No faith - No revolution

A new way of being priest in extraordinary times

Last week, I read an article by an Italian in Rome on her experience of being in lockdown.  Having read it, I wanted to throw it out as she so simply and cynically dismissed any concept of a new world arising out of this world crisis.

I am thinking that this crisis is the true opportunity in my lifetime for real and needed change in world and society.  This belief sustains and enlivens me.  How could this woman just dismiss my hope?  Then it struck me, I must retrieve her article as here was my passion for this week's blog entry.  My line was to be that her total lack of any spirituality led to her stance.  Fact is no change of any worth can happen in our world without a firm and deep base that goes beyond our small, limited worlds.  Faith is a necessity for good and sustainable change.

Pope Francis calls for the revolution of tenderness which is based on the love of God.  We need a revolution in our world and church but one based on love and the gospel.  Without such a firm foundation, no revolution will succeed and we will just become cynics in our world.  

So the ground was fertile for a great Murray entry but then I received a letter from a friend back home, her response to my Christmas 2019 message.  I recognized the better path was now to respond to my friend.     

Yes, my friend, COVID-19 has had an impact on my Bangkok, like everywhere in the world.  It just is its story has its own Thai flavour.  Presently, Thailand is under a state of emergency until 30th April which allows for much government action to happen in dealing with this public health crisis.  The reality, however, is the place is just slowly closing down without ultimately giving the order.  So the big hit is the closing of shopping malls.  This week all are asked to stay at home unless they need to go out.  I then ask why they don't just order the place closed and get it over with.  Such is very possible in a country where hierarchy is all and control rules.  Why don't they just give the order?  I just do not know.  Instead the people are fearful and the place has an eerie feel.

I hear you share about your family, friends, Church and world, and how the world has changed so much in such a short time.  I can easily concur as I have moved rapidly in my conversation and thought from "what a crazy world" to "extraordinary times".

As I read your letter, you remind me of some of my own sensible philosophy that I shared in my Christmas 2019 message.  It sure seems to make sense as I reread my own humble words of wisdom:
"Do the best you can with what you've got and who you are."
"Keep your focus."
"People here know how to wait and waiting leads to so much more possible good."
"Never become culturally arrogant."

As I read of the ups and downs of your life and the life of your family, I am reminded how life goes on, no matter what.  As we are caught in the shock of a sudden COVID-19 era, we may wonder what life will be like post COVID-19.  Life will go on but we hope like my friend for the better because of this experience.  People are being kinder to each other and reaching out to others more.  Our world is being a more welcoming place for all. We want this to continue. 

Your question of how to celebrate Holy Week this year is pressing as it is next week in the midst of lockdown.  During this week, we remember the central Christian narrative of Jesus' terrible suffering and death leading to his glorious resurrection.  This key narrative of our faith reminds us that death is part of life but not the end of it.  Moreover, death gives way to new and full life. This story challenges humanity at the best of times but even more so now, challenging us to new ways of being human together, of being church, of being a person.  We are challenged to new ways based on respect and dignity as key values for all.

You remind me finally of how I finished my Christmas message.
"Let us enjoy that little bit of joy and a little bit of that giving and loving spirit that reminds us of the better and kinder side of humanity".

Presently, we face a serious public health crisis but we face much more as it is a crisis of humanity, a crisis of leadership, a crisis of spirituality.  Maybe I finish where I started.  I hope I have shared a satisfactory reply.

Bottom line is that real change is possible in our world and church. I stand on the side of history that change is needed at this time for the good of a better humanity, for our being kinder to each other and our planet, for basing our relationships on respect and not power and control.  Such change is revolutionary.  It is about living out the revolution of tenderness called for by Francis and it is possible.  And it can succeed when based on spirituality, when based on our knowing our right relationship with God and each other.   This revolution is a human quest but more so it is a spiritual quest.  Otherwise, it will be lost in human cynicism when all one sees is failure and suffering.  Spirituality allows us to see with new eyes beyond the failure and suffering around us to the more glorious possibilities of humankind, given to us by a God with us. 

Codependent is not a Bad Word

I recently watched a clip from the US Late Show featuring CNN's chief medical correspondent, talking on COVID-19.  What struck the social worker in me is that he stressed the value of our being codependent in the midst of this pandemic.  Yet, in social work terms, we learn that codependency is something to be treated, being named as a weakness for it is about individuals having an excessive reliance on others.  It is a personal liability for codependency tells us that we need other people for our self-approval and our sense of identity.  Codependency is named as a factor in enabling another's addictions, immaturity or irresponsibility.  It is just not identified as a personal strength in relationships.

Oscar Romero - 1977 in Rome

 In contrast, Dr Sanjay is turning it all around by saying that my behaviour in self-care and respect for others at this time is impacting upon others in my life and beyond.  It is not just about being responsible for myself, but being responsible for all others who come within my wide sphere of influence.  As a doctor, he clearly states that my obligation is to behave well so as to look after others.  So he says we are co-dependent.  Basically, if I behave badly or irresponsibly in looking after my health and hygiene at this time, I could be doing harm to someone else, without even knowing it.  He is reminding us that we are responsible for others through being responsible for ourselves.  We are co-responsible.  This is not about abrogating anyone's responsibility for self but about upholding our responsibility for each other.   Truth is we need one another.  We cannot thrive as isolated, selfish, self-centred beings for that is the path to an inhuman life and, at this time, literally to death for some.

Then this week, we remember Saint Oscar Romero.  He was the archbishop of San Salvador at a time of civil war and brutal repression.  He totally lived out his responsibility for his people.  He was their voice, being the voice for the voiceless.  In acting to stop brutal killings and oppressive injustices, he himself was murdered by the oppressors.  As a leader. he gave his life for others who had no life

Dr Sanjay shares on true human leadership called for within a pandemic.  Romero lived true human leadership because he followed the gospel and loved his people who were caught up in terrible suffering due to the actions of a ruthless and selfish elite.  He did not have to do anything but Romero was compelled to act by the gospel and on seeing the killing and suffering of innocent people.  He knew his responsibility and lived it.  Such true leadership gives life for all.   

Happy Birthday Twice

Boris Johnson apparently told the British to wash their hands frequently, rubbing that soap in for as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.  Winston Churchill is remembered for his stirring "We shall never surrender" statement.  Our Boris will go down in history for his "Happy Birthday twice" statement. 

Without being too flippant, what our present pandemic crisis shows very clearly is that our world has an ongoing crisis of political leadership which is now never so poignant as at this time.  There is no Winston Churchill to stir us up, and we sure need one.  All we hear is about doom and gloom on the economic front.  This crisis is about more than economics.  It is about humanity; it is about who we are individually and together; it is about spirituality, about who are in solidarity with God and each other.  Meanwhile women are fighting over toilet paper in some store in Australia. 

We must never lose sight of our human solidarity in the face of a shared crisis which is not about a Chinese virus, a refugee virus, nor a foreign virus but simply this is a human crisis.

Here the Health Minister is blaming the virus on foreigners, specifically westerners for being dirty and arrogant.  This theme feeds into a human mindset geared towards discrimination.  It is an easy cop-out to lay blame.  Whatever may be said, such a narrative is unhelpful for the common good, a key value in the midst of any crisis. 

This week, I am being a bit all over the place.  Maybe that is a result of the immediate pressures of the time.  Still as I read back, I see the themes arising in my own reflecting on the state of my Bangkok and our world.  What the world needs now is
good leadership;
decent sense of  humanity;
nourishing spirituality; 
and not named, but ever essential, a lot of love and a ripper of a sense of humour. 

Sense of Humour Above All

A fun night on Sunday to celebrate the 50th birthday of a friend.

The virus is the story presently gripping the world. Its latest starring role is being played by Italy where the whole country is now under lockdown, with the government order for "people to stay at home and seek permission for essential travel".  It is reading like a bad movie.  I have never seen in my life such happenings at a global level. 

Meanwhile, the great human tragedies of Syria, Libya and Yemen continue unabated.  None of these stories attract anywhere near the attention engendered by the virus.  Actually, for me, it is like Syria doesn't matter, going on and on due to lack of interest from the world.  So people in Syria are murdered, imprisoned and tortured without most of the world even bothering to notice. Maybe it is simply a case of what is not in your own own backyard is not of any great concern to people.

This virus because it is so unknown and so universal, is in everybody's backyard either because of reality or possibility or pure fear.  This makes it a matter of concern for all people, although I wonder how they see the virus in all parts of the world.  Maybe it is not yet the issue in countries still remaining neutral or seeing the virus as a story happening somewhere else.  I don't know.
 
Anyway where I stand, the greatest tool for fighting this virus, apart from being wise and being concerned for others, is a sense of humour which I see arising in social media.  While Australia suffers from a rush on toilet paper (which I just do not understand), it is also giving rise to a healthy round of toilet humour.

The human spirit cannot be killed, even by a virus.  A key tool in keeping the human spirit healthy is ever a good sense of humour.  It helps keep a perspective with the eye remaining focused on the greater good and the true evils in our world. 

It's not the End of the World

The Corona Virus has hit our world but maybe more importantly, for me, it has my Bangkok, or that is how it seems.  The world seems to be ruled by this virus, or should I say by the fear of it.  Therein lies the crunch for me.  Our world is reacting to fear of the unknown as it is no longer NIMBY - not in my back yard - and so cannot just be ignored. 

For this time of the virus, communion is only offered in the hand. 

It is this fear that hit my world at the cathedral.  One must be smart and be sensitive to others but much more is at play.  When approaching protocols for mass in this new and unknown era,  An instruction comes my way from one of the priests for me to wear a mask when giving communion. I note two things on this instruction -none of the other priests are wearing a mask and I am the only foreign priest on duty.  So what is my conclusion?  This is pure discrimination on part of this priest who does not wear a mask himself, while expecting me to wear one.  .

When discussing this with the responsible Thai woman, a very gentle woman, who was chosen by this same priest to give me the message, she gave me the bottom line about what was at play - 'this is Thais'.  She said this on the basis of being smart herself and having been placed in this awkward position of relaying a strongly worded and ill-conceived message foisted upon her from above.  Yet again, Thainess rules the agenda.

Then in another context of my Sunday, I am heard by a Thai talking over the phone with a Burmese friend about getting money to him to help him in his studies.  I am simply arranging this help, not giving it to him myself.  On hearing the conversation, the Thai friend is most indignant, saying that is a lot of money and why does he need it after all these Burmese come to work in Thailand where they earn a lot of money.  I gave a simple response, sharing the harsh realities faced by Burmese and the need Thailand has for their labour.  This proved most unacceptable for it does not fit in with the Thai version.  Yet again, discrimination and Thainess rules the agenda.

In both cases, it seems illogical, making no sense.  Maybe that is what is at play - the lack of logic which leads to conclusions that make no sense and worse, create more trouble than is necessary.    .

The virus is not the end of the world.  Maybe it is the lack of logic, leading to irrational fears, prejudices and conclusions, that make it seem like it.       

Church Instructions for a Response to the Virus