Diocesan News
Archbishop Neill examines powerlessness in citizenship sermon
ARCHBISHOP NEILL EXAMINES POWERLESSNESS IN CITIZENSHIP SERMON
preached by
the Most Revd Dr John R W Neill, Archbishop of Dublin
at the Citizenship service in
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
7 November 2004
Among the many incidents related in the Gospels that have caught the imagination of storytellers down the ages is that of the young lad among a crowd of thousands with a few buns and a couple of fish - the apostle Andrew tells Jesus what the lad can offer, but adds the telling comment "But what are they among so many people" (St John 6:9)
This very natural reaction from the friend of Jesus is a sigh of powerlessness. The feeding of the five thousand is about the very opposite. As Jesus receives the small gift, and feeds the thousands, the standing of that lad is transformed. The lad matters, his gift matters, and it is not hard to imagine that he sees himself in a new light as Jesus feeds the multitude from the five barley loaves and two fish. Whether the miracle of the feeding of the multitude is rationalised or not, it remains a very important example of powerlessness transcended.
STRUGGLE FOR POWER AT THE CENTRE OF SOCIETY
The history of every human society has at its centre a struggle for power. The fact that some are alienated from that power, and experience a deep sense of powerlessness can for a certain length of time be ignored, but eventually the cries of the powerless are either heeded, or else in the end they become the catalyst that leads to severe disintegration or revolution.
The Gospel imperative is not that of preserving the status quo and facilitating the protection of power and privilege. Sadly as churches we have at times all fallen into the temptation of preserving that same status quo, and protecting everything that relates to power and privilege. The Church must always be accountable to the same Gospel as is the society among whom it serves. In every society today, including in this our own land and city, there are countless people who feel utterly powerless - whether it be their gifts, or their needs, whether it be their own story, or their own heritage - they hear the same virtual dismissal "But what are they among so many?".
RECENT VISIT TO EGYPT
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of being part of a small Irish Anglican and Roman Catholic delegation to Cairo. The area of special interest for us was the relationship in dialogue and co-existence between the very small, but extremely ancient Christian minority in that great land, and the overwhelming Islamic population. We were able to meet with a wide variety of religious leadership, but also with significant national and political leadership. As we returned home from those few days, what we felt that we had achieved, besides what we had learnt ourselves, was that we had been able to give some encouragement to that small Christian community who with so little were achieving so much - and we were able to affirm for religious and political leaders from the Muslim community what the churches wanted to offer, and were already offering in Egyptian society. What we were able to tell was how we were learning in Ireland whether it be through a peace process or through ecumenical contacts that minorities really mattered, that the small really mattered - that nobody should say "But what are they among so many??"
THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENCY
This week we shall witness the inauguration of a new term for Dr Mary McAleese as president of Ireland. I am sure that she can be assured of the prayers of all our churches as she continues in this important role. Over the last generation, the Presidency has evolved in a very positive way. Successive Presidents of Ireland have developed the office beyond the constitutional and the ceremonial into a community based exercise which has affirmed many of the weaker and less powerful elements in society, and has affirmed in a very positive way the efforts of the few who through their vision and dedication have made a difference for many. This is surely about tackling the sense of powerlessness that is there in every society, and most definitely in our own.
TRAVELLING COMMUNITY
It is not many weeks since the plight of the traveller community once more hit the headlines. The sheer frustration of that community over the fact that most of us in the settled community simply do not realise the depth of the plight of travellers came to our attention for a few brief days. But is this not some thing that has to be addressed in a much more imaginative way?
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTING POWERLESSNESS
Hardly a week goes by without the media highlighting examples of people experiencing total powerlessness - be they one of many stuck on a stretcher in a hospital corridor, or else parents who cannot for some reason or other find a place for their child to be educated. We can call this "media hype", but it would be more honest to say that the media is simply bringing to our attention the fact that there are so many out there in one way or another who feel utterly powerless. Of course the sheer highlighting of incidents may obscure the fact that there is more than one side to any particular problem. But the fact remains that the problem is intensified when the apparent victim feels utterly powerless and even without any value whatever. Our systems so easily produce this dehumanising effect - and at the end of the day rather than assisting those for whom they were put in place, they actually can destroy those same people.
We return to that young boy offering to those looking for some food his few buns and a couple of fish. What I have already identified as a sign of powerlessness - "But what are they among so many??" may have been heard by the boy as a brush-off which is so often the experience of those who encounter over-burdened officialdom. The situation is saved by Jesus. He accepts the gifts and the way forward is quickly apparent - and the boy?s whole experience transformed.
THE CALL TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AT THE CENTRE OF CITIZENSHIP
This is what the Gospel of Jesus actually calls on us to be about. The call to love your neighbour is about far more than nice feelings towards a neighbour. It is about an attitude towards them that allows them to see themselves not as victims or objects to be tossed about, but as individuals with self-respect, with gifts to be shared, and a contribution to make. To love somebody else is at the heart of forgiveness - because until we forgive another, we do not free that person to share that stature that God intends for him or her. To give to another in need because they truly matter not because we want to exercise power over them is to give them dignity and hope.
The command to love our neighbour is right at the centre of Citizenship - and it is relevant to every aspect of the life of this city - political, civic, religious, commercial, educational, intellectual, medical, cultural and so the list could go on.
The context of the command to love the neighbour is "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind?" In Jesus this total love of God is made visible - and the transforming power of that love was seen in every contact he made - with a paralysed man, a terrified parent, a blind beggar, a criminal dying on a cross - and it is a love that can never say - "But what are they among so many?.?"
Diocesan Communications Officer, Dublin & Glendalough
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Contact Details
Lynn Glanville
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