Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 20 August 2017

Rembrandt etching

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We often refer to the August break as the ‘silly season’ when news is scarce and odd articles appear to catch the eye but not necessarily stimulate the brain cells, but this year we might rename it as the dangerous season. The light, sun and fun of vacation has become a much darker scene, rumblings of global conflict, the continuing horrors of IS and the Middle East. Then there is our own national internal disputes over which way to go for Brexit, hard, soft or a compromise of sorts. Add to that the scenes of white supremacists chanting slogans about ‘Jews Out’ and pro Nazis in the one country we thought free from such racial bigotry, the US and we have a gloomy picture indeed.

It’s at times like this we are called to examine our own moral compass, maybe amongst us somebody like Elijah, Isaiah or Catherine of Siena may arise, rebuking our often craven leaders, but until then we need to be clear about our own Christian values.

The readings this Sunday are very prophetic, given the global picture of instability and lost bearings! Matthew has a very interesting dialogue between Jesus, his disciples and the Canaanite woman who wants her daughter healed. At first the encounter doesn’t seem to portray Jesus in a good light, he ignores her, then points out his mission is to Israel. But finally, and here’s the real point of the tussle in the story, this woman, one of the elite Greek speaking Syro-Phoenicians, becomes an illustration of the openness that is to come, when mission of Jesus, continued by his disciples, is not only to Israel, but to all peoples and all nations. In this story we see how belief in Jesus is not confined within the faith of Israel, but is accessible to all who recognize Jesus as the Christ.

When we see those images of race riots, or hear the denunciation of any racial type, do we as Christians shudder? This has nothing to do with the issues of migration or employment; this is a deeper alienation of one human being from another. Isaiah throws at us all a real challenge, a choice; do we wholeheartedly accept the blessing of God and do what is just and right or not? God is a God whose boundaries are open, whose house is a house of prayer for all peoples, where foreigners are made family and all are welcomed. This can only be achieved with effort, good will and honesty.

Hear the prophet calling us today:

“Observe what is right, do what is just,
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed”. (Is 59:1) May it be so. Amen.

Thought for this time!

They Came For Me, quotation by Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Fr Robin is an Eastern Rite Catholic Chaplain for Melkites in UK. He is also an Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church, Oxford