What a week it has been – with the death of Steve Jobs, demonstrations against corporate greed on Wall Street and all the drama associated with the 80th birthday of our beloved Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
I'm also conscious that all of us read the Bible in the light of our own context – none of us are objective we are all subjective - depending on whether we are rich or poor -gay or straight - women or men - black or white – we read in the light of what is happening in our lives at the time - what is the current mixture of joy and sadness that we are experiencing. But all of us looking for good news - seeking to find meaning, purpose and inspiration for our lives
As I mentioned - I am part of the Institute for healing memories - so I'm particularly conscious of the importance of dealing with the past - of acknowledging it - and finding the way of, wherevef necessary, detoxifying ourselves.
When I read the Gospel for today, I couldn't help wondering what kind of mood was Jesus in when he told this parable about a king and the wedding Banquet.
There are several places in the Gospels, and this is one of them, where I have a sense that Jesus was saying – come on you guys - I have now given you the same message 100 times but you still don't seem to get it. I will tell you yet another story and see if you understand this time.
Ironically it was often the religious people that had the greatest difficulty understanding the message of Jesus whereas it was often the little people of the world who understood instinctively what exactly the good news is.
God's kingdom is for everybody but we can choose to exclude ourselves - that is not God's desire, it is our choice.
For us as Capetonians - living in a city built, at the beginning, by slaves - there is an incidental irony in the story - slavery is assumed and not questioned – slaves are not regarded as people.
Some of us believe that here in Cape Town we have not yet fully acknowledged and faced what slavery did to the soul of this land and how it infected successive generations up to the present time.
We continue to live under oppressive economic systems that, like slavery did, fuel our greed.
Sometimes our consciousness of contemporary wounds blinds us to old and even ancient wounds.
Many of us have felt wounded this week by the way our democratically elected government has handled the invitation of the Dalai Lama to another banquet. - that of the birthday of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Personally I was annoyed, angered and ashamed that we as a country would treat 2 of the worlds greatest spiritual leaders in this way.
However as the days have progressed, my feelings have changed. I am now thankful that the Dalai Lama did not get his visa
Why? You mean it was right that the South African government failed to grant the Visa timeously. No, that was wrong, so what is my point? It was a wake-up call to every citizen in this land.
What kind of country do we want to live in? What is our responsibility in making it happen. What is our dream for South Africa. What is God’s dream for South Africa?
We as the faith community did not simply say that apartheid was a crime against humanity although it was - we said it was a heresy – a false doctrine - contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We fought for a society based on human rights for all. We paid a terrible cost in our souls and in our bodies. We fought for the right to elect our own leaders. We never gave any of them a blank cheque to take away our fundamental rights.
This week one of South Africa's most illustrious leaders had his right to freedom of association taken away from him. In so doing our nation became a source of negative publicity across the entire world. We should be worried when our political leaders treat us like small kids while trying to explain and defend the indefensible.
It is right that as citizens we all belong or vote for different political parties. It is right that we have a great loyalty to our political homes. We are also right to have a deep love for our country.
However if we are Christians, out ultimate loyalty is to God with an overriding commitment to our common humanity.
In his own faithfulness as a Christian, Archbishop Tutu has also taught us many lessons.
As I wrote on my Facebook page a couple of days ago:
Archbishop Tutu - I admired you when you fought for the rights of black people and then I realised you wanted white people to be free as well - then you championed the rights of women especially in the church and then you dared to fight for the rights of same gender loving persons despite what people said about you - ALL of us God's children of equal value - Thank you Baba - God bless you - Happy Birthday with all our love
I know that a number of you participated in the 1st international Desmond Tutu peace lecture yesterday. I wondered whether Steve Jobs now in I – heaven helped organize the live streaming and video feed that enabled the Dalai Lama to be virtually present. How wonderful to see technology and spirituality coming together to help create peace and compassion.
As Times live reported it: Tutu was asked how he believed war could be stopped, Tutu responded: "Actually it is very straightforward: let women take over."
I also believe that by inviting the Dalai llama to give the 1st international peace lecture Tutu was also teaching us something else. For the world to live in peace no matter what our faith tradition, we have to begin to reverence and learn from different spiritual traditions. The spirit blows where it wills.
Whilst the drama surrounding the Dalai Lama's visa was unfolding here in South Africa, I was reading about it in Norway. I visited the International Centre in Hamarøy in the arctic circle which provides a home for refugee children. They come as unaccompanied minors to Norway from places of war and conflict.
Everyone of us can recall the massacre that took place in Norway on July 22 when a homegrown terrorist set off a bomb in the centre of Oslo and then proceeded to the small island of Utøya where he gunned down scores of young people. Such horrors had not happened in Norway since the Second World War.
It has been a trauma for the whole nation. Remarkably their prime minister insisted that the national response would be more openness, more democracy, a deeper commitment to a multicultural and inclusive society.
I reflected with the Norwegians how we as a nation were able to turn Robben Island - a place that was supposed to destroy - into a sign of the triumph of the human spirit. I wondered out loud whether the island of Utøya where the massacre took place in Norway might one day become a place of healing and reconciliation.
Let us pray for the Norwegians that as they journey through their own pain that they will find a new point of connectedness and compassion with and for other people's across the world including for the refugee children in their midst.
But now let us return to the Bible passages for today.
The gospel for today seems to be a grim warning.
By contrast, the Epistle taken from the letter to the Philippians is much more like a parting love letter - full of support and encouragement and inspiration.
Why not take this passage and read it just once every day this week. It is food for our journey as Christ’s Body and Blood will also be.
A week before Easter, my mother aged 93, breathed her last. As a woman of personal and deep faith she had one final message for her family and friends. It was this passage from Philippians which she asked us to read at her funeral and so I read to you once more
Philippians 4:1-9
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Amen
