Blessings from the Vicarage

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last month, because of Pentecost, I wrote about us all being on the journey into an ‘evolved divine life’, which, if the majority of people work towards it, should mean that, with God’s help, we could achieve more and more peace, justice and freedom in the world as we go forward. But even as I submitted my prayerful thoughts, others in the world had other ideas…

Literally before the magazine went to print, the bombing between Russia and Ukraine escalated and has caused extensive damage and grief on both sides; the cruelty of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified to the point that starving, desperate people are now being shot as they have to beg for food; the civil war in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan has worsened, destabilising their countries, and the insurgency in Myanmar has led to widespread violence and displacement of swathes of people. All these conflicts are leading to increasing burdens on these nations’ political and economic status and such damage to each country’s infrastructure, that it will take decades to restore any form of civilisation, even if peace is ever achieved. And to top it all, in the last few days Israel has attacked Iran which will have significant international implications…

Talk about no steps forward and at least 5 steps backward ☹ Over the last month, quite frankly what has been happening in the world appears to be nothing short of human regression back to tribalism, only now with huge annihilating weapons and not spears.

It would appear at present that rather than evolve, a significant majority of humans would rather, for whatever reason (possibly grief, anger, impotence, ignorance?), ‘stick with the devil they know’ than walk a new path to peace, freedom and justice. Are people less afraid of war than they are of peace? Surely not…

So, if not, what can those who are not at war, do to promote peace, freedom and justice? And what can those who are at war, do to change their situation?

In 1942 Bishop Cyril Garbett of York, became one of the first to expose the full extent of the Nazi’s atrocities against the Jews in Poland. Writing in the York Evening Press in 1942, he accused them of pursuing a policy of deliberate

extermination, calling it the ‘Greatest Crime in History’. His article opened the world’s eyes to the extreme inhumanities that humans can inflict on each other.

Eighty years later, when you’d have thought, especially after the 80th Anniversary VE day celebrations that all the world should know better, these ‘greatest crimes’ of ‘exterminating the enemy’ are still happening. But now it’s not just about land-grabbing, greed, power and control – the people who are leading and inflicting these crimes are historically damaged people themselves. And damaged people damage people… Those who were previously victims have now become the persecutors, and so the cycle of violence and killing continues.

But we do not lose hope for peace, freedom and justice – and this is why...

Jesus was made a victim by those in authority of his own religion who did not want to lose their covetousness of God, their elevated egotistical status, their power and control. But in contrast to them, Jesus said on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ When He rose again from the dead, he did not start a campaign to inflict damage on those who made him suffer and ultimately killed him. No. He showed that He was an evolved divine Jew, and changed the future for the good. With the support of God the Father and the Holy Spirit, in His resurrection healing, and His redeeming actions and teaching, Jesus was able to show God’s infinite and forgiving love, and that it is this that transforms damaged humans in this life. This enables them to repent of violence and killing, and then evolve to live, speak and work for love, peace, freedom and justice. This evolution of humanity is what Fr Richard Rohr calls the Divine Dance – so I invite you come and dance with the Trinitarian God and me in the pursuit of peace, freedom and justice – you won’t regret it! 😊😊😊

With prayers and love,

Jane