An arrogant foreigner or being culturally critical?

Pauline is a Church volunteer here for two months from the Archdiocese of Perth. She does a bit with me, a bit with staff at NCCm and a bit with the Sisters with whom she stays. Yesterday, I informed her why her urban refugee student did not show up for English class on Saturday. He was detained by a policeman who asked for money. Pauline was shocked to hear that in a country that she sees as relatively well off and running smoothly there is such corruption. I shared my take with her. Basically, don't be fooled by the big buildings and all the infrastructure of a Bangkok. Underneath all this there is a harsh reality where corruption is rife. As I reflected on what I shared and discussed further with her to help her understand, I could see that there is a thin line between being critically reflective and being an offensive, arrogant westerner. For me the difference lies in the motive for what I shared and in my sense of responsibility. In a culture such as here in Thailand, there are many harsh aspects to life but nothing is said directly or publicly. Such an approach allows everything to just sail along as it is. We are here for mission and we are outsiders adding a different flavour to what is here and hopefully doing so for good. To just accept everything as it is and never critically reflect or share within appropriate environments means that we are not adding our bit to the local mix. There is then the gospel at play. How can we just accept and say or do nothing in some positive and constructive way when we see wrong? Sometimes we have to take risks but, in doing so, we may be seen as being offensive or arrogant or we may even be wrong. Still I am here to make a difference for good, I hope, and I am here for the gospel which calls to make that difference. So we take the risks.

25 years of serving with the People of God

On Monday - the 21st, I celebrated 25 years of ordained priesthood. On Sunday, I was presiding at the 10am mass at Assumption Cathedral and I reflected that 25 years ago, as a newly ordained priest, others often asked me - Why did I become a priest? Now no one asks me that question. Rather I ask myself - Why am I a priest? I can say that I love what I do, that I found my little corner, that I am making my contribution to the world and making a difference but it goes much deeper than that. It goes to my seminal story of faith, to who I am in my deepest reality. This is the same for any of us. It is about knowing our story and seeing where God is and I believe that we most easily and succinctly see God where we are most vulnerable. It is in our vulnerability that God is so with us, so really present to us. In knowing this, we become who we are.