Parish Bulletin
PARISH NEWS
STIRRING THE POSSUM
Afghanistan’s new masters have a well-earned image as women haters, of treating women brutally without compunction or compassion. They seem to regard half of humanity as subservient sub-humans to be viciously kept down.
Yet we see images of brave Afghan women with placards demanding fundamental justice of the Taliban. Such courage is unfathomable. They know their defiant bravery can’t end well but there is no safe or easy way to proclaim what they must. Courageous stirring like this is the only way to change society. It has ever been thus – people with the purpose and bravery to challenge injustice and absorb the consequences (think Eureka Stockaders or suffragettes), inspiring and paving the way for others through their suffering.
Jesus is the greatest stirrer of all. He hasn’t gone out of his way to challenge the authorities but simply pursued his mission of proclaiming the Good News of God’s love. Inevitably, the authorities wouldn’t like his message and his witness. Jesus was not naïve; he knew the odds of a violent end if he continued his activity and kept insisting on the irruption of God’s reign. It was impossible to live in solidarity with the poor and downtrodden, as he did, without suffering the reaction of the powerful. (Mark 8:27-35) (Pagola p332) Sooner or later it would lead to his death.
What are the thoughts of those young Afghan women, proclaiming their message, insisting on respect and dignity for women, their right to make their own decisions and to pursue employment and education? Surely, sooner rather than later, the crazies who have taken their country will violently suppress them; probably kill them.
We Christians see in them Jesus, who died bravely proclaiming the greatest message of all: God’s absolute, infinite, intimate love for us. Signing up with Jesus means turning away from our old easy life and seeking new life in the Father’s Kingdom. Proactively supporting our brave Afghan sisters might be a start.
Deacon Mark Kelly
