Questioning the status quo

The Thinking Anew column in The Irish Times today.

Michael Commane 

Anyone with a heart or soul must be enthused by tomorrow’s Gospel reading (Mark 12: 38 - 41). It’s a story that should be front and centre of every mission statement the Christian churches release. It’s a story that has the perfect resonance for our times, indeed, it is a universal story that makes sense in all generations.

It’s a Gospel passage of two parts. In the first part Jesus tells his listeners: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seat in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the properties of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers”. And then in the second part of the Gospel Jesus tells the story of the poor woman who puts her two coins into the treasury.

I’ve often been surprised that communist governments in their first years of zeal and enthusiasm did not use this Gospel story to win over the minds and hearts of Christians. It has all the rallying ingredients of their famous cry ‘Workers of the world unite’, indeed, it has far more substance and inspiration to it than any slogan that ever appeared on a communist banner.

Today, just as in the time of Jesus, the so-called holy men and women can so easily speak a language of pomp and nonsense, while the real presence of the word of God is enacted  by the poor and marginalised and those who serve them. It’s so easy for all of us to accept the rules and regulations of the status quo, never questioning what actually is happening right in front of our eyes.

Last week on RTE’s Prime Time the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, while answering a question put to him by Sarah McInerney, mentioned the fact that that night 700 million people would be going to bed hungry. Sarah did not blink an eye at such a horrific reality, nor did I. But stand back and think about it. 

In a world just short of eight billion people, almost one billion have not enough to eat. And what really are we doing about it? What am I doing about it?

The late Archbishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero, who was murdered celebrating Mass in 1980, spoke out forthrightly about social injustice and violence in his country, indeed, that’s why he was murdered. On one occasion he said: “When we defend the poor, Rome accuses us of meddling in politics - but never when we side with the rich.” 

While Rome may have refused to listen to him when he was alive, at least Pope Benedict declared him a martyr and Pope Francis canonised him in October 2018. They say the church does not work in years or decades, but rather in centuries and millennia. 

Not trying to be flippant, but that might give us all some perspective on matters.

We need to be constantly reminded that the Christian message is always centred around the dignity of every person and until we all play our part in placing that concept centre stage we are playing games with God’s word and the story of the life and times of the historical person of Jesus Christ.

None of us is perfect and nor does the perfect politician exist. But I was struck last week with the praise that German Chancellor Angela Merkel received on her retirement. The praise came from a large cross section of society. 

Former US president Barack Obama said of her. “So many people, girls and boys, men and women, have had a role model who they could look up to through challenging times. I know because I am one of them.” 

Many will say that the highlight of her chancellorship was accepting close to 1.5 million asylum seekers into Germany in 2015.

Of course it was a political action but it was also a genuine attempt at coming to the rescue of the weak and marginalised. The word humility has often been associated with Merkel’s years as chancellor.

Tomorrow’s liturgy should tempt us all to put centre stage the conditions of the poorest and weakest in our society, in our world. 

The Responsorial Psalm includes these words (Psalm 145): “It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,/who is just to those who are oppressed./It is he who gives bread to the hungry,/the Lord, who sets prisoners free.”

Mark’s account of the behaviour and words of Jesus is a great read. It is a remarkable story. And it’s so relevant right now.