unsettled them. At one point they tried to force Jesus to answer a trick question; “is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar?” Wonderfully, he threw the question back at them, calling them to give honour to God and due respect to the state. They had to make up their own minds and there would be no tidy answer – only incomplete ones.

Pope Francis was the subject of a radio programme this week entitled, provocatively, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” The programme explored his “incomplete” answer to the question, should divorced and remarried Catholics be welcomed to Holy Communion? Knowing the centuries old default position of the Church to have answers for everything, and knowing the default position of many Catholics that they expect the Church to have an answer to everything, the pope broke new ground by handing the question to priests to decide in individual cases. He invited them to accompany people on their journey and if, after careful examination of the situation, they feel this person’s longing to receive Communion should be granted, they may welcome them to receive.

Some, who have grown up accustomed to the Church’s black and white answers on such issues, feel deeply uncomfortable with this “grey” response. Yet Francis is motivated by compassion, not a desire for neat answers for every situation. It is not difficult to see how Jesus did the same many times. He had no interest in “applying the law” to the woman caught in an act of adultery when he saw her desire to change her ways.    

Pope Francis, as the programme referred to recognised, is only opening wider the window Pope John unlocked more than fifty years ago. It took all those years because such changes are hard to make, as the reaction to Francis’ decision shows. But he is reminding us of our incompleteness and telling us it is OK! We can live with our hiraeth and look forward to the day when all will be complete in Christ.

22 October 2017       Sunday 29 A.     Isaiah 45:1…6        1 Thess 1:1-5        Matt 22:15-21

A FREE GIFT

PRAYER PAUSE  

Saturday 21 October 2017

A FREE GIFT

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free git and available to all.” (Romans 4:13-18)

Reflection. The letter to the Romans is shot through with this teaching on faith. Paul explained this dominant theme of the gospel – though the actual four gospels we have were not yet written in his time. Paul is imbued with a sense of the gift God has given us in Jesus. Jesus makes all the difference. Without him we were helpless to build a better world. With him there is nothing we cannot do. And it is all a gift. We can do nothing to bring it on. By a free gift God has now opened up human nature to its full capacity for the divine. Paul is absorbed by this realisation. And we are invited to join him.

Prayer. Lord, may we deeply understand your presence in all things. Whether we know it or not you are the leaven gradually transforming our world – despite our resistance to change. Amen.

A FAITH THAT JUSTIFIES

PRAYER PAUSE  

Friday 20 October 2017

A FAITH THAT JUSTIFIES

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Abraham put his faith in God, and this faith was considered as justifying him.” (Romans 4:1-8)

Reflection. I always find the word ‘justify’ in Paul a bit awkward. We normally use the word to explain or prove something said or done. We ‘justify’ ourselves. Yet it is hard to think of a better word to explain what happens when we are stretched into living in faith. All creation exists for the sake of humanity but humanity by itself hasn’t done very well. We admire our achievements – whether they be the three tiered Roman aquaduct at Arles or the mobile phone in my pocket - but often they are built on the oppression of others. It is faith that has transformed humanity and opened up unimaginable horizons. Faith has enabled humanity to become “perfect” – something we were made for from the beginning. Faith caps the whole purpose of our struggles. We may feel very far from being perfect – both as individuals or as human society. But we have a clear agenda, through faith.

Prayer. Lord, may we become people of deep faith, ready to stretch our powers to reach for the justice and  perfection you inspire in our hearts. Amen.

A FURIOUS ATTACK

PRAYER PAUSE  

Thursday 19 October 2017, Jean de Brebeuf and companions, martyrs of America

A FURIOUS ATTACK

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “They began a furious attack on him and tried to force answers from him on innumerable questions, setting traps to catch him out in something he might say.” (Luke 11:47-54)

Reflection. From time to time we have been in a group with someone whose personality seems to fill the whole room. All eyes and ears are on them. It was like that with Jesus. People recognised the power of this person. And the scribes and Pharisees knew that what he was saying challenged their whole comfortable way of living. Here was someone fearless and free – and they could not stand it. We pause for a moment in the presence of this person, realising who he is and what he has come to do. And we pray, for example – there are many others, for the people of Kenya as they come to a moment of decision: do we go along with the old ways or do we welcome the call for something new?

Prayer. Lord, help us to welcome the call you make to us to be free – free from all the habits and attitudes that trap us in the place of comfort we have made for ourselves. Amen.

THE HARVEST IS RICH

PRAYER PAUSE  

Wednesday 18 October 2017, Luke

THE HARVEST IS RICH

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” (Luke 10:1-9)

Reflection. In a world where the Christian faith seems to receive a daily hammering and religions are often seen as hang-overs from a former age, talk of a rich harvest may seem out of tune with the times. But the words stand. In the eighteenth century, as the cyclone of the enlightenment swept over Europe, it seemed like the church was cornered and religion heading for oblivion. But the nineteenth and twentieth centuries saw a blossoming of faith all over the world. It is true; there is a hammering going on. But it is more the hammering of panel-beating as our faith discovers its new role in our rapidly changing culture.

Prayer. Lord, help us to be explorers and not lose heart as we find ourselves in the eye of a storm. May we be calm and courageous, ever conscious of the presence of your Spirit. Amen.

KEEP TRUTH IMPRISONED

PRAYER PAUSE  

Tuesday 17 October 2017, Ignatius of Antioch

KEEP TRUTH IMPRISONED

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “The anger of God has been revealed against … all those who keep truth imprisoned… for what can be known about God is perfectly plain.” (Romans 1:16-25)

Reflection. Paul, echoing a theme in the gospels, convicts those who resist the truth because it is inconvenient. He is telling the cultured Romans that God had prepared the way for the fullness of revelation in Jesus by offering us evidence in the world around us of his existence. But people have resisted what is clear to eye and ear. Americans today, reading and hearing the flow of words from their president, are aware his interpretation of the world fits his own views. It does not accord with the facts. Truth is inconvenient and does not bring in votes. Daniel Moynihan warns, “You are entitled to your opinion but you are not entitled to your own facts.” We cannot make up facts just because they fit what we want.

Prayer. Lord, give us the courage to understand and live the truth of each situation. Amen.

THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH

PRAYER PAUSE  

Monday 16 October 2017

THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Through him we receieved grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all the pagan nations in honour of his name.” (Romans 1:1-7)

Reflection. Luther, the 500^th anniversary of whose breaking–in on the world we celebrate this year, said at one point that if we did no have the gospels and had nothing except the letters of Paul it would have been enough. Certainly this letter of Paul to the Romans, which we start today, is a rich mine where we can discover the purpose of God through the mission of Jesus: it is to call people to “obedience” – a loaded word today but – meaning the same as “Thy will be done or earth as it is in heaven” which we say often enough. The obedience of faith means, surely, the orientation of my life in such a way that it reflects the values and purpose of God for his people. If we could so orientate ourselves our problems would fall away; peace would “flow like a river” (Isaiah) and we would all experience the interior joy of union with God.

Prayer. Lord, help us to live so that your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

SUDOKU AND THE ART OF LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

SUDOKU AND THE ART OF LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

In 1974, a book appeared which immediately sold 5 million copies. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert Pirsig, explored the way a motorcycle imposes its will on its rider. If the bike is not functioning I cannot just hope it will sort itself out. Motorcycles don’t have immune systems. If there is something wrong I have to discover exactly what it is and do something about it. That imposes a discipline on me. “The place,” Pirsig wrote, “to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.” We don’t need religion to tell us that. Motorcycles can do it for us.

For some time now I have found moments of relaxation in doing the Japanese puzzle, Sudoku. Sr Christopher CJ, aged 102, keeps her mind alert that way! It is a “simple” grid of nine squares, each containing nine squares in which you write in a number, 1-9. The catch is, no number can appear twice in any one square, horizontal line or vertical column. The designer of the puzzle puts in some numbers arranged according to whether they are feeling kind or fiendish. So those are the mechanics. Now for the experience!

I began with easy puzzles and soon got hooked. It is quite satisfying to fill the 81 squares. Then I graduated to harder ones and began to feel frustrated when the numbers didn’t fit. I’d rushed a bit and not noticed something and ended up in a tangle. Sudoku also has no immune system. So I rub everything out and start again. I promise myself this time I will go slowly and methodically. I do so, but then get completely blocked. Gridlock! There seems to be no way forward. Something in me says, ‘this is annoying.’ But something else says, ‘this is getting interesting!’

Then I remember St Ignatius’ rules for discernment. “The conduct of our enemy may be compared to the tactics of a leader intent on seizing and plundering a position he desires. … he will explore the fortifications and defences of the stronghold, and attack at the weakest point.” (Spiritual Exercises  #327). I set about copying the enemy and finding the weakest point. It may take days, even weeks. I seem to be making zero progress.

But then one day, one sweet hour, I find that point. And the whole “stronghold” collapses. In our life in the Spirit we call it consolation!

Is there any need to spell out the lessons learned? Our life in Christ is easy to begin with. The newly baptised are often enthusiasts and that is good. But then comes the hard bit: why this challenge? Why are things so difficult? I can get annoyed, frustrated and lose hope. Or I can say, ‘I am not going to let this get me down. I am going to work through this till I find a way.’ There is a way. There always is! And in the life in the Spirit we are not alone.        

15 October 2017                      Sunday 28 A

Isaiah 25:6-10                                    Philippians 4:12-20                Matthew 22:1-14

STILL HAPPIER THOSE

PRAYER PAUSE  

Saturday 14 October 2017, Callistus, slave and pope

STILL HAPPIER THOSE

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!” But Jesus replied, “Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28)

Reflection. This sharp saying sums up Jesus’ whole life. He has come to widen the sense of family, tribe, nation, culture and religion. Our bonds are to be all inclusive. He is building a new family – the people of God – and everything else takes second place. We live in a time of huge migrations of people in every continent. And migration is always a reaction to being not accepted where you are. We have still some way to go to build the family of God.

Prayer. Lord, help us to be open and really “present” to others. Help us to enter into their lives, their fears, their needs, their hopes. Help us to build community where we are. And may Mary, who came to understand your words – even if she was puzzled at first – interceded for us. Amen.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS OVERTAKEN YOU

PRAYER PAUSE  

Friday 13 October 2017

THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS OVERTAKEN YOU

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “But if it is through the finger of God that I cast our devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you.” (Luke 11:15-26)

Reflection. The prophets, Malachy yesterday, Joel today, saw the “Day of the Lord” in dire terms. It would be a day of judgement. Jesus did not contradict them but his emphasis was on the day as a moment of opportunity. Now is the moment to take the ball and run with it. “Some of the people”, Luke tells us, could not accept Jesus’ words and actions as coming from God and made the absurd claim that he casts out devils through the power of the devil. Jessu ignores this highly offensive response and calls on them to open their eyes and minds. Reactions out of fear, which seem to be the stand of the current president of the world’s most powerful nation, rather than trust come from this failure to take Jesus at his word.   

Prayer. Lord, you have release us from the prison of fear. Help us to enter the sunlight of your grace and embrace the opportunities life offers us – seem they ever so small. Amen.

THE DAY

PRAYER PAUSE  

Thursday 12 October 2017

THE DAY

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “For the day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil doers will be like stubble.” (Malachy 3:13-20)

Reflection. Malachy, and later John the Baptist, seemed to suggest a day of judgement was coming soon when evil doers would be swept away. But Jesus taught that “the day” had already come with him and he was not going to judge anybody. They would judge themselves by their way of life. If we try to follow the way of Jesus it will bring blessings. If we turn away it will bring bad consequences. At the moment in the US there is a furore over a powerful man in the film business who exploited women. He has now been exposed and ruined. His “day” has come.This happens with big and small people all the time. And if we sow the seeds of good choices – living for others – our “day” too will come but it will be furnished with blessings and calm assurance.

Prayer. Lord, give us this day our daily bread; help us each day to choose “for others” and find the peace and assurance of living always in your presence. Amen.

YOUR KINGDOM COME

PRAYER PAUSE  

Wednesday 11 October 2017, John XXIII

YOUR KINGDOM COME

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come.” (Luke 11:1-4)

Reflection. Luke’s short version of the Our Father highlights the coming kingdom. Longing for the appearance of the kingdom shows itself in welcoming every sign of it, every little bud. When young people at school settle their differences, when people in work places sort out their problems, when politicans manage to come to reconciliation and nations to international accords – all these are signs of the kingdom. The Church is to be salt and light and each of us has our task. The kingdom of the Father will come when we lay hold of it, take it by storm. That is the burning desire of Jesus.  

Prayer. Our Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come. Amen.

THE BETTER PART

PRAYER PAUSE  

Tuesday 10 October 2017, Daniel Comboni

THE BETTER PART

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “It is Mary who has chosen the better part; and it is not to be taken from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Reflection. We may be familiar with the picture of Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus to their house in Bethany. But let us not hurry to place in our “Been there/Done that” box. Let us not presume we “know” the story. Martha is busy with washing and cleaning, cooking and serving – all needed family tasks. Mary settles down at the Lord’s feet and listens to him. What is he talking about? We don’t know, but from the rest of the gospel we can be sure he touched her own intimate needs. He consoled her in her worries and opened her heart to see the whole plan of God for his people and her part in bringing that plan to fulfilment. She felt immensely moved and a love grew in her that would sustain her in all that would happen later. Martha is doing essential things but doesn’t seem to appreciate what is going on. But, from John chapter 11, we hear she is a quick learner.

Prayer. Lord, introduce us into a personal relationship with you which will touch our deepest needs and lead us to open our hearts to others. Amen.

JONAH RAN AWAY

PRAYER PAUSE  

Monday 9 October 2017

JONAH RAN AWAY

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah, ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city …’  Jonah decided to run away from the Lord.” (Jonah 1:1-1)

Reflection. Jonah ran away and in our gospel today – the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) – two out of three “passed by on the other side.” They did not want to get involved. Getting involved is risky – you don’t know where it will end; it is inconvenient – it interrupts “my plans”; and it is none of my business – there are others who should look into these things. Is this not a modern sickness? We allow our governments, who are employed by us, to walk over us because we do not want to get involved. We allow the environment to deteriorate because it is not really my job to do anything. We ignore the pain of the marginalised because there is nothing I can do about it. Archbishop Ndlovu of Harare has called on people to get engaged in the political processes in Zimbabwe, especially before the elections due in 2018. In a small way we can build habits of “engagement” with others. We can look at our conscience and notice, “what am I avoiding doing?”   

Prayer. Lord, help us to be aware and inspire us to change those things we can change. Amen.

HOLD ONTO POWER

HOLD ONTO POWER

“What would induce anyone at this stage to hold onto power only to be remembered for their in ability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so?”  Pope Francis asks this question, of those threatening the survival of our planet through their activities, in his letter on Care for our Common Home, (Laudato Si’ #57). This letter has had a big impact and is widely quoted beyond the confines of the Catholic Church. Although he has used impeccable technical and scientific arguments to support his words, the pope’s emphasis is on the moral choice humankind now has to make.

Holding onto power is not only a preoccupation of our leaders in Africa – though it does seem to be widespread among us – it is a universal phenomenon reaching into industry, finance and trade and religion. It seems that once a person has tasted power they are seduced by it and cannot find the freedom to walk away from it after they have served their time.

The “failure” of Jesus’ mission was all to do with the leaders of Israel at that time clinging on to the power they had and refusing to even consider that their time was over. Jesus used a powerful allegory about them: a man had a vineyard and leased it to servants whose task was to develop the property on behalf of the owner. But they were intent on enjoying themselves and took no notice of the messengers the owner sent to check on them. In fact they rejected and mistreated them. Finally the owner sent his son as his final effort to make them change their mind. But, so intent were the servants on holding on to what they had, they killed the son in the belief that now the vineyard would be theirs.

We are left with questions. Why can people not see beyond the little world they have created out of self-interest? Can they not see the bigger picture: the common good of all? Do they really think they will not be held to account for their actions?  

Towards the end of his letter, Pope Francis points to that broader picture: “We are always more effective when we generate processes rather than holding on to positions of power” (#178). We will be remembered if we start something sound even if we do not live to see the fruit. We can think of (American President) Abraham Lincoln who could easily have made other choices if his plan was to hold onto power. But he chose the risky path of confronting slavery and secession and he paid for it with his life. He “lost” power but he gained a reputation for being the greatest of all the presidents of the USA.

8 October 2017                                   Sunday 27 A

Isaiah 5:1-7                                         Philippians 4:6-9                     Matthew 21:33-43