Unlocking our doors

Below is the 'Thinking Anew' column in today's Irish Times.


A few short years ago who would have dreamed that the western world would be in such turmoil?
The political dream of the European Union is experiencing difficult days. But it is important that we stand back and recognise that our relationships one with another are not based solely on monetary concerns.
I think it's fair to say we are all hoping to hear our leaders speak to us with words of hope.
We need to be reminded of the hope and inspiration of the founding fathers of what we now call the European Union.
We need to be inspired by the words and deeds of our leading politicians.
Is it true to say the older one gets the more difficult it is to be inspired by the words and actions of national and world leaders?
And then of course there is always the danger that a demagogue will appear on the scene and lure us to catastrophe.
It's difficult to pinpoint what it is that makes a person into an inspirational figure. It's difficult to put shape on it.
Great orators have a unique charism. They have an aura or spirit about them. We talk about the spirit of a nation, a football team, a school.
We all know how it feels when spirits are high and alas we also know what it means when we are down in spirit.
Buying my newspaper on the day that Katie Taylor won her gold medal in China, her victory was the first thing the young man behind the counter said to me.
Her success has lifted the spirits of the nation, even those of us who know little or nothing about boxing.
On the evening on that same day in Munich a young Chelsea supporter,
interviewed for television said it was the best day of his life.
The spirit indeed can be ephemeral, a moving target, elusive, nevertheless there is a real side to it. In some way it can help banish fear. 'Spirit' can give us courage, it can give us an entire new outlook on life. Success breeds success. Unfortunately the converse can also be the case, failure can have a downward spiralling effect on us.
Tomorrow we celebrate the feast of Pentecost. It is one of the great feasts in the Christian calendar. It is at the heart of Christian belief. And it is interesting in all the current 'controversy' over church issues there is not a word spoken in dispute about tomorrow's feast.
Jesus appears to his disciples. "In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ …. (Joh 20: 19)
His appearance transforms their fear into joy and peace.
Of course we close and lock our doors to feel secure and protect ourselves. But imagine an environment where there would be no need to lock doors and install CCTV.
In the perfect world, in the preferred environment, there would be no need to lock our doors.
Fortunately we live in a society that respects human rights and allows for freedom of expression. We are privileged people to live in an open pluralist society.
On Pentecost Sunday the Risen Lord clearly shows to his disciples the futility in hiding behind closed doors. In the long run it never works and also, it is never the way to get to the truth or to preach the message of the Risen Lord.
One is reminded of President Roosevelt's injunction, 'There is nothing to fear but fear itself'.
The feast of Pentecost is a timely reminder to us to open our minds and hearts so that we can listen to the Word of God, see the presence of God in our world and try our best to live out the message of the Gospel in hope and joy in a spirit of fearlessness.
Those who appeal to our fear have really nothing to offer us. Entrenchment, isolation and xenophobia can never be conducive to the ways of the Spirit.
The Spirit of Pentecost invites us to be people in search of freedom in a
spirit of openness and truth.
It’s worth noting that subsequent to the appearance of Jesus, the
atmosphere of fear and worry changes to one of joy and peace. It is in that context that the Holy Spirit is made manifest and presented to the world.
Michael Commane OP