Pope Francis, Brexit and ‘The Third World War in Pieces’

Pope Francis, Brexit and ‘The Third World War in Pieces’

 

When Jesus^* saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely^* on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The horrific events in Nice on Bastille Day focus our attention away from Brexit to the wider context in which these events are taking place. Drawing a breath after the chaos of the last few weeks I find myself drawn (as usual) to the visionary words of Pope Francis. Over the past 12 months (repeated at the private audience we attended with him in Rome last November) he has spoken repeatedly that we are now in ‘una terza guerra combattatua a pezzi’ – literally ‘a third world war being fought in episodes (or pieces)’. Well I don’t think it is too far-fetched to see the events in the United Kingdom over the past few weeks as our response to this new heightened international situation. The Brexit vote can be seen largely as a response to the same incidents that caused the Pope’s words: the rise of international terrorism (as evidenced once again in Nice), the largest refugee crisis since 1945 and the economic crisis of the West. I am not the only one to compare events here over the past few weeks to the 1930s. In response to these events the British people have almost done the opposite of what they did in the 1930s. Faced with our international obligations and responsibilities we have decided to turn our backs on our European allies and look inwards. We shall only henceforth (and the new Cabinet reveals this) be concerned with our own economic interests. We will show little interest in coming to the help of our European allies, unless we gain some economic benefits. The contrast with other European nations, such as Germany, couldn’t be greater – however faced with the persistent onslaughts of these wider global events who knows how these other electorates may react in the future. If nothing else, we have learnt in the past few weeks that in these weird times previous voting patterns can no longer be taken for granted.

What is to be the Christian response to these events?

As we hear in Christ’s words in the Beatitudes, as His followers we are called to be ‘signs of contradiction’. What is valued by ‘the world’ will not necessarily be our priority. I would like to suggest that as the people of the UK choose their position for this time of international global crisis (and make no mistake, friends reading this from US and the rest of Europe – what has happened in the UK today will be happening in your countries tomorrow), Christians must now take the path of the Beatitudes, the path of contradiction. If our country continues along this road of national isolationism it will be beholden upon us to remember that our obligation is to all humanity, especially to the weakest and most suffering. What is for sure is that as the situation deteriorates there will be a concomitant increase in the vocation to the spiritual. We must all be prepared now to listen, help and educate those who will re-find the word of God again in these troubling times.

What should we do then at this time?

First, as I said before we must be penitent and make confession for our own narrow-mindedness and deafness to the calls of our fellow human beings. Also be aware of how our own actions have contributed to the deteriorating situation in which we find ourselves.

Secondly, we must be vigilant, in all our language and actions. We must be careful not to fuel the flames of hatred arising in our societies. We must be careful of building walls – whether they are national walls or walls in our hearts - another theme reiterated by Pope Francis in recent months.

Finally, we must remember that our true home and source lies in Christ. All kingdoms, all powers, all passports will pass away.

And, of course, beauty, truth and love will not pass away no matter how much humanity seeks to destroy it. I end with the words of that great European Brit, W.H.Auden, who knew a thing or two about confronting ignorance and prejudice in times of international strife.

Let us continue to pray for each other in these troubled times.

 

Peter

 

Moon Landing

It’s natural the Boys should whoop it up for
so huge a phallic triumph, an adventure
    it would not have occurred to women
    to think worth while, made possible only

because we like huddling in gangs and knowing
the exact time: yes, our sex may in fairness
    hurrah the deed, although the motives
    that primed it were somewhat less than menschlich.

A grand gesture. But what does it period?
What does it osse? We were always adroiter
    with objects than lives, and more facile
    at courage than kindness: from the moment

the first flint was flaked this landing was merely
a matter of time. But our selves, like Adam’s,
    still don’t fit us exactly, modern
    only in this – our lack of decorum.

Homer’s heroes were certainly no braver
than our Trio, but more fortunate: Hector
    was excused the insult of having
    his valor covered by television.

Worth going to see? I can well believe it.
Worth seeing? Mneh! I once rode through a desert
    and was not charmed: give me a watered
    lively garden, remote from blatherers

about the New, the von Brauns and their ilk, where
on August mornings I can count the morning
    glories, where to die has a meaning,
    and no engine can shift my perspective.

Unsmudged, thank God, my Moon still queens the Heavens
as She ebbs and fulls, a Presence to glop at,
    Her Old Man, made of grit not protein,
    still visits my Austrian several

with His old detachment, and the old warnings
still have power to scare me: Hybris comes to
    an ugly finish, Irreverence
    is a greater oaf than Superstition.

Our apparatniks will continue making
the usual squalid mess called History:
    all we can pray for is that artists,
    chefs and saints may still appear to blithe it.

August 1969

 

 

Pastoral Letter in a Time of Brexit

Dear Friends

In response to some of the troubling conversations I have had this week please see below a Pastoral Letter.

Much love

Peter

 

 

A Pastoral Letter to a Friend in a Time of ‘Brexit’

 

‘In this you rejoice, even though now for a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold which, though perishable, is refined through fire – may be found to result in the praise and glory and honour of the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ I Peter 1: 6-7

 

My dear friend,

You wrote this morning about how frightened you feel about what is happening in our continent at this time. First of all, let me reassure you that you are not alone. Like all people of heart and sensitivity you are distressed to see unscrupulous people exploiting human weaknesses, that we all have, for personal gain. In this, we are all suffering humanity and prey to the same dark forces of the unconscious. Within our own minds lie the racists, torturers and murderers of the short twentieth century – this much we should have all learnt by now. First and foremost, in reaction to recent events we are all called to repentance. We must all examine our consciences very carefully and acknowledge the part that we have played in contributing to the madness presently engulfing our countries.

Secondly, you are right – this is a time of trial. As St Peter reminds us, our faith must be tested. For years now we Christians have bemoaned the ebbing tide of faith on this continent. Well, God may have answered our prayers – but not quite in the way we were expecting. He is, after all, ‘the God of surprises’ and, well, he has surprised us again! In the coming days, weeks and months we shall all be tested at the deepest possible levels: mind, body, heart and, above all, spirit. As the Apostle warns us, this will be a refining and purifying fire and much will have to be burnt away. Sadly we are living at a time of appalling spiritual ignorance. The result of years of hollowing away of our collective spiritual literacy means that we are ill-equipped to survive the trial we are being summoned to. We believe there are only two things that, ultimately, can help us (as the church has always taught): the overwhelming love of Christ and the support of each other (the church on earth). Please be assured of my deepest prayers and support at this time and I ask for yours, dear friend, too. Together we shall support each other. We are being called to account – perhaps sooner than we might have expected. God help us all.

Finally, and probably least importantly, you enquire about the political situation. Tempting though it is to indulge in party politics I shall refrain from doing so. The facts are these: for the first time in our life-times our British parliamentary democracy is being tested in a way it has not been before. I have great faith in the wisdom, common-sense and good humour of my fellow countrymen and women and I feel confident that we shall find a way forward through this madness. However, we must also prepare for the worst. The poison of nationalism and racism has been injected into the veins of the Body Politic at a time of heightened terrorist activity. It is a dangerous drug and history teaches that once a people has tasted its artificial sweetness it becomes dependent upon it. Racism, and its concomitant dehumanising violence, must be resisted  at every level – otherwise we stare into the abyss.

In summary, then, dark forces are at work dear friend, however, when was that not the case! As Christians we live in the pale light of the Easter Dawn. In such light even the cruelty and barbarity of the cross is transfigured. What is for sure is that we all have a choice. We can run away or ignore it – yet how far, ultimately, will that get us? St Peter, fleeing persecution, encountered the Risen Lord walking determinedly back towards those very same horrors. ‘Quo Vadis Domine?’, he famously asked, ‘Where are you going to Lord?’ Now we must each ask our Lord the same question all over again. As the prophet says:

 

‘And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin.

This is the interpretation of the matter:

MENE – God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.

TEKEL – You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

PARSIN – Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’

(Daniel 5: 25-31)

 

Our kingdom is divided. May God give us all strength to come through this time of trial.

 

Yours in solidarity with our fellow suffering humanity.

 

Peter