The message of liberation offered by Christ is a long way from that offered in the secular world
Posted on January 24th 2010 in Weekly messages
The New Year has ushered in the long run-in to the next General Election which must take place by the middle of June. The main political parties are beginning slowly to reveal the thrust of their policies, whether it be the refrain of ‘Broken Britain’ or ‘the question of class’. It all seems rather disconnected from the obvious economic circumstances with which every person is confronted, and which by all accounts will not be improving much in the current year. The revelation of the impotence of government when confronted with extreme economic circumstances has only confirmed what many people already think, that politicians as a class have lost contact with both the intricacies of international finance and the lives of ordinary people. Perhaps it was ever thus with respect to any government, but the Church in her social teaching recognises both the benefit and necessity of good government. It is the natural outcome of human beings living together. Some sort of order within society is necessary for the flourishing of the ‘common good’ that will involve both the suppression of activities contrary to the common good, and providing the environment for the fostering of those which are beneficial to the common good. These would include the right to life, to an education, to family life, and to work. The role of government is then at the service of both individual and social flourishing in all their marvellous variety.
The vision the Church puts forward for the role of government, and its commitment to service, is a far cry from what is commonly understood by the governing classes of whatever party. The tone is far more high-pitched, of a constant lecturing on the behaviour of others, while failing to admit to even the slightest ignorance with regard to its own policies, whether they be the pursuit of war, the grasp of international finance or the meaning of education, to name but a few. This failure to grasp internal weaknesses within government, and the very human ability to make wrong choices, does not sit well with the strident lecturing tone that emanates from so many quarters, from within and from without different political parties. This is probably one of the main reasons so many people turn their backs on politics as a vocation to assist in building up society.
It is with a great sense of relief that one can listen to this Sunday’s Gospel in which appears Jesus’ opening address in His home synagogue. It is a message of liberation first, not of obligation. These will come, but the obligations of the Gospel make no sense unless attached to the message and experience of spiritual, moral and intellectual liberation. The message is being completed within Himself, and thus walking with Christ in faith will be seen as the means both to seek and experience this liberation. The Church therefore is not like some secular government awash in ignorance and making unreasonable demands. Contrary to all popular perception, the Church offers a path of liberation that touches the core of our being. This liberation is experienced in many ways, liberation from unrealistic expectations of success, wealth, beauty and health. It makes us see the many gifts already given to us by the generosity of God. This journey is never straightforward because it does not brush aside the ups and downs of life, but helps eventually to draw us into the greater whole of God’s unending love.