AN INCLUSIVE JESUS

The BBC brought us a long press conference this week in which the leader of the United States ducked many questions. At one point he said, we must help the rest of the world, but only when we have helped ourselves first. The virtual leader for the opposition, Nancy Pelosi, also gave a long press conference and, though a Democrat, quoted the epitome of Republicanism, Ronald Reagan, as saying America was built on the talents of immigrants and should always be a land of welcome.

A politician can build support by appealing to the best in human nature, compassion for others, or to the worst, exclusive self-interest.  The best raises the minds and hearts of people to see that this planet is for all of us and we are to include all people at our table. It is in the best interests of individuals – and countries – to seek the common good if they are to seek their own good.  Climate change is the glaring modern illustration of this.

Towards the end of the gospels the writers gather up the message of Jesus and this week we read of the shepherd who goes in search of one sheep which was lost, the woman who searches for her lost coin and the father who looks out for his lost son.  Jesus tells us that God is inclusive.  No one is left out. No one is screened at the border.

-o0o-

My eyesight has deteriorated to the point where writing these weekly columns has become an arduous task which I cannot keep up. And so I sign off with this, the 684^th! I am grateful to Wilf and Trish Mbanga who set me on this road more than ten years ago. This year, a selection of early pieces were published by Weaver Press under the title “Beyond Appearances” and there are copies available.  Thank you for journeying with me.  I trust that we will all continue to seek that which is beyond our reach.

David Harold-Barry SJ

Harare,  8 November 2018

WELL SPOKEN

_{WELL SPOKEN}

_{As a recent arrival in Zambia, I had not heard of Anderson Mazoka until two days ago. He is dead now. The one who told me of him said he could have been a great leader for Zambia. “He was compassionate,” he said. It struck me as an unusual complement to mention in one of our leaders.  We normally speak of their competence in politics or their understanding of economics and so on.  But that a leader is compassionate?  That he “suffers with” the people? That seemed new.}  

_{Towards the end of Mark’s gospel the opposition to Jesus mounts. But there is a sudden mention of a scribe who understands. He is “one of the scribes”, and so influenced by what his colleagues hold. But here he is speaking for himself.}

_{He asks Jesus what is the greatest thing in the law.  What is the basic element that holds our society together?  Jesus replies> “It is to love God and love one another”  The scribe replies,  “Well spoken, teacher”, and he repeats what Jesus had just said as if to emphasise his complete agreement. Then Jesus says to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”}

_{It is a striking scene.  One might even not notice it in the headlong rush to condemn Jesus and all he stood for in the closing pages of the gospels. Yet there it is: Jesus in harmony with a leading Jew approving the central faith of the Jewish people and making it his own.  Those of us who are Christians are reminded once again how much we owe to our Jewish roots. The fundamental stance is love and the way we show love is through compassion.  The gospels are full of examples; the woman by the well  and the parable of the prodigal son are among the best known.}

_{Nurtured in this tradition we can only stagger in amazement at the news from Pakistan this week. Some people have threatened violence against their own judges because their High Court has set aside a death sentence against a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, over something she inadvertently did that offended Muslims. “We just want her to be killed,” they said}

_{4 November 2018                                                                   Sunday 31 B}

_{Deuteronomy 6:2-6}                                           Hebrews 7:23-28                                                 Mark 12:28-34