The Very Rev Albert Bogle reflects on the Pentecost message amid a war on the fringes of eastern Europe.

VICTOR Hugo, in a letter to his publisher in October 1862, expanded on the universal themes in his masterpiece, Les Miserables, by suggesting that the themes in the book of redemption, forgiveness, love and sacrifice were universal themes with which humanity must grapple. This quote below to the publisher M Daelli is still a timely word to our world today.

“At the hour of civilisation through which we are now passing and which is still so sombre, the miserable’s name is Man; he is agonising in all climes and he is groaning in all languages.”

Victor Hugo was, of course echoing the words of St Paul in his letter to the Romans, reflecting on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit at work in the individual as we try to make sense of how we should actually pray in the face of great trauma and difficulty.

Our present world needs prayers for redemption. If you were ever in doubt surely all that is happening in Europe today speaks to us of our need for a new kind of world order. A new way of dealing with nations usurping other nations. A new way of being human. A new way of being church. No longer hiding in the shadows of church buildings, behind well-rehearsed liturgies, as many would have us - but speaking out against injustice, living out liturgies of justice and peace and resurrection.

Believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not simply a liturgical statement of faith, it has profound implications for the way we conduct our lives as Christians. It lifts our eyes from the challenges of our everyday existence to reflect upon the eternal significance of our identity. It reminds us that we are created by God with eternity in mind.

I wonder if you are a bit like me? We get caught up with the everyday pressures of our daily responsibilities. We find ourselves so overwhelmed by the demands of family and work that we forget to take account of the bigger eternal picture. The Resurrection invites Christians to think out of the box to consider what it means to pray: “Thy Kingdom Come”

To seek God’s Kingdom is to speak truth to power, especially when governments are parcelling up their responsibilities and passing them on to others who can ill afford to receive them. The recent UK government policy agreed with Rwanda surrounding the removal of asylum seekers from the UK’s jurisdiction to their jurisdiction, is surely one of the most manipulative and shoddy pieces of unjust political manoeuvring by any British government in a long time.

At present we still have the legal right to speak out and we must. Our speaking out may cause us to be unpopular with the government of the day but the cost is minimal compared to what others have to face. Institutionalised denominations often succumb to the pressure to resist from commenting on politics in order for ‘discretion to be the better part of valour’ and secure a place of privilege for the church in society. In doing so a denomination can save its life but lose its soul.

“At present we still have the legal rights to speak out and we must.

The tragedy is in order to survive the pressures of Vladimir Putin the Russian Orthodox Church would appear to have done just that very thing. They have refused to speak truth to power. They have linked their existence to land and heritage and an earthly political system, rather than embracing the understanding that Christians are citizens of another kingdom. Let’s remind ourselves it is the writer of the book of Hebrews who reminds us “we have no abiding city.”

This Pentecost season the Christians within the Russian Orthodox Community find themselves at war with each other.

Amidst all this the theology of Pentecost challenges ideas that link land to one people. In Christ we are all one - neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female. We are baptised into the one Spirit. Our identity is not found in possessions or land but in an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Being reminded of resurrection and eternity makes us better citizens here on earth. The Christian is called to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. It is not to disassociate from the world and its politics. Instead the world is given a greater significance because of the resurrection. Christian leaders are therefore called to speak truth to power and challenge evil wherever it is found.

And above all to speak of the redemption Victor Hugo in his masterpiece speaks of to an agonising world in search of the language of grace and forgiveness.