Justice Matters: And so this is Christmas…
This is the last Justice Matters before January. What springs to mind as we look back on this year and forward to Christmas?
What has been life enhancing? Maybe a heightening awareness of nature; the stronger ties with neighbours supporting each other… the conviction that although together humans brought the Earth to its emergency, together we can yet make a difference. Perhaps for me key is, from Pope Francis: to grow in love for the Earth of which we are a part. That we are a part of the Earth is obvious but rarely expressed: whatever we eat and drink was once not us – but running around or growing in a field or falling from the sky – and becomes us for a while.
Maybe the negatives dominate: the stress and suffering from the pandemic; the fact that the climate emergency is upon us, not in a vague future; the inequalities in the UK and in the world; the way people impose dreadful injustice as in Afghanistan and Gaza; the way in which truth is being trumped by emotion and false assertions in social media and politics; the inability internationally to achieve either COVID justice or climate justice.
See
Other things may come to mind as we hear and live the Christmas story. We might do so alert to three contexts: 2000 years ago, Bethlehem today, and our own lives.
2000 years ago Bethlehem was occupied and movement constrained – under Roman occupation Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. Now under Israel’s occupation Bethlehem’s residents struggle to go anywhere - including to Jerusalem or Nazareth - unless they are leaving their country.
The leader, Herod, spun lies to manipulate people. Then it was the Wise Men who were lied to. The uncontrolled egos of leaders led to mayhem, then as now.
The innocent children were killed by Herod. That might bring to mind both the violence of Israeli forces against children, and current climate-driven catastrophes, where those least responsible bear the impacts.
John the Baptist, who spoke truth to power, was arrested. In the occupied Palestinian territories, many are detained by Israel for years without trial. Here the rights to protest are reportedly to be constrained.
On Christmas night those supposed to be on the edges of society – the shepherds – were at the centre. They understood that something special was happening. Christ was among them, not with those who asserted their power of leadership. We are challenged by Pope Francis to be a blessing for the marginalised, a field hospital for those in need.
The wise men from far away were welcomed and their gifts received. On our shores refugees, with wisdom, skills and experience to share, are held in poverty by our government as it works out how to reject them.
Reflect
Fr Alex spoke early in Advent about Christmas being not only an event in history but also a reality at the core of life.
Jesus did not arrive in a pastoral idyllic scene. As 2000 year ago, Christ is born in the giftedness and mess of our lives and the giftedness and mess of our world. That is true each day.
Act
Have any of these, or other, issues particularly caught your attention? Might that lead to a New Year resolution that can help to build the kin(g)dom of justice?
Have a blessed Christmas.
mike.mineter@gmail.com
Thanks to Mike and Tricia for their thought-provoking and often uncomfortable pieces over this year - a sure sign that their messages are gospel-inspired. Ed.
