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?
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