Syncretism - it is in the mixing of cultures and religions

It is Thai New Year, otherwise known as Songkran and as the cause for mad, water fights on the streets of Thailand.  This is the biggest holiday of them all in Thailand.  The country shuts down for family time, for fun time.  More than this, Songkran is a national festival, being both religious and cultural in nature.  It happens on April 13, 14 and 15.  Well, this year April 13 was Palm Sunday.  So you have Songkran and Holy Week happening side by side.  Is this where syncretism happens?  

Does it become the clash of cultural festivals or does it reflect the unison of religion, whatever religion, in the life of a people?  Each festival uses water as its central symbol, but to what effect?  Forces, inside and outside of Thailand, have reduced their lovely New Year festival, celebrating new life, fresh beginnings and respect for family, to water mayhem in the streets.  This is a result of overplaying both the fun and business cards.  So what's new?  Still, one does not want to simply become a spoilsport.  After all, religion's purpose is not to destroy people's fun, but to live life to the full.    

Water is the great symbol of life.  Each religious festival uses water as its central symbol.  Easter uses it to remind us of the divine origin of life and to nourish us for the fullness of life. Thai Buddhism uses water at Songkran to refresh and cleanse us for a fresh start in life.  One religious festival can't be identified with the other, but don't the two speak to each other?  Popular manifestations of enjoyment of these major festivals on both sides diminish or distract, but their original meanings still stand.  

The two are not one by any means.  Each stands alone.  But my reality this week is that the two are sitting side by side, speaking to each other here and now.  You can't divorce the Thais from Songkran, nor can you divorce Christians from Easter.  Each is central to who they are. A Thai cannot have a year without Songkran, nor can a Christian have a year without Easter.  Each festival nourishes life and builds up community, screaming out its core message of the goodness of life and the need to celebrate it.  Is this not the playing field for syncretism?  I do see signs of it in my daily life in My Bangkok.  

Happy Songkran!  Happy Easter!     

It's corruption, stupid!

The real tragedy of the 28th March earthquake for Bangkok was the one collapse of a building under construction, killing about 100 construction workers, seemingly all Burmese.  This tragedy highlighted  corruption as the culprit, not the strength of an earthquake's destructive forces, for the management was using substandard steel.  The destructive forces of the earthquake were let loose elsewhere - in Myanmar, a country suffering tragedy upon tragedy.    

Back to Bangkok.  I discover that an earthquake is about much more than a 45 second, earth-shaking period of time.  Whatever that 45 seconds was for anyone involved, the earthquake becomes about all that follows on from that one short, but seemingly endless timeframe.  

In My Bangkok, the earthquake unearthed corruption.  The real tragedy was man made and it has caused much, needless suffering, and mainly, once again, those who are the most vulnerable suffer the most.   

This collapse of one building under construction revealed double corruption, double tragedy, for it was to be new office space for the Auditor-General, who wrote to his staff about their loss, lamenting the collapse of their new home, while not bothering to even mention the loss of life caused by its collapse. I will say no more.  

I will give the last word to Pope Francis.  Who better?  He stressed that "corruption is an ancient evil, ... named by the Fathers of the Church as 'the Devil's dung'".   So he encourages us to fight its scourge for the sake of constructing a better future, not just better buildings.  Amen to that!  God rest the souls of those tragically killed!  And for what purpose did they die?  This is more than sad.  

  

   

My apartment is swaying! What's going on?

On Friday, 28th March, at 1.20pm, an earthquake hit My Bangkok.  At the time, I was on my own, in my room.  This was my first earthquake.  I remember my initial and natural processing of what was happening.

1)  What is this?

2)  Is this an earthquake?

3)  It is an earthquake!

4)  What do I do? 

5)  It is too late to do anything  now.

6)  I hope this finishes soon.  

All this happpened in rapid succession, during the 45 seconds, that the earthquake lasted.    

What can I say about the experience from my standpoint?  

I have to start by categorically stating the real tragedy is Myanmar, where they suffer tragedy upon tragedy.  I just so feel for these people who deserve a much better life.  

Going on from this basis, my experience has been my experience, within the context of being on my own and not suffering any loss.  Then, as I ventured out of my little world, I tasted the wider experience of an earthquake in Bangkok.  I must observe that I am learning much about what is happening and this learning is continuing.  I am not presenting here a finished thesis, by any means.

What I am discovering is that the number of stories and experiences around this event can be as many as the number of people that I encounter.  There is no one story that says it for everyone.  I am also discovering that, while here is not Myanmar, there is a level still a level of distress and trauma.  I feel no trauma, but I am discovering that I need to process this event and that processing takes time.  

Finally, the event is not a one-off 45 second period, but is also a process, which seems determined by where you stand in the overall picture of the event.  Truth is, in My Bangkok, there are very distressed people, there are people killed by a construction site collapse, people are suffering.  I am not to minimize the experience of ones around me.  

So I pray a prayer of St Teresa of Avila that speaks to us today, in My Bangkok. 

"We can endure anything from without, if we have peace within.  

The obstacle to inner peace lies within.  Keep on doing what you know is useful.  

Keep the love of God before you.  The love of God within cannot be overcome."    

 

"Shut your mouth"

Last Monday was St Patrick's Day!  Instead of going to an Irish pub for green beer, I had a much better option lined up.  It was to have dinner with a few people from our Sunday mass community.  It was more than just a night out, for it was our chance to meet and chat with Fr Dominic, a Myanmar priest, ministering to his people, up in the north of Thailand. 

Fr Dominic is a good man and a good priest, doing great things to help his people, who are here fleeing war, persecution and poverty.  So many come here, with some facing such dire circumstances in striving to eek out an existence in Thailand.  Despite the trauma of war and desperation back home, they remain a commendable people, smart and competent, able to achieve so much in the face of such adversity.  

Back to Fr Dominic.  He is such a kind and gentle man, dealing with a suffering humanity.  We heard him share in his softly spoken and humble way, about the challenges he faces and the burdens he bears.  Trauma and suffering are the lot of his people.  In hearing of this, we were there not to show pity, but solidarity.  Our aim was not to listen to a spicy, after dinner speech, but to reach out and help.  St Patrick would have totally approved of our chosen celebration of his day.    

Over the years, I have come to appreciate that the best word to describe life, in its various dimensions, is "mystery".  Mystery, for where is our loving God?  She is right in the midst of human suffering and striving!  God explains a Fr Dominic who remains so humble and gracious in the face of the raw, human struggle of life.  As we sat there in his presence, what could we say?  Words are not essential, for it is all about the mystery which we live and breathe, and act upon. 

During the week, I read that this word "mystery" comes from an ancient word, meaning "to shut one's mouth".  That is what it is about.  Once again, that night, we were left speechless.  Life is truly and ultimately mystery, and it is so, for it is under the loving care of a kind and gracious God who is mystery.  All shall be well!       

Erin go bragh

Happy St Patrick's Day!  

St Patrick was a tough character.  As one may say in Australia, he was a down to earth, fair dinkum guy.  He is a reminder that being a saint is not to turn someone into a pious, angelic type.  Who wants to be like that, anyway?  Not me.  

From a Distance was a great Bette Midler song of 1990.  It went like this.    

From a distance, the world looks blue and green.  

From a distance, there is harmony.  

From a distance, we all have enough.  

Froma distance, we are instruments marching ina common band. 

From a distance, you look like my friend.  

God is watching us from a distance.  

A great song but what poor theology and is that how we want to approach life?  Not me.  

In the Christian narrative, there is no distance, for God is offering humanity intimacy.  Can we cope?  I know I find it threatening.  Too close for comfort?  Yet the invitaion remains ever open from our God, no matter what.  This is a key reminder that our faith invites us to transformation, not comfort, routine and acceptability.

The Christian project challenges us to engage with our world, its realities and the peoples in it, to enter into encounter with our neighbour and to know God close-up.  Am I up to the challenge or will I remain in my bubble?    

 

  

A Definite First

Last week, I did something different.  I enjoyed a mini school reunion, and here in Bangkok.  Pichai, a local and now good mate, boarded at Nudgee, when we were there 50 years ago and more.  JB, another of our class, was here on a regular holiday.  So the three of us had an enjoyable dinner together.  When we went to pay, the waiter told us that the bill was covered by a couple at the bar.  I thought they must be among Pichai's friends or business associates, but No!

The couple, who paid, were connected to me.  They had recognised me as the priest from Assumption Cathedral, where they had gone for mass.  They saw me at the restaurant and paid our bill, paying for all of us.  I remember now greeting them after mass.  They were friendly and there they now were at the same restaurant that night, leaving later for home in the USA.    

This was amazing.  The coincidence of being in the same place, at the same time, was incredible.  Their kindness just overwhelmed me.  This was a definite first for me.  All I could say was "Thank you".  I was left lost for words. They never had to do this, but they did and just did it.  

Their kindness alerted me to the goodness of humankind.  People can be so kind and good.  We see all the bad stuff going on in our world but, deespite all, people remain basically decent and good.  That speaks of the salvation of our world.  Good does hold its hand over the bad.  

Yes, there is a lot of bad stuff around.  That same day, I read a message from Pope Francis to a meeting of scientists, alerting them to a "polycrisis world".  There is just so much going wrong - wars, climate change, mass migration, poverty.  He was urging them to do something constructive in response.  As he said. 'We can't just stand still'.    

Therein lies the key.  Yes the bad is part of our world and part of us, but we ever have power to act for good, to act for the good of all, to build that better world in line with God's vision for humanity.  The lesson I learnt from the kindenss of that lovely couple, returning to the USA, is that we can do it.  We do have power for good.  We all have that power, which lies within the heart of our human vulnerability.  Let us claim it and use it.  We can do it, if we are but humble enough, honest enough, vulnerable enough.  

  

The Wounded Healer

"Of the sweets of adversity, and let me say that these are not numerous, I have found the sweetest, the most precious of all, is the lesson I learnt on the value of kindness. Every kindness I received, small or big, convinced me that there could never be enough of it in our world. To be kind is to respond with sensitivity and human warmth to the hopes and needs of others. Even the briefest touch of kindness can lighten a heavy heart. Kindness can change the lives of people."  

- Aung San Suu Kyi in her Nobel Lecture, 2012  

In the last week, I met face to face, for the first time, a Burmese guy who initially came my way in 2018.  We should have met long before now, but Covid and then an ugly war stopped that from happening.  I met him at Bangkok airport on his way out of Myanmar, fleeing a war, seeking a new beginning so as to support his family back home.  

Reflecting back, I can see his sad eyes.  I must say that he is not the only Burmese with sad eyes.  

Given the circumstances of a rushed meeting between planes and his trauma of departure from a war zone, even if home, I was not sure how to approach him.  I just went prepared, telling myself - be awake and be friendly.  

He asked me if Myanmar was the worst country in the wolrd.  To offer some optimism, I could truthfully say, "No,  Surely Gaza is worse?"  He spoke of his family and their tragic plight.  Despite all, the human spirit goes on, his spirit goes on.  

Even as a helper, one on the other's side, I can become far too self-assured about my lot and that of others, even those so wounded, with so little in their hands.  Truth is I am above no one.  No human act is beyond me.  So judge no one.  

Then I remembered the great insight of Henri Nouwen - we are but "wounded healers".  We are all in the same human boat.  So I remind myself to never become harsh towards others and remain always kind.  Then the words of Aung San Sun Kyi came rushing back to me.  There is nothiong greater in our world than human kindness.  Be always kind!

It's a Struggle

For some reason, when I went to the local store this past week, for my weekly, grocery shopping, I was shocked at how much everything cost. I was walking down aisles, looking at all sorts of items, thinking it all costs so much   This simple, everyday experience became overwhelming, putting me in touch with the universal human struggle.  

Struggle is a key spiritual theme, within Christian religion, and not in Christianity alone.  It is a life-long struggle, a quest for life, run within the primal battle between good and evil.  It so strikes me that this battle is being waged both out there, on the streets, and, in here, in my heart.  I feel it as I know this struggle so well and it does not simply go away.  

It is one where we are dealing with powerful, internal forces.  If we want to understand wars, we don't have to look further than ourselves.  No one is outside this human storm.  If we think we are above this struggle, we are either deceiving ourselves, lacking in self- awareness or just playing an arrogant game.  So what is our response to this battle?  Fight or flight, as they say?  

Flight is an easy escape, too readily sought.  Sadly, we too often reduce life to its lowest common denominator.  We fall into unhelpful routines.  We retreat to our comfort bubbles.  We rely on gimmicks and games to reassure ourselves.  To do any of this is to miss out on the beauty and joy of life, while failing to deal with the harsh realities of life, which stay with us.  

The other side of life is that it calls us beyond our safe zones and tried ways to wondrous spiritual depths and illumined human heights.  The challenge to being people of integrity and humility, living authentic and aware lives, may overwhelm us, but it is the invited and great way ahead.  Within the Christian narrative, based on the Gospel, St Charles de Foucauld lived life by a simple motto - 

"Be Christ in order to do what Christ does".  

In doing what may appear as so alien to the accepted ways of our world, we are destined to find peace and happiness.  This simple way may go against human wisdom, but that is okay.  It is signposted by our being kind and compassionate, by our reaching out to our neighbour in their need.  It is a struggle, but one worth fighting.  Thus we find ourselves and the greatness of the life to which we are called.  

Happy solidarity in shopping!    

Building Trust

I watched, in total fascination, a 15 minute report on AI and religion, aired on Deutsche Welle, last week.  It quoted a staggering figure of 2.16 Euros profit, made in 2024, from Spiritual Wellness Apps.  In the USA, one in three adults use these Apps for support during times of grief, relationship difficulty and financial hardship. Information is gathered from such use to then help establish Virtual Church.  Amazing!  Then there isthe  AI priest, the AI Buddha and even the AI Jesus.  What is all this leading to? 

I will not be the Aussie cynic nor will I simply deny the value of AI.  Neither is the way to go.  In line with the guidance of both the Church and the UN, AI is to be used responsibly and ethically, as a tool for advacing the common good of humanity. 

This post is not about AI, but really about trust.  During the past week, I particpated in a workshop on the use of AI in our work.  I saw how its misuse could destroy trust as its abuse could lead to serious questioning of one 's integrity.  

Is that homily yours? 

Did you really write that proposal or article?  

Any good relationship, strong community or decent world order has to be based on trust.  This issue of trust arose also during the past week, when participating in meetings on helping people in a time when funds are radically lacking.  It struck me the core issue was not funding itself, but trust.  

These discussions on funding arose within the present, chaotic climate created by the unilateral and immediate withdrawal of a major, aid funder on the world scene.  As a response, I was hearing various, professional players, in the field, speak in desperation.  

Does this mean that each player just looks after itself?  

Does it reduce the bonds of professional cooperation?  

Do we trust each other enough to take risks, to be honest, or is it all just about getting our money?  

Do times of difficulty and challenge, whether personal or corprate, reduce our life and actions to the lowest common denominator or do they instill in us the will to struggle even harder, to come together ever stronger?  

The questions go even deeper.  Do we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with each other, to bear our fragility in front of others?  

Do I realise that I am no better than anyone else?  Am I that brutally honest?  Only then can I and we build a trust that is lasting, that speaks of the gospel vision for life.  Trust is fundamental.  Building trust is not just about others.  It is about me.  How do I fare being trustworthy and engendering trust.  Don't expect others to do it for me or instead of me.  Do my bit to better myself and the world. 

Such levels of trust are frightening, but they are needed for a life that is rich and nourishing.  We are being drawn, in our crazy world, to more threatening levels of truat that are simultaneously deeply personal and deeply communal.  Are we up to this?  Trust in God, trust in the other, trust in myself.  It is needed for my sake, if no one else's.  

The Land of Oz

My boyhood featured a wondrous fairytale, played out in the Magical Land of Oz.  It came my way thanks to a cult movie, featuring Judy Garland and Toto, her faithful dog.  It was immortalized by an ever rousing and inspiring song, "Somewhere over the Rainbow", which attuned one to the human quest for happiness.  This was a quest that was eternal, never being squashed by the dramas and conspiracies of lived reality.  

A close friend, now dead, alerted me to the value of fantasy, for it helps keep life's energies pumping. It would seem that in today's crazy world, fantasy is needed more than ever, as a tool in keeping the big vision for humanity alive.  

 As we look at our world, many struggle to make sense of it, while others thrive and prosper thanks to its perceived craziness or nonsense.  What was thought to be "the bad, old days" is fastly becoming reality, while reality is being driven more and more by the hands of the few.  In the midst of such rapid and unwanted change, the age old question arises - What is real?   We ask this as reality is fastly passing us by.  

The Velveteen Rabbbit had the answer.  Real is when you have become ragged and messed up thanks to persevering the lived struggles of love.  Very seldom do we need lectures about life and love.  What we yearn for more is to be loved and to have our eyes opened to the wonder and awe of life, knowing that all is possible within a reality that can too easily fail and ravage us.  .    

Can we believe that love is real in today's world?  Can we identify the wonder and awe in our everyday lives?  If not, then there is something wrong with our world, something wrong with us, for the wonders of a boy can never be denied or doomed.  .   

Our Role is Vital

At the invitation of Caritas International, I spent three days last week at a high-level, regional consultancy of the United Nations.  It was a first for me, a real opportunity to observe close-up the workings of the UN.  

It was a UNODC consultancy, focused on crime prevention and sustainable development in a digital age.  It was beyond my normal scope of competency, but I was there and made the most of it.  In doing so, I learnt so much.  I saw how the world deals with the big issues, purposefully coming up with global agreements, which are more than just glossy, motherhood statements.  I could see they serve a real purpose, giving the world benchmarks for acceptable, social behaviour.  

As I returned to my normal routine, a simple question struck me.  Without giving any thought, I will just name it.    

As we look at online, criminal behaviour, why aren't mums and dads simply asking Mary or Johnny the big questions?  Asking, "Where were you the last six hours, when you should have been here doing your homework?"  

Cannot the big questions and challenges of life be dealt with by good, basic care and concern at the grassroots level?  

What happens in our good world to make it so crazy and even bad for some?  Our human challenge is to be in the marketplace, making a difference, making a contribution in creating a better world.  We are always needed, even more so when so much is going topsy-turvy. 

Dear God, I am a little guy in a big world, may I never lose sight of how vital is my role in your design for your realm, not mine.  

Running on Empty

"Running on Empty" was a great, Jackson Browne song from 1977.  It reflects upon what happens to us when we just run forever on our own steam - performing day in, day out, without a break, without a real purpose.  Eventually, we will run out of energy and become empty.  Reality is we need more than our own selves in life.  Truth is much more is available to keep us going.  

Life is not defined by continuous work; nor by mere survival and coping.  Life takes us much further than what we just experience on the surface.  Life goes beyond the boundaries of its everyday craziness.  Do we appreciate who we are and what we belong to?  The human narrative, within the overall divine scheme.  Or do we just stay on empty?  

God is so good to me, sustaining me, nourishing me and so much more, no matter what I do. I may ask - Why me?  Maybe any rightful hesitation on my part is not about stopping still and doubting, but meeting the challenge of continuing the search for true life and meaning.  

Jackson Browne takse us beyond staying on empty.  There is no point to staying there.  Find then what fills us and keep on moving.  If what is in our life is empty, look to turn it around, throw it out and transform life into what it is meant to be, running on full.  Siempre avanti!      

We are connected

My Bangkok is a huge city, but such a small world.  

Last week, this lovely American family, new to Bangkok, invited me to their home. I found my visit to be just a delightful experience, being so impressed by their three beautiful children.  

Later in the week, I attended a dinner celebrating 50 years of marriage of a couple from church.  I just know them as two dear and simple people who come to church every Sunday.  Being at their dinner, I got a fuller picture of who they were and realized, to my great surprise, how well connected they are in Bangkok.    

Their connections went as far as their touching the life of that same lovely family, I had visited earlier in the week.  I was gobsmacked.   Both families lived in the same neighbourhood, each travelling so far every Sunday to come to the same church.  It was now my mission to connect them. 

On Sunday, I could see that they already knew each other, but how well?  My litmus test and aim was to get the three lovely children onto an elephant.  Huh?  

Yes, that is right.  You see, the wedding couple was having three elephants come to their local park as part of the party they were hosting on Sunday, for their 50th.  By chance, this same park is shared by the family, with the three children, who could then go ride an elephant in the afternoon.  They would love it.  Is that what happened?  

Bangkok is a small world.  One of my jobs is to connect its lovely people.       

Meeting God

I met God on the weekend.  He had a kind face, a smile and a great outlook on life and his future, in the face of personal tragedy.  Artur was his name.  He came my way through Caritas.  His mother had sent us an email, reaching out for help in her desperation.  Her son, a young  Ukrainian, had come to Thailand.  A year ago, in Phuket, where he was living, he met near death after a taxi wiped him out on his motor bike, at a roundabout.  Seemingly, his life was at an end.   

On hearing of her son's accident, his mother raced from Germany, where she was living as a refugee from war.  There pursued much medical care and, a year later, Artur has been left paralysed from the chest down. So I can only imagine his rising plight - uncertainties aurrounding income and support, surviving in a foreign country from which he presently has no escape, his daily suffering, the list goes on.   

After being with Artur for 30 minutes, I realised that I had just met God.  Despite having faced death and all that has arisen since his fateful accident, or because of it, he now sat before me, smiling, strong and hopeful.  What a hero!  He talked about starting a new job online.  He spoke realisitically and with hope about what can be for him and where he can go in life.  Much promise!  Much life to be lived!  He has not become a victim of his plight.  Rather, he has risen above it.  He is a sign of hope in our world, hope unfailing.  Hope does not disappoint.  I truly did meet God.  

Do we miss out on the many opportunities that come our way to meet God?  Do we too easily deny ourselves this privilehge, wiping it away, thinking it is only for others much greater, holier or more special?  If we do, we miss out on so much in life which can too easily become routine and hopeless, and fall away before we know it.  .  

In case you may think I am losing the plot or becoming overcome with pride, I would like to share someone else's story. It is a story from Russia on the coming of Jesus. 

At the beginning of Advent, Pyotr said to his children, “On Christmas Eve, Jesus will visit us.”

They asked, “What does he look like?” 

And the reply came, “I do not know.  But you might be blind and not recognize him.  So pray without ceasing: Jesus, Son of David; Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.  Don’t let me be blind.” 

On Christmas Eve, someone knocked at the door.  Pyotr ran and opened it.  A nasty smell poured into the room.  There was a beggar in rags and full of sores.  Pyotr welcomed him with reverence, washed him and bound up his wounds and sores, and gave him a new suit of clothes.  He set him down at the table and served him supper. 

Then his children came and asked, “Papa, when is Jesus coming?”

Papa started crying, “Children, are you still blind?  Didn’t you pray rightly?” 

May I, a sinner, be ever humble enough to meet God.

 

Happy New Year!

Well, 2025 has begun and guess what?  The wars are still raging and world leaders are still overheating.  So what does that make of the Pope's plea for peace in the New Year?  

One could simply say that this was to be expected, but good try anyway.  Try again! One could become purely cynical and so why waste your time?  One could explain it away by appealing to the banality of humanity.  None of this sits well with me as it all serves to reduce human existence to its lowest common denominator.  Aren't we worth much more than that?  

I honestly believe that the Pope believes in peace.  I cannot say the same, however, about our world.  I share this on the basis that belief is evidenced in action.  So the rule of thumb is - what we believe determines what we do.  I just then look at my world and what do I see? 

-Hatred and bullying too often prevail over forgiveness. 

-We too easily believe the worst about others over their good. 

-We so often see the other as a threat, rather than accepting them.  

-We use others for what we can get out of them, instead of affirming them.  

In our world, hope is in short supply as the overriding trend is to rely on the wrong assurances for life.  Hand in hand, cynicism abounds due to the errant ways of humankind having their way far too often.  

So what to believe in? What gives us a firmer stand in life, a deeper appreciation of the true worth of life?  Why not believe in a God, shown by the poor and humble Christ?  Why not believe in the God revealed who embraces the life of the poor?  Aren't we all poor at heart?  Aren't we a poor humanity, knowing our true treasure when we stand together in solidarity, with the humble God, the God with us?  When we make this truly human stance in life, then the Pope's plea for peace in the world makes sense and is achievable.  

Happy New Year!