Peter Kennedy Christmas 2010
In a recent homily I spoke about my understanding of our faith community – as a community “on the edge” whose focus was for those who “ on the edge”
Being “on the edge” as a faith community – having been taken in by the Queensland Council of Unions – gives us a solidarity with those who live “on the edge”.With this realisation comes a sense of being on the right track – paradoxically as far as society is concerned, on the wrong side of the track! But for those who read the gospel from the ( underbelly) perspective of the poor and marginalised there is this alignment, this solidarity with the mission of the gospel – expressed in the table fellowship of Jesus with the poor and marginalised.
With this realisation comes a sense of abiding joy. In tonight’s gospel we read how the angel of God appeared to the shepherds who lived in the fields – in other words the homeless poor – who took it in turn to watch over their flocks during the night. “ Do not be afraid. Listen. I bring you news of great joy – today in the town of David, a saviour has been born for you who is the Christ. And here is a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”
A sign for you – a baby – vulnerability, helplessness, innocence, powerlessness lying in a cowshed – homeless – born on the edge – yet here in this context of deprivation is to be found the deep abiding joy of a young couple at the birth of their first born.
This sense of abiding joy is at times tangible in this community of faith – precisely because we are ourselves on the edge and the focus of our spirituality is for those on the edge. With this joy comes a sense of freedom and simplicity.
This is the great paradox of the feast of Christmas – that the Ineffable, the unknowable That Which is Totally Other – Emmanuel which means “ God is With Us” will always be “ on the edge”
Raids of the Unspeakable- Thomas Merton
“Into this world, this demented Inn, in which there is absolutely no room for Him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because he cannot be at home in it, because He is out of place in it, His place is with those others for whom there is not room. His place is with those who do not belong, who are rejected by power because they are regarded as weak, those who are discredited, who are denied the status of persons, who are tortured, bombed and exterminated. With those for whom there is no room Christ is present in the world. He is mysteriously present in those for whom there seems to be nothing but the world at its worst… it is in these that He hides Himself, for whom there is no room”
22/12/2010 at 10:59 pm Permalink
Yes, i remember this Merton quote vividly from my days at St Mary’s in the 1980s.. but i don’t think you have to be too far on the edge Peter. There are many people, far and wide, who’d like to help in whatever way they can big or small to raise the dough to help your progressive christian community find an inn they own. I like that Catholic Prisons Ministry is at the old St Mary’s now too – maybe that can be in some way tribute to the work you did based at the presbytery so many years ago. Have a great Christmas Peter, take it easy.
23/12/2010 at 8:17 am Permalink
Peter, the good news of the Lord tell us that no person should be living on the edge, and your comment that being on the edge comes a sense of being on the right track smells of arrogance.
Its high time you come out of your insecurity and bitterness and find yourself. The use of fine words to suit your own means is a deception and will get you nowhere. Form your own religion if you must but don’t do it on the back of the Catholic Church. The Church has been around for 2000 odd years, unlike your negative outbursts. Sorry Peter, anyway have a nice Christmas.
23/12/2010 at 11:34 pm Permalink
Well ‘edge’ is an evocative word. Peter and smx, and the old St Mary’s too have reasons, justifiably in some measure, for feeling bitter. But looking past to that and to the positive, all I’m saying is the history of the catholic community during Peter’s 3 decades at St Mary’s – that’s a long time in our lifetimes anyway – there was a great positive spirit to that community- the new communities developing after the 2009 split I hope are regaining a positive outlook – the old St Mary’s is – but i feel that it cannot completely until smx moves forward too – for smx there was talk of buying their own place, and linking up with the Progressive Christian movement.