Not posturing, but justice

COMMENT

THERE is a sense of unease in our land. You can almost put out your hand and touch it. It’s not about one specific thing: it’s a feeling of malaise that touches many aspects of our life at the national and local level.

The fact that Britain is still living through a time of financial austerity is, of course, an important factor. People are losing jobs and homes, and those who are less well off are really struggling to make ends meet.

But it’s not just about money. Money is important – especially if you don’t have enough to pay the bills for basic commodities. The rise in the number of foodbanks testifies to that.

There is a widespread distrust of financiers and politicians and the media.

There is a big black hole at the centre of our public life and it has to do with trust and accountability. The growth of spin doctoring and bureaucratic jargon, along with the rise and rise of a banal celebrity culture, add to a sense of purposelessness.

The malaise has something to do with spirit, a nagging sense of things not right at the core. It’s not something that can be fixed by politicians or by technocrats. Glitzy new gadgets or “apps” won’t solve it, however much they promise happiness.

I do believe that the churches – despite their evident failings – can point to spiritual treasures contained within their practices.

Take the current season of Lent. For centuries, during this special season the churches have encouraged reflection on the suff erings of Jesus, and invited participants to reflect upon their own failings.

It was, and is, a time of searching examination of one’s life – a time of consideration and repentance and renewal.

A few years ago, the Bishop of Chicago and some of his staff went out onto the busy streets on Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the Lenten season – and off ered passers-by the ashes of repentance.

People were astonished to see these clerics in their robes stopping bemused strangers and asking if they wanted to have a spot of ash daubed upon their forehead.

It led to amazing conversations with lapsed Catholics and Protestants, and with people of no religious allegiance at all.

Lent has sharp things to say about our current situation.

The prophet Isaiah castigated those who thought it was enough to fast and have long faces. They were showing off their piety, and they were rather pleased with themselves.

Isaiah looked at the injustice all around him. These show-off s were treating their workers on the farm badly, were grinding down the poor, were ignoring the outcasts.

The divine message built up in Isaiah until he could contain it no longer. He lashed out at the wealthy for their lack of care for the poor, and gave them the message that God wasn’t interested in their showy religious ways.

There is a big black hole at the centre of our public life and it has to do with trust and accountability.

What God wanted wasn’t posturing, but justice.

According to the prophet, this is what God says: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring to your house the poor who are cast out?”

Is this still relevant – for religious believers and non-believers alike – in today’s world? Look around. Yes, and yes again.

This article appears in the March 2018 Issue of Life and Work

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