TUI MOTU InterIslands

our th Independent Catholic Magazine Issue 200 December 2015 $7 Christmas 200 issue CONTENTS FEATURES EDITORIAL Joseph’s Dreams and Journeys ...... 4 Bruce Drysdale Celebrating Birth, Life The Wise Ones ...... 6 Joy Cowley and Family Vulnerability in the Face of Power ...... 8 Mike Riddell I had a Dream ...... 10 Ann L Gilroy saw my godchild born. The memory brings a Desperately Needed Peace ...... 14 catch to my throat still. It began in awkwardness Cecily McNeill I and moved through waiting, admiration and I Can Write the Precious Word – Syria ...... 16 amazement, to breathtaking intensity — then horror Yasmina El Sabeh when the midwife held a little blue body. (I’d missed Food for the Journey ...... 18 the antenatal chat about expecting that.) Finally we Jack Derwin hugged a wee pinking-up “transubstantiation” — a No Place to Call their Own ...... 24 Susan Smith water creature gulping air in alarmed cries. A little Making Do and Making Community ...... 26 “incarnation” — our hope appearing in flesh. Our Peter Murnane baby — an exceptional and everyday miracle. Birth, like Not All who Wander are Lost ...... 28 death, is breathtakingly raw and emotional. Philomena Clare The birth of Jesus — as of all babies — exposes COMMENT us again to intense joy and reenergises us to work for a safer world. While the scriptures lend Jesus Editorial ...... 2 regal, adult titles — “Prince of Peace” and “Saviour The Gift of our Name ...... 3 Pa Henare Tate of the People” — he was born a scrap of flesh and “Best Friends” Fall Out ...... 23 bundle of promise. As with our babies, he needed Jan Barnett his family, extended family and neighbourhood to From First to 200 Issues ...... 34 bring him up. It took him long years to grow into a Michael Hill prince and saviour — a man able to discern his part Peace on Earth ...... 35 in God’s mission. And during that time his family Robert Consedine loved, protected, guided and involved him in life and COLUMNS relationships in their simplicity, complexity, mystery Crosscurrents ...... 38 and communion. Jim Elliston Our December issue explores such Christmas Looking Out and In ...... 40 themes particularly as found in Matthew’s gospel. Kaaren Mathias Bruce Drysdale writes about Joseph’s dilemma when SCRIPTURE he heard that Herod intended to hunt Jesus down and kill him. Joseph bundled up his family and took off for An Ecological Reading of the Gospel of Mark (final) . . 30 Elaine Wainwright asylum in Egypt. The Word made Flesh ...... 32 Warsan Shire conveys the desperation of Kathleen Rushton contemporary families forced to run from their homelands: “No one leaves home unless home is the REFLECTION mouth of a shark.” Blessings of Birth ...... 12 Yasmina el Shebah lets us feel the poignancy of an Bernadette Holland Bonds from Birth ...... 13 8-year-old Syrian boy now begging at the gates of her Richard Leonard University in Beirut. Poem: No One Leaves Home Unless ...... 20 And Jack Derwin shares his admiration of a group Warsan Shire living beside a railway line in Mexico, who pass Sailor of my Ship ...... 22 packed lunches to migrants hanging off freight trains, Mike Fitzsimons trying to make their way to the USA. LETTERS That’s just a taste of this bonanza issue — as Letters to the editor ...... 39 my father would say. We realise that many of you will have read all 200 editions beginning in 1997 REVIEWS when Michael Hill and Francie Skelton started the Book and Film Reviews ...... 36 magazine, through to 2014 when Kevin Toomey and Cover illustration: Elizabeth Mackie were at the helm and up to this year Escape to Egypt by He Qi [www.heqiart.com] with Elizabeth and myself editing. 2 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 THE GIFT OF OUR NAME Pa Henare recalls founding editor, Michael Hill, asking for a Māori title for the newly created Catholic magazine in 1997.

offered Tui Motu. It was an Pa Henare reminds us that attempt to capture the idea of the name, Tui Motu, challenges Ithe magazine’s reaching out over us to stitch our geographical the islands of Aotearoa, and even neighbourhoods into community across to the islands of the Pacific. using threads of discussion, At the time I was quite conscious dialogue, faith and interest. Your of the whakatauki (proverb) often loyalty, support and contributions used on the marae as a tauparapara through the years have ensured (introduction) to a whaikōrero that Tui Motu continues to thrive (speech-making). I have used it and to live into its name. myself on many occasions. The Adding to the bonanza are the following is the Māori text with my new design and (just for Christmas!) translation and interpretation: extra pages. We hope you enjoy wandering through the magazine Whakarongo ake au ki te tangi a te “Tui” has a number of meanings enjoying the feel of the “new look” manu nei, a te Mātūī; but they have a common link — that and consulting the contents to find “Tui, tui, tuituia” of attaching one object to another. your favourite writers. Tuia i runga, tuia i raro, tuia i roto, Thus, tui means to lace, to fasten, It’s significant that the 200th Tuia i waho to bind, to lash together, to sew, to issue is produced for Christmas. Tuia i te muka herenga tangata i stitch, or to thread on a string. As Kath Rushton offers her tākea mai “Tuituia” can mean the Christmas reflection on the Word i Hawaiki-nui, i Hawaiki-roa, i repetitive or constant action of becoming flesh among us, it’s not Hawaiki pāmamao lacing, fastening, binding, sewing, too presumptuous to think of Tui ka rongo te ao, ka rongo te pō, stitching — or it can mean lacing, Motu as another incarnation — a tīhewa mauriora fastening, binding, sewing or 1997 dream that’s now celebrating stitching many people, objects or its 200th birthday. I hear the cry of the bird called islands together. We thank all the writers, poets the Mātūī (the Tūī); The title Tui Motu was intended and artists who contributed to “Tui, tui, tuituia” to convey the idea of “stitching (tui) this 200th issue, especially the Tuia what is above (runga), the islands (motu) of Aotearoa, the children from St Teresa’s School in Tuia what is below (raro), Pacific together …” binding (tui) Bluff. While we were not able to Tuia what is within (roto), the different races and people and print all their paintings, they star Tuia what is outside (waho) faiths together to create one Pacific on our website www.tuimotu.org. Tuia with the flax fibre (muka) people of God. I believed at that May you enjoy the love of that ties people together (herenga time this would be a role of the your families and friends over tangata), a principle of action that magazine. the Christmas season and may which has its origins (tākea mai) Now that there are subscribers that love join the energy of God in Hawaiki-nui (the great Hawaiki), in Australia and further afield, they in bringing peace to our world. in Hawaiki-roa (the expansive too are included in our stitching. ■ Happy Christmas! ■ Hawaiki) in Hawaiki pāmamao (the distant Hawaiki) Tui photo by Paul Sorrell The day-time hears the message (ka rongo te ao), Pa Henare Tate, a Māori priest of Te Rarawa Iwi descent, lives the night-time hears the message a busy “retired” life in Motuti in (ka rongo te pō), Hokianga. His interests are let there be wellness and well- whānau and local history. being (tīhewa mauriora).

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 3 JOSEPH’S DREAMS & JOURNEYS

Bruce Drysdale tells Joseph’s story from the nativity account in Matthew’s gospel.

’m Joseph and looking back I made myself useful by holding now from the familiarity of firm the birthing stool and offering My pride and joy overflowed Imy Nazareth workshop, those Mary words of encouragement. early years seem like a dream. At when the midwife handed At first the women were the time the opposite was true: me our little, slippery bundle uncomfortable with my presence dreams were as much reality as of humanity. For a moment I but before long they appreciated my help, which freed them for the events that unfolded about was back in the dream: “She me. It was in a dream that I the many and delicate tasks of first glimpsed who Jesus would will bear a son … he will save midwifery. become. I had been in a dazed the people”. While I tried to hide my deep state since Mary had told me she concern at Mary’s obvious pain, was pregnant. The dream seemed nothing could hide my relief when, like part of my waking. It was the When the midwife arrived with finally, I heard that primal wail. name — “You are to name him Salome, Mary certainly wasn’t My pride and joy overflowed Jesus” — the very name making dreaming; her loud cries of pain when the midwife handed me our God present among us! kept everyone wide awake and little, slippery bundle of humanity. Nazareth isn’t Mary’s or my attentive. At other family births For a moment I was back in the hometown. Bethlehem was our I’d steered clear of the women dream: “She will bear a son … he home where we lived in the house calmly, but determinedly, going will save the people”. Was this of my father Jacob and we had about their tasks . This time, dark, wet-curled head on such a been in the land of Judah for however, was different. While my tiny frail torso to be the Messiah? generations. I still have difficulty brother Clophas succumbed to the Jesus, wriggling enthusiastically (as thinking of myself as a Galilean but women’s pointed remarks about though aware of the swaddling that we are settled here now and work the “extra” bodies overfilling the was soon to come), brought me is fairly steady. room — I was determined to stay. back to the moment. I placed him

4 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 on the shoulder of his exhausted promised Messiah that they left Jesus and Mary well away from mother who, forgetting her recent their Zoroastrian practices and Herod’s influence — to Egypt. distress, beamed with joy at the became Jews. “Egypt?!” asked Mary with a safe arrival of our son. Our visitors came from a long look of utter confusion. But she line of magoi who had studied all needed little convincing because Unusual visitors arrive the signs of the messianic age and she’d heard the rumours about While we delighted in the presence were convinced that the birth of Herod’s cruelty. I hurriedly made of Jesus in our lives, for several our son heralded its beginning. arrangements with Clophas and months life was very normal and I was excited enough at their a carpenter in the neighbouring we had almost forgotten those mention of dreams, so finding village of Bethbasi to take care of dream-borne predictions of his out they too awaited the Messiah our carpentry business. unique place in our genealogy. elevated the moment to an We packed what few belongings Then, one morning, Jesus was occasion of awe. we could load onto our only mule crawling just a little too close to and set off, joining others also some of my tools. Mary picked escaping from Herod’s attention. him up and was about to scold me Everyone in southern We thought it would be the longest (again) for leaving the tools within Palestine knew about the journey of our lives. his reach when she noticed some megalomaniacal Herod and visitors arriving. the lengths to which he Returning to a new region I was surprised when I went The news reached us in Egypt out to meet them as they were would go to eliminate threats that Herod, on his deathbed, had obviously not locals and their to his reign. ordered the deaths of all young clothes suggested they were from boys in the Bethlehem area. That the lands to the east — perhaps night I had the most disturbing Parthians. I greeted them and they Our little boy in danger dream of our ancestor, Rachel, responded politely before quickly We invited them to share a weeping for her children and I felt asking: “Where is the child who has meal and during the ensuing the horror and great sadness of been born a king?” conversation we asked if they the families. Mary and I consoled Mary and I had kept close had found anyone else on their each other. counsel about what we had journey who shared their views. Months later I dreamt that it learned of Jesus’ future so I was When they mentioned that Herod, was now safe to return to Israel. formulating a guarded answer king of Judea, had told them he Almost immediately we set out when they noticed Mary behind me also wished to come to Bethlehem for our home in Bethlehem but with the child in her arms. To my and pay homage to the new-born on the way we discovered that surprise they rushed forward and king, our feelings turned to dread. Herod’s son, Archelaus, was as bent down in homage. After a very Everyone in southern Palestine cruel as his father and we did not long, awkward moment, while Mary knew about the megalomaniacal risk being found. So we decided and I exchanged confused glances, Herod and the lengths to which he to move out of his reach to the the visitors rose to their feet and would go to eliminate threats to district of Galilee and there settled with their eyes still fixed on Jesus his reign. in Nazareth. explained that they had travelled I was even more disturbed when I am still a frequent dreamer many months to find this child and the visitors told me of a dream they and value this form of insight as offer him gifts from their people. had interpreted as warning them pure, unfiltered revelation. These not to return to Herod as planned. days, however, God’s revelations Stars and learning When it was time for them to leave are less urgent, more consoling Our questions revealed they were I carefully explained an alternative and filled with the new hope Jesus magoi (magi) — an ancient group route that would take them well is for my people. ■ of wise, priestly leaders skilled away from Herod. I also made in astronomy, astrology and the sure Mary and Jesus were indoors interpretation of dreams — and, before dusk. their “people” were a small group whose Babylonian ancestors had Fleeing from our country been greatly influenced by their I didn’t think I slept at all that night Bruce Drysdale is the DRS Judean captives during the time but I must have closed my eyes at St. Dominic’s College, Auckland. He also teaches of exile. Some of the magoi had long enough to dream because Te Reo Maori, is a civil celebrant been so impressed by the faith of when I awoke in a sweat I knew the and a keen gardener. these Jews and their belief in a only safe thing to do was to take

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 5 The

OnesWise

Joy Cowley shares her “heart Illustration by reading” of the journey of the Donald Moorhead. Magi to Jesus in Bethlehem.

ome say there were twelve wise Every now and then one of his impressed with their knowledge. men. Our tradition claims three: people gets attention by claiming Herod’s sense of danger increases. SCaspar of Sheba, Melchior of to be the Messiah. Herod has ways He sees the wise men in private and Arabia and Balthazar from Egypt. of dealing with that. None of those, instructs them to come back when We have seen images of them on however, has gained this kind of they have found the baby. They must Christmas cards. They wear regal attention. Distinguished foreigners tell him where the child is so that he robes indicative of their status, and coming to worship a new-born too may pay him tribute. Tribute? Ah they journey on camels over desert ruler? The thought is intolerable! It yes, we know what he plans, just as dunes, a bright star above them. is Herod’s own son who will be his we know the rest of the events. The What do we know about them? successor — Herod Antipas, king of Wise Ones arrive at Joseph’s house Stories vary. We’re told they are the Jews. But suppose this new-born to worship the newborn king. They astrologers who can read the infant is the true Messiah returned to present gifts of gold, frankincense alignment of stars and planets, who free them from Roman rule? Herod and myrrh, and are warned in a also know the ancient scriptures dares not trust his own judgement. dream not to return to Herod. of the East: the sacred book of He summons a council of scribes and Persia, the Avesta; the writings of pharisees to be present when the Mulling the story over the Hebrew prophets; maybe the strangers from the east arrive. Matthew is the only gospel with this teachings from the land of the story, although there have always Pharaohs, and the Vedas of India. The been oral versions. For a moment, let Wise Ones know that all religions Herod’s sense of danger us stay with the Matthew account. indicate the birth in Israel, of a great increases. He sees the We know that like all Bible stories, ruler and prophet of God. wise men in private and it has two readings — one with the mind, and one with the heart. From home to Herod instructs them to come The first is simple: we revisit a The journey from home is long, 800 back when they have familiar story for information. miles or more guided by the star. found the baby.” The reading from the heart No doubt the widespread Roman though, may be different. This type occupation helps movement across of reflective reading,lectio divina, is borders. It’s also a network that It turns out that the foreigners deeper, wider — a form of prayer that spreads news. By the time the Magi are well versed in the scrolls of is intensely personal. We create an are near the land of the Hebrews, the Hebrew prophets. They quote inner emptiness for the story and Herod has heard about them and the predictions from Isaiah, Micah, allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us reason for their visit. He is worried. Daniel, and the pharisees are through it.

6 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 Finding the characters in myself exists. In its weakness, the ego has the gifts: the gold of the life God As we consider the characters and become more devious, insisting that has given me, the frankincense actions, we feel drawn to elements it too will worship the new king, of worship and the myrrh of the that reflect our own journey. The but in its own way. Guidance tells Cross. Jesus gladly accepts my story opens up as a parable. me that if I do battle with Herod I gifts, is even pleased to receive I cannot tell you how the story of will be using egoic tactics. I must my Herod and the scribes and the Wise Ones will open up for you; love my enemy, says the star. So I pharisees who sometimes waste but I can share with you what it has acknowledge that Herod will always my time. The most precious gift, revealed to me. be a part of me. I smile at this fretful though, comes with the burial I am every character in this story. child and then leave it on its little spice. We hold it between us in As a convert I have travelled from throne. It’s the guidance of the light silence. Myrrh represents a bond another land, drawn by what I know that has real power. that is beyond words and can never of Jesus’ birth in the stable of my Did I forget the scribes and be broken. life. It has been a long journey and pharisees? No, they are all in my That is my heart reading of this some of the terrain was difficult, but head, and generally they mean story. What is yours? Do you feel there is a guiding light, a bright Star well. They love to quote the the gentle pull of the star? However of presence that lights the way. Like scripture, sometimes for prayer you follow that light, it will bring astronomers of today, I can’t name and sometimes for argument, and you to the stable where a universe the star. It seems beyond names. they usually do so while seated of love has come into creation. But that light has always been on cushions. They don’t have the Offer him all your gifts. Keep connected with Christ Jesus. Magi’s enthusiasm for journey. I nothing back. The gift you value There have been great blessings am happy to accommodate the least will be his greatest treasure. ■ in the journey but my life is not scribes and pharisees and can enjoy simply with the Magi. their company. At times, though, all I am also Herod, sitting on a that head noise gets in the way of NZ writer Joy Cowley is a wife, throne of ego, protecting self- guidance from the star. mother, grandmother, great- Eventually, the star will always grandmother and retreat interest. While the Herod in me has facilitator. She lives in Featherston now lost some of its power, I would bring me back to the stable and with her husband Terry Coles. be unwise to pretend it no longer Jesus. Here, I come home. I offer Painting by Nathan MacNaughton, age 10, St Teresa’s, Bluff Teresa’s, St 10, age MacNaughton, Nathan by Painting

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 7 Vulnerability in the Face of Power Mike Riddell reflects on the difference between power exerted as domination and oppression and power released in imagination and tenderness.

here’s something compelling about human I confess to interludes of despair when I look to the vulnerability in the face of state power. The stuff contemporary world. Never before in human history Twe’re made of is so fragile and defenceless when have governments had access to such extraordinary confronted with organised violence. And yet the crux resources to surveil and dominate the populations they of our faith is the story of humanity overcoming the rule over. The coalition of the powerful — that alliance relentless violence of political forces bent on destruction. between the wealthy and the executive — has reached such a pinnacle of corporate might that it is hard to Power against Love imagine how any subversion of it is possible. That fateful confrontation is present from the beginning of Matthew’s nativity story. On the one side we Remarkably, it is the story of divine power have the “soft” elements of existence: a betrothal, a pregnancy, a birth, dreams, stars, joy. These vie for life capable of undermining oppressors; but a under the shadow of a petty tyrant, a ruthless empire, power that works through apparent weakness genocide, duplicity, exile and subjugation. It’s as if and insignificance. the gospel writer is making clear that the context of incarnation is always a contest of power against love. He tells of a brave young woman, a trusting husband, a Whispers of subversion baby born into poverty, adoring visitors, and the journey to It is precisely in times such as these that we find find refuge in a brutal world. Ranged against theseanawim resonance in the birth narratives of Jesus. Matthew is (Hebrew for the poor who depend on God), we have well aware that his people are subjugated by a great Herod, the puppet ruler of the Roman Empire, in collusion and seemingly invincible power. And yet he begins a with those priests and scribes who have collaborated with tale in which the gestation of hope is carried in the him to maintain rule. It may seem the outcome is destined womb of a young woman. Remarkably, it is the story to be dark, but that would be to misunderstand power. of divine power capable of undermining oppressors; but a power that works through apparent weakness and insignificance. As Alfred North Whitehead wrote, here there is a different force at work for change: “It dwells upon the tender elements in the world, which slowly and in quietness operate by love.” These are times in which we need to hear this message again. It is the secret carried in the hearts of the broken, who dare to dream that things might be different. It is the whisper of liberation, easily dismissed but silently harboured.

Domination of commerce The Western world is entranced by a seamless ideology that drains our society of compassion and respect. This dogma engenders compliance to monetarism as the price of belonging. The media champions its precepts, in a voice that has itself become subservient to pursuit of the dollar. Any alternative to the triumph of commerce is mercilessly ridiculed. Those who offer competing opinions are regarded as traitors. A carefully engendered numbness has descended like a pacifying shroud over us all. We pick our way through life, titillated by distractions rather than fired

8 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 by passions. The great desires are diluted into the accumulation of possessions. All that is noble about The divine power is that of water on stone, existence becomes fodder for the advertisers, who Vulnerability in the Face of Power silently making inroads against tyranny. seduce us into yet more meaningless purchases. It keeps us compliant. This knowledge allows us to live freely and Do not doubt that this is purposeful indoctrination; an subversively, unashamed that our views are education in subservience. The strategy is not new, but not those of our culture. it is newly pervasive. The wealthy now shape the world as they see fit — determining the outcome of elections and shaping policy through “lobbying”. Any resistance is Power of light in the darkness snuffed out before it has the chance to grow, through the Some weeks ago I stood in an excavated chamber in omniscient powers of state eavesdropping — apparently Rome, where it is increasingly credible the apostle Paul to ensure our security. Citizens have become servile was kept captive before his execution. He lived chained consumers, farmed by their overlords. to a Roman soldier, to keep him under house arrest on spurious charges. I was struck by the audacity of the Power of imagination man, confined in the heart of the Empire, but resolute Theologian Walter Brueggemann named the culture to the last that the power of the state was puny in produced by this dominant coterie “the royal comparison to the way of Jesus. consciousness”; a paralysing anaesthetic that stifles In these times we might well recall that the One the people. He explains: “Numbness does not hurt like we follow dwells among the small and discounted torture, but in a quite parallel way, numbness robs us people of the world. The divine power is that of water of our capability for humanity.” To disrupt the ideology, on stone, silently making inroads against tyranny. This Brueggemann believes we need not conventional knowledge allows us to live freely and subversively, weapons, but hope. We must become capable of unashamed that our views are not those of our culture. imagining an alternative. We have caught a glimpse of a distant horizon, and His answer is “the prophetic imagination”: a believe it can be reached. strategy of visioning that cracks open the future. “The Advent is a time of waiting, as is the whole of human imagination must come before the implementation. history. The darkness deepens before the dawn, but Our culture is competent to implement almost anything we know in our hearts that the light will prevail. The and to imagine almost nothing. The same royal renewing of hope can at times be difficult. It depends on consciousness that makes it possible to implement the willingness to host it, and to harbour the wavering anything and everything is the one that shrinks flame. That gentle light is the one given to the world and imagination because imagination is a danger. Thus every will one day shine for all to see. ■ totalitarian regime is frightened of the artist.” Buried in the heart of the gospel, but often smothered by pious overlays, is a relentlessly subversive dream. In the words of Mary, God has “pulled down princes from their thrones, and raised high the lowly”. This is achieved not through some armed revolution, but through the birth of an infant who will be executed by the political powers after a show trial. It is the alignment of God on the side of the underdogs that creates a rupture in conventional thinking. Through history, we can see the times when this radical perspective has overcome the forces of oppression, and enabled salvation in a tangible sense. But before it can influence a generation, it must be birthed in the imagination. Our dreaming is the womb of God’s incarnation in a locked-down society. The infant Jesus is portrayed by Matthew as the new Moses, come to deliver God’s people.

Mike Riddell writes novels, plays, films, and apology notes. He cooks when he can, and breathes intentionally on a daily basis. Photo by Sandy Leaitua Sandy by Photo

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 9 I HAD A DREAM In Matthew’s gospel Joseph receives crucial guidance in his dreams at night that enables him to resolve his worries in the day. Lyndall Brown told Ann Gilroy that like Joseph she believes every dream holds a gift for us.

knew I’d struck a chord with Lyndall Brown about the invitation to grow into wholeness — to become more fully significance of dreams in our lives when she grew the person God is creating us to be. I excited talking about them during our interview. As a spiritual director and workshop facilitator she Dreaming is personal understands how insightful dreams can be in deepening “Dreams are personal. No one can interpret your dream our relationship with God. for you. As a spiritual director I listen to a person’s dream but it is only the dreamer who has the capacity Dreaming is natural to find the particular meaning of the dream. I may “We dream every night although we might not open a window into their dream by questioning or using remember our dreams when we wake. They help us to processes that will lead the person to make connections get in touch with what is happening in our inner world. between their dream and their lives. They come unbidden, as gift. They come to inspire, to challenge, or to bring healing — because they bring into Characters are symbolic our consciousness what we’re not fully aware of in our “Dreams are not to be understood literally. They are full of waking lives. They also relieve emotional energy that symbolism and in order to break open the meaning or signifi- we may not have dealt with in the previous day or days cance of each symbol there are a variety of dream processes. and in this way offer release and freedom. I see dreams “Jung taught that there are universal dream symbols. as one way to enable us to be transformed and as an For example, a house can represent the inner world, water

10 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 our emotions and feelings, a car is behaviour that keep recurring. messages from God and acted on the a symbol of the self. But dreamers “If people really want to work insights they gained from them. These then need to explore the symbol for with their dreams I encourage them dreams were often the beginning themselves so that they link what to keep a journal and pen by their of momentous transformations. they’re saying about the symbol bed and to say to their unconscious For example, Jacob understood with what’s going on in their lives or dream-maker before they sleep the significance of his relationship at that moment. It’s in discovering that they want to remember their with God, his people and the land; how the dream connects their inner dream. Then when they wake to Joseph heeded the Mediterranean world with their outer world at a ask themselves if they can recall a weather patterns and stored grain; particular time that the gift of the dream, allow time for it to surface Solomon recognised that wisdom, dream is understood. and write it down. That’s a good not wealth and celebrity, was crucial “What ‘s really important is that way to begin the process of for leadership and Joseph saw that every person and every symbol in the remembering dreams. Herod’s politics were dangerous to dream is actually a part of ourself. “During Retreat time dreams can his family and fled to a safer country. I always ask the dreamer which become a wonderful source of God’s Then around the fifth century symbol in the dream has the most revelation to us. Some time ago I was dream-work fell into disrepute, energy. Sometimes the energy from directing a woman on retreat who probably influenced by Jerome’s a particular symbol, especially if it’s desired to deepen her appreciation mistranslation of the word(anan ) negative or upsetting, dominates of herself and to rediscover her in his Latin version of the Bible, the dreamer’s attention and they identity. She was drawn to reflect on associating it with witchcraft — (in his miss other symbols in the dream that a quote from Thomas Merton who eyes, women’s evil work!). might be affirming of themselves or said that our identity is in God. As she However in the last 50 years reveal some growth. pondered these words she sensed spiritual directors, influenced by the “Aspects of dreams that we find a growing intimacy with God. Then work of Jung, have realised again difficult to own, often reflect our she had a dream where she was in a the value of dreams in accessing shadow but it is important to realise retreat setting and the Director said our unconscious and so providing a that our shadow holds “the gold” of to her: ‘I have known you ever since significant tool for self-knowledge in unclaimed parts of ourselves. I’ve known your mother.’ our spirituality. “A few years ago I had a dream “These words affected the Like Joseph, we now have the where I was in bed being cared for retreatant deeply as she felt that opportunity to take notice of our and was given a lemon drink. When I they came from God and revealed dreams — the work of our nightshift. looked out of the window I could see how loved she was and how And when we say: “I had a dream” a lemon tree abundant with fruit and intimate God was in her life. we can expect another prompt in our very healthy. As I worked with that “For the rest of the Retreat she journey to wholeness. ■ dream I felt affirmed that part of me, savoured the fullness of God’s word that like the tree, was very healthy and had came to her so clearly in her dream.” After living around New Zealand and beyond Ann L Gilroy rsj has the capacity to offer healing. Another landed in Dunedin as editor of part of me was needing healing Dreams help us grow Tui Motu. She’s rediscovering myself and nourishment. At the time In the scriptures we find that biblical domestic arts, loves reading and is on for adventure. of the dream I’d been involved in a characters valued their dreams as programme of healing for other people and the dream’s gift came to affirm me and to enable me to own how rich and Kiwi Christmas fruitful this time had been for me. It also gave me a gentle reminder that I by Joy Cowley needed rest and healing too. Stunningly illustrated by Bruce Potter, this is a contemporary look at the Dreams are gifts Christmas Story as if it happened “We can get new insights from old today in Aotearoa NZ. dreams. A Jungian analyst told .99 .99 me she often worked with dreams $24 Ebook $19 she’d had 20 years earlier. Generally +$4.50 p&p when we work with our dreams Freephone 0508 988 988 [email protected] we’re just working with the first 38 Higginson Street, Otane level but there are many layers to Central Hawke’s Bay a dream, often connecting us with www.christiansupplies.co.nz Painting by Riley-Mae, age 9, St Teresa’s, Bluff Teresa’s, St 9, age Riley-Mae, by Painting issues from the past and patterns of Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 11 aromatherapy oil burner infusing I was in shock — this was less than the room, fire alight — giving an an hour from when I’d woken up. Blessings ambience and feeling of calm. Even though I knew it was possible My hypno-birth CD played and to have a painless birth I could of my midwife started giving me a not believe that I was having one. wonderful back and neck massage My partner and son came into the Birth sinking me deeper and deeper lounge just in time to see our second into relaxation. son born. But nothing really seemed to Afterwards I sat on a kitchen y eyes lit up remembering be happening so just after 10pm I chair and looked in awe at our baby. the birth of my second headed to bed to get some rest. I He was just gorgeous. Then I relaxed Mson — it was a magical didn’t appear to be in labour as I was on the couch and allowed my baby experience. I was blessed to have making no sound at all. My partner to make his way up to my breast and been introduced to the concept of assumed this was another false latch on. It was simply amazing. I felt hypno-birthing. Basically this means alarm and thought he’d be going to very serene. His big brother said: bringing yourself into a very deep work in the morning. He was in for a “He’s happy now”. Although I hadn’t level of relaxation and then breathing big surprise! had the time to use the birthing your baby out — going with your I slept blissfully until just after 1am pool my three-year-old got in and body’s natural rhythm — as opposed when I needed to go to the toilet. The wanted his baby brother to join him. to pushing. surges were intensifying but I had But our baby was more interested in I liked the idea so much I taught absolutely no pain. I made my way sucking beautifully. myself. For three months before the through to the lounge and woke my I had decided also to have a birth I practised deep relaxation with midwife letting her know I thought lotus birth, which means salting the the help of a book and then listened to things were picking up. placenta until the umbilical cord falls a CD. I’d planned a home birth just as She started heating water on off, rather than cutting it. I found this I’d had with my first son. I’d called my the stove to fill the birth pool but deeply meaningful as there was no midwife previously but it had turned accidently set off the smoke alarm. severing of the baby and me and the out to be a false alarm. This night I This woke my three-year-old son cord came off naturally. was experiencing “surges” (a hypno- who called out a spritely “Hello Mum” Even now I carry vivid and birthing term for “contractions”). and bounced into the lounge. His precious memories of my son’s birth By the time the midwife arrived dad took him back to bed so I could and am sustained by the blessings of the house was set up — relaxing concentrate. I went back to the toilet that experience. music, lavender from an and continued my visualisation and As Christmas approaches breathing techniques before heading I’m concerned for the pregnant When Bernadette Holland is not back to the lounge. mothers seeking asylum in our busy with her boys, nursing, or I had reached only the side of the world, who won’t have security and creating in the kitchen she birthing pool before I realised — the peace in which to give birth and enjoys gardening, yoga, tai chi and the outdoors. baby’s coming! nourish their babies. ■

12 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 Bonds from Birth Baby photo by Lindy Olsen Lindy by photo Baby

hen I was a seminarian, during the long WChristmas holidays I worked in the pastoral care department of a big Catholic public hospital. At a Christmas party I met the charge nurse of the labour ward. Pleading that because I was a celibate I would never be at a birth, I enquired if I might be allowed to come and see. The charge nurse wept because I was weeping. finished obstetrics. Mary works at thought that would be fine. There is something so primal and the local supermarket. Six weeks later I got the call. human about the moment of birth Twenty years ago, I received Apparently a student priest that it bonds us to one another. her and Tommy into the Catholic watching you have a baby is not Friendship born in the trenches Church. She now volunteers at the an easy sell! But Mary was 16, had took on a new meaning for me. St Vincent De Paul’s local hostel for been dumped by her 19-year-old After the tears came the laughter homeless women. Some of them are boyfriend and shunned by her and joy. The reality of Mary’s tough pregnant and 16. family. A kindly seminarian was situation was happily postponed. From a complex conception, a better than no one at all. On arrival On discharge, Mary asked me to messy birth, a willing midwife and on the labour ward, I did ante- baptise the baby. I couldn’t, but I a vulnerable baby, extraordinary natal class 101 in 10 minutes: hold arranged for a priest friend to do it. goodness has flowed from one Mary’s hand, when the midwife I am Benjamin Michael’s godfather. generation to the next. The divine tells Mary to “push and keep it I have stayed in touch with them working through human hands at coming, keep it coming, keep it for the last 30 years. Mary went on every stage has changed lives. For coming” — you say it too, don’t get to have three more boys to three us at Christmas, this story comes in the way, and don’t faint! different fathers. Tommy, the last as no surprise. The Rev John Bell of Mary and I met six hours into dad, is now her devoted husband. the Iona Community tells us why: her labour, which was an unusual When he was four, I got circumstance in which to meet your Benjamin into the local Catholic Light looked down and saw the “birthing partner”. She had very little primary school where the principal darkness. small talk, maybe because she had was a Josephite sister. She was “I will go there,” said light. no breath. From my vast experience formidable but fair. She took an Peace looked down and saw war. of childbirth, I thought everything interest in Benny and his brothers. “I will go there,” said peace. was going along swimmingly until Sister only once had to go to Mary’s Love looked down and saw hatred. “I the doctor arrived to perform an home to demand that the boys will go there,” said love. episiotomy. You may or may not got out of bed, were fed, cleaned, So he, know what that is, and I wish I dressed, taken to school on time the Lord of Light, never did. I swear before God and later did their homework. It the Prince of Peace, that analgesia would have been paid off. the King of Love, invented centuries earlier if men Sister enrolled all the boys for came down and crept in beside us. ■ had to go through all of this. We scholarships to a Christian Brothers would demand epidurals from the high school. On their own merits, sixth month. each of them won a place. Sister Richard Leonard, an Australian The baby arrived minutes wins a place in Heaven. Benny Jesuit, is the author of What are we waiting for? Reflections for later. Mary wept, she had very is a physiotherapist, Daniel is an Advent and Christmas good cause to; I wept for no good accountant, Kai is a social worker (2014, Paulist Press). reason; and the charge nurse and Noah is a nurse. He has just

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 13 DESPERATELY NEEDED PEACE Cecily McNeill explains that just as the civil war in Northern Ireland was between Catholic and Protestant traditions of Christianity, the conflicts in the Middle East are driven by different traditions within Islam.

his year has seen an attacking the Ghouta area. Most Shia and Sunni Islam unprecedented exodus of of the 400 people detained were The Middle East is divided by different Trefugees and migrants mainly from Assad’s Alawite sect, of traditions of Islam, the two dominant from Syria, where civil war has Shia Islam. The local Shaam News ones — Shia and Sunni. He says you raged for the past four and a half Network posted a video and text can’t look at what’s happening in the years. About half the population has claiming that the rebels planned Middle East without understanding been internally displaced or has fled to distribute 1,000 cages, each the dynamic between these two the country in the face of what a containing seven or so people, in powers. “It is a bit like Protestant United Nations report described as public places in Douma city. The and Catholic branches of Christianity “a conflagration of an unparalleled city had been attacked by the battling each other for supremacy.” scale and magnitude” (HRC Report, Assad regime and bombed by the (Remember the diplomatic struggle Feb 2015, par 134). Russian air force. in Northern Ireland through much of Each day there have been fresh The rise of Islamic State of Iraq last century to get Protestants and reports of atrocities by both sides and Levant (ISIL or ISIS) in the Catholics into the same room, let alone against civilians — men, women past three years, with its brutal to the negotiating table.) and children. Last month the intolerance for any diversity, has Human Rights Watch wrote that the been well documented but an Shia rule in Syria rebel fighters opposing the Assad understanding of the political forces Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is regime had a new “illegal” practice behind the situation in Syria is Shia but as less than 20 per cent of of keeping detained soldiers and harder to come by. the Syrian population is, they are civilians — men and women — in cages Labour MP and former party the minority. Bashar assumed the on the backs of trucks and leaving leader, David Shearer, worked for presidency in 2000 when his father them in public places. This was an the United Nations in Jerusalem and died after ruling for 30 years, favouring effort to deter the Syrian Assad Iraq for seven years from 2002 and the Shia. The family has been in power government from indiscriminately spoke to me about the situation. now for some 45 years.

ISLAM BY COUNTRY Key: Green: Sunni Magenta: Shia Blue: Ibadi Map from Wikipedia [www.wikipedia.org]

14 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 Iran, a major player in the Middle East, supports Syria’s Assad regime because it has a predominantly Shia population. Lebanon supports Syria although its population is divided among Christian, Shia and Sunni. Hezbollah, the fighting arm of Shia in Lebanon, is helping Assad. A large proportion of Iraq’s population is also Shia, including its prime minister.

Majority of Muslims are Sunni Saudi Arabia, Iran’s rival for regional dominance, is 80 per cent Sunni, the branch of Islam which is most widely represented globally. (It is estimated that between 85–90 per cent of Muslims are Sunnis.) Turkey is also predominantly Sunni. While Iran experience in Afghanistan and Iraq missing an important player. The wants to see Shia influence prevail, has shown that military intervention other countries have made a Saudi Arabia would prefer the Sunnis has not provided lasting solutions. substantial step in allowing Iran to to be paramount in the region. And the USA public does not be there — bringing Iran in out of the support sending troops to Syria. cold.” That the parties agreed to Islamic State fanatically Sunni So the situation is delicate. meet again is also encouraging. The Islamic State is the most recent Syria may see even more brutality Shearer says the war in Syria and brutal of a raft of extremist if Assad is defeated because of a seems to have become locked in Islamist groups, including the possible backlash — Russia doesn’t a stalemate with neither one side Taliban, al-Qaeda and a spinoff of al- want to lose its ally and a loss nor the other being able to wipe Qaeda in Syria, the al-Nusra front. of power for the Shias “could be ISIS out. If the Assad regime is Shearer says ISIS is Sunni — but disastrous in terms of retribution overthrown, retribution may fall “very extremist in the way it and killing against them”. on the minority Shias and the even understands the Islamic religion”. smaller Alawite sect. A negotiated ISIS had had the support of Need to open the stalemate settlement will need to protect Saudi Arabia, Qatar and “possibly Through the nearly five years of the lives of all, regardless of their Turkey, because of its success war in Syria, peace talks have failed religious and cultural backgrounds. against Assad’s brutal regime”. But to reach a settlement or halt the the increasing brutality of ISIS has bloodshed. When the Arab League Peace needed now drawn a backlash even from Sunnis. and the United Nations agreed This offers little comfort for the on a set of principles on the first millions of women, children and West’s options anniversary of the civil war in March men who have been displaced The West would like to see ISIS 2012, they failed to get agreement inside their country, in neighbouring removed and the Syrian war from the Syrian government. Further countries, or who have fled to over. But support of either side is peace initiatives, the Middle East Europe. As winter engulfs Europe problematic. Assad’s forces backed Peace Conference in 2012-2013 and Syrians continue to board by Hezbollah have been the most and in Russia in November 2013, boats or stream across borders effective against ISIS inside Syria. languished for lack of commitment into neighbouring countries the If Assad falls there may not be an from the warring sides. Christmas promise of peace, love effective, military opposition strong There is hope that the Vienna and community, is more urgently enough to combat ISIS. talks of October and November needed than ever. ■ While Russia shares the West’s this year may bring peace. Shearer opposition to ISIS, their solution says the most important difference is to support Assad, whereas the is that in Vienna Iran was at the Cecily McNeill is a Wellington USA and the West do not want to negotiating table for the first journalist who has a 37-year-old passion for social justice which go that route. They prefer to target time. “Without Iran, which is she delights in finding new ways ISIS without strengthening Assad’s the real power of Shia authority to communicate. Alawite Shias. Also the USA’s throughout the region, you are

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 15 I can write the precious word – Syria Yasmina El Sabeh tells the story of a little Syrian refugee boy who begs at the gates of her University in Beirut. He is one of over a million Syrian refugees who have fled to Lebanon, a country about the size of Otago with a population of four million. Yasmina changed his name for protection.

am eight years old. Though there are lots of Syrians here Iin Lebanon, I still feel lonely. During this time of the year, four years ago, we would be decorating the neighbourhoods with lights and Christmas trees, no matter what our religion. But not last year — not this year — and most probably not next year either. My name is Anas, and this is one thing, among other things, that I didn’t choose. You see, I did not pick my name, or my T-shirt, look We fled to Lebanon adapt, they accept us. I got used how ugly it is! And definitely did not Why Lebanon? Because it is close, to it. But I wish I could go back decide to come here. I had to — we because it is safe, and because home. People are nice to me, they all had to. here, despite our difficulties to give me food, money, and they talk

16 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 to me sometimes. But this is their but I remember how we had a She also knows the difference home, not mine. My mother’s sister TV and watched movies with him between good and bad. lost her one-month-old baby and from time to time. He used to get I did something bad this year. went with her husband to Turkey. me a gift on my birthday. I don’t But doing bad things doesn’t Someone told me that we have 1.9 remember my birthday now. make you a bad person, or does million brothers and sisters there. Mama said my siblings and I it? I stole a student’s lunch box can’t go to school because we when he put it down to park his I remember the smell of war have to bring money or else we bike. I felt so bad and asked God When it first started, I wasn’t very would die. Good thing is that the to forgive me, during a very long mature. I was four years old. Now I students that I sit with in front time, I think three days or so. The am smart and I understand what’s of the university taught me a lot. I box contained a salami sandwich happening. I am not a kid anymore. now know how to count. I’m also with cucumbers and an orange You can’t be a kid when they kick learning to read. And I now know cake. It was yummy. I promised you out. I remember the smell of how to write the most precious God not to do it ever again. the war. It used to terrify me. Now word to my heart — “Syria”. nothing scares me. I told you, I So many killed became a man. And I stand here But last year I didn’t sin and Santa every day to go back home with Every night, when I go home, didn’t get me a gift. What if he died money to feed my family. I beg God, Imam Ali and in Syria? Maybe that’s why he’s People ask me why I don’t go Jesus to save me. But Zeinab not visiting. Maybe they killed him. to school. They don’t know that told me that they are busy They kill every person who makes the streets have taught me what me happy. They killed dad, my books can’t even portray. I walk protecting kids who live uncle Salem, his wife, and their four around and don’t even beg them under the bombings. kids. They also shot our neighbour for help. They are mostly students Hazar when she was trying to enter and they love me. I became part of her house. And they beheaded their everyday routine. As soon as my eldest brother Adnan who was they have a break they find me on I long to go back 15, because of what he wrote on the upper gate of their university, When I grow up I want go back the walls facing his school. He waiting for them, to get what I to Damascus, even if my mother wrote things mama forbids me to need most: a smile. doesn’t let me. I will take my say. She said: “Losing one kid is brothers and sisters. Aicha wants horrible. Please don’t make me go I miss home to become a doctor. Zeinab wants through it once again.” Adnan didn’t December approaches and what to become a teacher. Ali wants know that it was bad to write “No pains me are the Christmas to sell toys. Fatima wants to be freedom in this country. Bashar ornaments I’ll never get to a singer. And Hussein wants to Assad must die.” decorate trees with. People are become President. I just want to I don’t remember my brother, telling me that Santa Clause go home. but mama says I look exactly like doesn’t exist. I don’t believe them. The weather is cold so I eat the him. She still wears black every I know he does. I believe in magic chocolate that Abou Aziz in the day and tells me that she will never but not everyone can see it. market gives me to keep myself wear colours ever again. Now the What sucks about this season warm. At home I eat onions, situation is even worse because are the massive raindrops. I live tomatoes and sometimes bread. there are terrorists. I think that any in slums but some people live I don’t remember the last time I person who kills is a terrorist. But in tents, far away from Beirut’s ate meat — I was very small. But mama tells me: “God is bigger than southern suburbs. It’s good that I I remember olives and buying all of our problems.” ■ have friends. I meet them across buttery sweets during Christmas the capital’s roads, on sidewalks, and Ramadan. and we all have the same dream: Every night, when I go home, I to survive. beg God, Imam Ali and Jesus to save me. But Zeinab told me that they I can write “Syria” are busy protecting kids who live At times I ask my mother “why?” under the bombings. Zeinab is very Yasmina El Sabeh, 20, is a student at the Lebanese American We were never rich but we were intelligent. Before coming here, she University, Beirut, journalist for never poor either. I used to sit learned maths and a bit of spelling. The Daily Star, and leadership at home before Dad got killed. I She knows when to cross the road trainer at her University. don’t remember him very well and when to stay on the safe side. Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 17 FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY

University student Jack Derwin shares his Armed with a wheelbarrow full of water bottles and precooked experience of a community at La Patrona in meals, the women volunteers Mexico. The people at the shelter prepare food who run the shelter, known as Las Patronas, are always ready to rush for Central American migrants making the long out to meet the familiar sound of a overland journey to the USA. passing train. It makes for quite a sight — as the ’m sitting down for lunch with While it may be relatively remote, migrants speed by, hanging from a group of Central Americans the shelter is vitally positioned just the side of the train, they reach Iin the middle of the Mexican metres from the train line that runs down to claim the plastic bags of countryside, surrounded by not alongside the road and expedites food the women hold out for them much more than fields of sugar cane. northbound migration from the with outstretched arms. It very well We’re eating in a migrant shelter Guatemalan border. could be their only meal for days, in the town of La Patrona, although Appropriately nicknamed and it is received by the migrants the word “town” is a little liberal for “The Beast”, the train network is with understandable joy. what essentially amounts to a few notoriously dangerous; to USA- This route is a common one and is dirt roads and a dozen small houses bound migrants its speed is as taken by some of the estimated half by a highway. appealing as it is treacherous. a million Central Americans that enter Mexico each year, as part of the long and arduous overland journey to the United States. My company for lunch today however has decided to take it more slowly, forgoing the trains and instead staying at the shelter while they plan their next move. There are half a dozen Hondurans, Salvadorians and Guatemalans having lunch, a very typical representation of those making the journey, fleeing violence and poverty at home while seeking the promise of the (somewhat exclusively North) American Dream.

18 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 In doing so they find themselves little easier by the generosity of vulnerable to criminal groups, Las Patronas, a refuge along a road . . . he had no money, no opportunistic individuals and paved with great adversity. unscrupulous officials, who seek to family, and no documentation. I check my watch and, startled take advantage of them. He was the same age as my by the lateness of the afternoon, I All of this my new friends are son at the time. I told him not announce that I must be leaving so painfully aware of as they talk to worry and that I would take as to not miss my bus home. hopefully of a new life in the USA “There is always space here for and swap stories of their journeys care of everything. you as well if you need to stay,” they thus far. While they all have remind me. travelled over 1,000 kilometres As I stand up and look already, they have a much longer She points to a photograph of a around at those seated at the way still to go. young Salvadorian man who couldn’t table, Hondurans, Salvadorians, They are also part of tens of be more than eighteen, propped up Mexicans and an Australian, I thousands of migrants the shelter in a hospital bed, smiling. recall one of the quotes scrawled has helped feed and protect since it “He fell from the train and in their photo album. began in 1995. severed his leg,” she recalls. Its translation: “Who can say Over lunch we chat and flick “Travelling alone, he had no money, that we are not brothers if we are no family, and no documentation. through photographs taken over all children of the same father?” ■ the years. It’s extraordinary to see He was the same age as my son at the lives that have passed through the time. I told him not to worry and this tiny part of rural Mexico, as that I would take care of everything. well as to talk with some of the Twenty-one days later he managed migrants themselves. to leave hospital, recuperated with Jack Derwin is a student, writer a prosthetic leg, and returned home and journalist living in Mexico. As Guadalupe, who has worked at long as his finances allow, he has the shelter for most of those two to his family in El Salvador.” no interest in changing any of the decades, regales me endlessly It is evidently just one of aforementioned. with stories. thousands of journeys made a

Jack Derwin with members of Los Patronas.

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 19 NO ONE LEAVES HOME UNLESS until the blade burnt threats into home is the mouth of a shark. your neck and even then you carried the anthem under you only run for the border your breath, when you see the whole city only tearing up your passport in an airport toilet running as well. sobbing as each mouthful of paper made it clear that you wouldn’t be going back. your neighbours running faster than you, breath bloody in their throats you have to understand, the boy you went to school with no one puts their children in a boat who kissed you dizzy behind unless the water is safer than the land the old tin factory is No one burns their palms holding a gun bigger than his body, under trains you only leave home beneath carriages when home won’t let you stay. no one spends days and night in the stomach of a truck feeding on newspaper unless the miles travelled no one leaves home unless home chases you, means something more than journey. fire under feet, no one crawls under fences hot blood in your belly. no one wants to be beaten ... it’s not something you ever thought of doing

20 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 no one chooses refugee camps to quicken your legs or strip searches where your leave your clothes behind body is left aching crawl through the desert or prison, wade through the oceans ... because prison is safer than a city of fire your survival is more important and one prison guard no one leaves home until home is a sweaty voice in your in the night ear is better than a truckload saying — of men who look like your father leave, no one could take it run away from me now no one could stomach it i don’t know what i’ve become no one skin would be tough enough ... but i know that anywhere is safer than here. i want to go home, but home is the mouth of a shark — Warsan Shire home is the barrel of the gun and no one would leave home Warsan Shire (27) was born in Kenya of Somali parents and grew up in London. She was named Young Poet Laureate in 2013. unless home chased you to the shore [Used with permission www.seekershub.org] unless home told you Rest on the Flight into Egypt by Nicholas Mynheer. From the Methodist Modern Art Collection, Methodist Church of Great Britain [© TMCP, used with permission.]

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 21 Lake Waikaremoana [Mike Fitzsimons] SAILOR OF MY SHIP Mike Fitzsimons reflects on beauty and kinship with the divine mystery at the heart of life. fter a stormy few days in the At Labour weekend we went moved by the suffering and pain capital, the sun is back, the for a three-day trek around Lake of others. The heart’s capacity to AAll Blacks are in town and the Waikaremoana, a walk so lush it be moved by love and compassion, people are more than happy. Surely seems like a South Island walk. We to live without selfishness and Leonard Cohen was thinking of tackled the Panekiri Bluff first — a arrogance, is what gives life its Wellington on a day like today when five-hour climb in strong winds. It deepest significance. “Love or he wrote: “Sun pours down like was a push but we were fortified all perish,” wrote W. H. Auden. This honey on Our Lady of the Harbour”. the way by the sublime views over kind of beauty is everywhere too. Christmas is coming, the biggest the lake to our right. We descended We are surrounded by those mystery of them all (unique among the bluff next morning shrouded who make sacrifices for one another, the religions of the world): God in Urewera mist and from there it revealing the divine through their is one of us. In the fully human, was clear skies, rolling light, swans compassion. Our friend finds the prophetic, glorious life of Jesus of at dawn and a forest of luminous courage over many months to nurse Nazareth, we are shown how to live, green. A forest we felt at home his partner with terminal cancer, where meaning and fulfilment lie. In in. At night we talked for hours another makes the daily trip, month some mysterious, bewildering way, with other trampers in the huts, after month, to visit his mother the incarnation teaches us we have surprised by their openness and our suffering from advanced dementia. kinship with God. own. Where did it come from? There are legions of people who act The great American writer, Back in town, looking after the continually to relieve the pain and Marilynne Robinson, talks about grandkids for the afternoon, there suffering of others, who know in their God this way: “Frankly I don’t know was more of the beautiful to be hearts we are all in this together. what faith in God means. For me moved by. Five-year-old Baxter Christmas means kinship the experience is much more a and twin friends, Lena and Natasha with God now. It means our sense of God. Nothing could be from next door, want to “double- humanity — our difficult, mysterious, more miraculous than the fact bounce” on the trampoline, which painful, wondrous humanity — is a that we have a consciousness that means Grandad must join the fray, life shared with God. Our humanity makes the world intelligible to us throw his weight around, do a is a privilege in all its colours. That is and are moved by what is beautiful.” timid somersault. They are so easily the mystery, wrote St Paul: “Christ Being moved by what is delighted, they are so indescribably among us”. beautiful is, I think, kinship with themselves, talking non-stop and This morning, out our window, God. And it is everywhere. singing a sunshine song from the the yachts tack back and forth across school concert. I thought later of a the bay. The wind is up, the boats are Michael Fitzsimons is a Welsh proverb that a friend told me flying. What we believe, the promise professional writer and director of FitzBeck Creative. He lives about recently: Perfect love comes of Christmas, is that henceforth and in Worser Bay, Wellington and with the first grandchild. forevermore, in a way I cannot begin particularly enjoys walking long If being moved by the beautiful to understand, someone divine is the distances and wine-tasting. is kinship with God, so too is being sailor of my ship. ■

22 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 “BEST FRIENDS” FALL OUT

Jan Barnett says New Zealand is the unexpected canary in the mine of Australia’s failed offshore detention system.

significant number of Australians have expressed A their dismay at the fact that approximately 200 New Zealanders (many of whom have called Australia home for most of their lives) are currently imprisoned in Australia’s offshore detention centres. The recent tensions and riots on Christmas Island, widely predicted by observers, politicians and journalists, have brought these concerns to a head, and focused in a very real way the intrinsic and fundamental failings been deported to New Zealand • New Zealand citizens are the in the overall system. from Australia so far this year. unexpected victims of a policy Changes to the Australian That is more than four times the designed as a vote winner legislation last November mean number over the same period 12 to play on the fears of the that Australia can now deport months earlier. Families, journalists Australian people. non-citizens who have been living and opposition politicians in New We in Australia have a tentative in Australia, if they have served Zealand have called for strong hope that the injustices being a gaol term of twelve months or action, and the issue was a major suffered by New Zealanders will more. Moreover, the laws act topic of discussion during the recent not only lead to greater justice retrospectively to include older visit of the Australian prime minister for our Kiwi brothers and sisters, offences to meet the twelve- to New Zealand. but will also highlight for both our month threshold. While the issue has not received countries the widely accepted The most immediate outcome the same degree of media interest failure that is Australia’s offshore has meant that New Zealanders in Australia, the Christmas Island detention centre system. Refugees who have been convicted of riots gave it front page publicity for already in offshore detention crimes in Australia have been sent 24 hours, and have led to ongoing centres have in fact committed no to offshore detention centres to concern and discussion among crime at all. await repatriation to New Zealand, the legal, journalistic and justice We have an even deeper hope a country many of them have not communities here. that the New Zealand Government called home for years. Some have A number of observations have would raise its concerns publicly. been convicted of serious crimes; been made: We believe that this could lead but others have been guilty of only • Neither of the Prime Ministers to a shift in policy. An even more minor offences. has given evidence of a strong effective response, we believe, Instead of being released into response. would be a refusal by New Zealand the community after they have • Political leaders and officials to back Australia’s bid for a position served their time, prisoners are have refused to reveal details on the UN Human Rights Council. deported to offshore detention of what is happening in Hope springs eternal! ■ detention centres. centres where they await Cartoon by Sandy Leaitua deportation. Once in detention, • The concerns of New they have no support system, Zealanders — families and Jan Barnettrsj is the co-ordinator their families can’t make contact political leaders — are a telling of the Josephite Justice Network. with them and they have no reminder of the injustices being She is also a facilitator and consul- access to lawyers. perpetrated by the Australian tant with educational, church and Government towards interfaith groups and serves with a Media reports from New Zealand number of social justice groups. say 119 people have reportedly defenceless people.

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 23 NO PLACE TO CALL THEIR OWN

respect and status in the church had They are victims of circumstances Economic downturns meant for them. That knowledge and all too often beyond their control. have most impact on those important contacts could not When their income is low, even be divested as easily as material well- something that seems relatively those who are poorly being or support. minor to others may be just paid or on benefits. I often think of her words in enough to overturn their financial Susan Smith outlines my work with people in need of management — the tyre blows emergency housing here in the north. out, a bad toothache, the washing her experience What can I say to a man, partner machine breaks down, the school in Northland and and father, who has just been made wants $75 for a child’s school trip. redundant because China is no Such events might have nuisance reflects on how longer buying the quantities of logs value for a middle class family. For the gospel nativity that dominate the port scene at those lowly paid or unemployed, such stories of the Whangarei? Redundancy has meant occurrences can represent disaster. his wages drop from around $1,000 They can result in the family showing homeless Mary and per week to a job-seeker’s benefit, up at emergency housing centres Joseph are similar to a government derived income, of around the country. And a family the situation of many just over $300 a week. His partner experiencing fear, embarrassment, receives around the same amount anger, anxiety, powerlessness, families in her region. and together with two children they vulnerability and loneliness. must survive on around $700 a n recent years I’ve been involved week — of which $350 goes on rent. Mary and Joseph homeless with many families in Northland What do I say to a solo dad Earlier this year Tui Motu published Istruggling to make ends meet. looking after seven children? some articles on housing in New We have around 160,000 people To the young man just out from Zealand. I won’t repeat the statistics living in Northland — that is, north of Ngawha prison with nowhere to stay? in those articles but I want to the Brynderwyn hills. Thirty per cent What do I say to the young look at what the lack of adequate are Māori. In ten years time almost mother who has sought out accommodation at a stressful time 25 per cent of the population will emergency housing because of might have meant for Joseph, a be 65 years and over and children violence at home? young carpenter of Nazareth and his under 14 years will be only 19.6 per pregnant wife, Mary. cent of the total. Most disturbingly, It concerns me that these There is nothing in either while 20 per cent of New Zealand’s Matthew’s or Luke’s gospel about population is in the lowest quintile men and women who are the birth of Jesus that mentions a of the deprivation index, the economically and politically donkey. So Mary and Joseph in Luke’s equivalent measure for Northland disenfranchised have so little gospel may well have been walking is 35 per cent. Northland’s statistics control over their lives. to Bethlehem (or in Matthew’s gospel can be discouraging! walking to Egypt). Mary’s situation is analogous to Education and contacts count Pay too low that of the expectant mothers and I remember talking with a Mercy Many seeking emergency housing mothers with young children fleeing sister shortly after Vatican II. She are employed. A University of vicious civil war and worse in their and three other Sisters had made an Otago report in 2013 showed countries today. “option for the poor”, leaving their that 49 per cent of all those in Probably, as a safety precaution, the prestigious schools and positions inadequate housing situations were couple were travelling as part of a group and moving into a poor suburb. working — but usually in poorly paid to ensure protection from robbers. She said that while their material jobs. And economic downturns Were they worrying about finding situation had changed dramatically always impact first on those workers suitable accommodation at night? when they moved to live among the who are poorly paid. Was Mary anxious that she’d give poor, they still had their experience. It concerns me that these men birth in Samaria, given the long- They could not empty their heads of and women who are economically standing enmity that existed between the knowledge, skills and contacts and politically disenfranchised have Samaritans and Jews? that educational opportunities and so little control over their lives. Would they be in time to be

24 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 counted in the census? If they were late would they be penalised? Was Joseph still feeling embarrassed, angry or upset about the early conception of the child? Would they experience loneliness and alienation? What would it have been like when they arrived to find they were competing for available accommodation?

Forced to move I wonder if the dominant emotions were vulnerability and powerlessness. Mary and Joseph were probably quite happy among their extended family in Nazareth. Some New Testament scholars suggest that Joseph may have worked as a builder at Sepphoris/Tzipori, some six kilometres north- west of Nazareth. There the small town was growing into an important city in Galilee. The Roman Emperor Augustus’s command to register in Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home, would have upset their lives. They had to obey. Imperial authorities were ruthless and to disobey would have invited all sorts of trouble. But travelling also created problems. Joseph may have worried about being able to support Mary and the baby when they returned to Nazareth. Would there be support for his wife in Bethlehem? The canonical gospels are curiously silent on these matters, unlike the apocryphal gospels that may overwhelm us with detail.

Having no control I suspect that Mary and Joseph had much in common with people feeling vulnerable and powerless, arriving at emergency housing providers. It is not the young mother’s fault that her partner has beaten her up and she has had to flee to an emergency housing refuge. Nor is it the fault of the young dad earning about $25 per hour, who loses his job and finds that he can’t pay $350 per week in rent. He, his partner and two young children are likely to show up at an emergency housing centre. Luke’s gospel tells us that Mary “gave birth to her first- born son and wrapped him in the bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn”. As current refugee crises demonstrate, today we live in a country and in a world, where there are millions who cannot find “a room at the inn”. Christmas is a time for families to celebrate their togetherness but sadly it is also a time where many find there is not enough safe accommodation for them in our country and in our world. Maybe like the Magi in Matthew’s gospel, who brought gifts to the newly born child, we are called to bring gifts to the poor in our midst, to the ones for whom there is “no room in the inn”. ■

Susan Smith, lecturer emerita in theology and scripture at the University of Auckland, now gardens, walks, reads, researches and writes. She is involved with the Tai Tokerau Emergency Charitable Housing Trust in Whangarei.

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 25 MAKING DO AND MAKING COMMUNITY maneaba is a meeting-house out and replaced the cheap lino on Peter Murnane of a Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) the 30m by 15m floor. shares his Acommunity. This one is I am here for Sunday Mass behind the Honiara airport, just 200 but the maneaba is more than the admiration of metres from the runway where the Kiribati church. Its space is used Kiribati migrants daily Airbus from Brisbane lands with for public meetings, concerts and a roar of reverse thrusters and other temporary accommodation for who with jets leave for Papua New Guinea, visitors or families waiting for a Vanuatu or Fiji; or the occasional proper home. Such multi-use can energy and faith Globemaster soars off and sets become difficult: this community is are creating a course for Australia or the USA. already building a separate church Land is scarce around Honiara, nearby, in similar style. community of and the émigré Kiribati community had to take whatever was offered I see constant reminders that support and when they sought refuge here these are refugees in one of identity in Honiara during the 1970s because land was even scarcer in their central Pacific the poorest countries on the in the Solomon homeland. To reach the maneaba, I planet . Islands. turned off the highway and followed the dusty, pot-holed road that winds among hundreds of tiny family Before Mass I place two plastic homes on subdivided allotments. chairs behind the altar and sit on one Those closest to the Lunga River of them as an invitation to any who are fortunate in being able to grow may wish to receive the Sacrament a garden on the rich silt slopes, of Reconciliation. In the available but were cursed when the river 20 or 30 minutes people of all ages flooded in 2014, for it washed away come for the simple ritual. Many both gardens and homes. The vast choose to relate their sins in Tok Pisin brown torrent of that hundred-year or the Kiribati language — akin to flood flowed chest-deep through Māori. They know it is not important the maneaba and removed all its that this foreigner who ministers furnishings, including the Mass- the sacrament should understand altar and lectern. The people were the details of their mistakes or lucky to find their vital water tanks wrongdoing. It probably helped one hundreds of metres away. young person to hear that youthful The maneaba recovered exploration into sexual intimacy is not fairly easily from this disaster for the “commit adultery” about which traditionally it has no walls, just a Moses commanded “thou shalt not”! high-pitched roof on poles. This What each in their own way design has been evolved wisely to is experiencing is that yet again provide a cool shelter in equatorial through these physical gestures and heat. The glare of the tropical sun prayers — kneeling, blessing, a touch bounces off the thick palm-frond on the shoulder — the Holy One is roof and the heat from even a large welcoming them and forgiving them crowd within will rise to the rafters through their praying community: and flow out through the vents at that they are accepted into God’s either end. This newer building has infinite, merciful love. an insulated aluminium roof and During these rich encounters concrete pillars, set in a slab floor, and in the brief interval between which no doubt saved it in the one penitent’s leaving and the next floods. The people simply swept it arriving I see constant reminders

26 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 that these are refugees in one of It reminds me of balconies decorated procession with swaying steps, the poorest countries on the planet. for a parade but is spoiled by one delicately curving fingers and Over the past half-century some or two triangles skewed or missing. tiny glances that say more than have acquired wealth and become Although everyone appreciates spoken words about the simple established but not the majority. the strong breeze that often blows mystery of bringing bread, wine and Yes, they have gathered funds to through the maneaba, it can mess water — in a plastic bottle — for the build a good maneaba, but their things around. enactment of the Mystery. I cannot daily lives and their search for God but reverently receive them and are of the simplest and surely the the grubby offertory box with the more authentic because of that. I can see everything being people’s small donations. Against the back wall there drawn together here because Earlier the readings and is a little shrine. The “back wall” we hope and love. gospel — proclaimed by the is only a hanging cloth partition catechist — were in the Kiribati which screens off the living areas language. For the same reason I use of several families. I can hear faint My attention is drawn back the older, post-Vatican II wording noises of people getting up, eating constantly to the dignity of the of the Eucharistic Prayer to make breakfast and organising children. penitents as they come one by it more comprehensible even to The shrine is a hodge-podge of one — powerful young men humbly me. Only after the consecration, popular Catholic devotions. Its main kneeling, their hands and feet at the great “Amen” that ends the focus is a plaster statue of Jesus’ calloused by work, young women Prayer, do I glimpse in a new way mother Mary posing as a white woman among the most beautiful on earth how we are praying through Christ, and three similar statues of Mary and and older women grown worn by with Christ and in Christ. I can see others of St Joseph and the Archangel bearing and rearing children and the everything being drawn together Michael conquering a devil. A dignified grinding daily work of maintaining here because we hope and love. portrait of Jesus draws the attention a home despite poverty. At one Although I pray in various ways and the whole shrine is outlined with moment I am awed as a young every day I see here a little more single lines of artificial flowers in quite woman rises to leave, by the black deeply than ever before that I don’t good taste. But this is a crowded lace hem of her dress revolving in a need to keep on looking and calling public space and someone has parked perfect ballerina-curve around her for God as if “He” were still at some a plastic ice-cream box overflowing calf as she turns away. The next I am distance. The Mystery is here, alive, with the old candle stubs, a tarnished looking into the solemn eyes of an old in these people’s relationship with chalice, a white-board cleaner and woman whose dignity is not spoiled one another and with me. ■ sundry other small items of junk on the even by disastrous front teeth which table beside the shrine. she could never dream of finding the Peter Murnane op lives in The cloth partition behind the money to have straightened. Honiara in the Solomon Islands shrine is white and decorated along We begin Mass. The choir sings where he works with young men beginning their training as priests the top with large triangles of draped with typical Kiribati gusto. Eight and brothers. dark-blue satin. The draping is good. young people dance the offertory

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 27 NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST

and strength of my adult children as into their shops with offers of sweet We often recognise they battle anger and grief.” Three tea and wonderful wares. that our lives have months later she died. become too busy and Her thoughts captured for me Chapter 1 :2 that mustard seed of insight of what I left Turkey for Palestine/Israel and appreciate a holiday, was important in life in contrast to began several months volunteering or even a moment what was perceived to be important. at Ecce Homo guesthouse on the I decided that 2015 was to be Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. It’s in for coffee. Philomena my sabbatical year, that I would the Muslim quarter of the old city Clare shares some of leave my role as secondary school and daily I observed the activities the experiences of religious educator and practise around the Temple Mount and the focusing on “the moments of magic Western Wall. her long pause – her in front of me”. This was my first time in the Holy sabbatical year. Land and the fulfilment of a dream to Chapter 1:1 Biblical Lands be in the landscape of the Gospels. In March I left Aotearoa carrying Bethlehem (the scriptural location uring Advent of 2014 an a 15 kilo rucksack and the word of Jesus’ birth), Nazareth (the place article in the New Zealand “plenty” — I had plenty of everything. where Jesus grew up), and other DHerald captured my I followed my passions — scripture, biblical places like Cana, Jericho attention. Celia Lashlie, a former people and land. and the Sea of Galilee, were on my prison manager and promoter First I travelled to Izniek in Turkey “must-see” list. But I encountered of boys’ social and psychological where the ecumenical council in Herod. Let me explain. development, had been diagnosed 325 CE gave rise to the Nicene The second temple — the Temple with terminal cancer. creed. I revelled in the challenge of Mount in Jerusalem — was rebuilt She said: “The stress of the navigating language, culture and by the “Jewish” King Herod just lifestyle I was living, the demands geography to explore the places of before Jesus was born. His building I made of myself, the demands the seven churches of Asia Minor programme included a winter palace others made of me became too named in the Book of Revelation. My in Jericho and fortress palaces at great. I waited too long to look after great achievement was getting out Masada and Bethlehem. I visited myself and my body broke. I am of Turkey without buying a carpet! the ruined remnants of his ambition now focused on the moments of Those Istanbul carpet-sellers are and could imagine the power and magic in front of me — the beauty almost irresistible in tempting you dominance he exerted over his

28 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 people two millennia ago. And go. What is it that makes people sadly, I saw how power and control live communally in a way that are exercised in 2015. Palestinians challenges personal space, sleep are not able to move freely around in simple, crammed bunk-style their land. They’re subjected accommodation, walk 20–30 kms a to checkpoints and many other day and for weeks? I wonder — am I controls. I heard a Jewish academic innately a spiritual being on a human acknowledge: “In the history of journey and not a human being on a Judaism the Jews have never had spiritual path? power. However, in 1948 they got power — and my-oh-my, how they Chapter 3:2 use it!” I felt that Herod’s influence I was greeted with a surprise in is alive and well when the Israelis Santiago. I’d journeyed with T.S. Elliot’s use guns and violence on their more warning in my mind: “We had the vulnerable Palestinian neighbours. experience but missed the meaning” and so was delighted to find that two Chapter 2:1 Iona, Scotland Sisters of the Faithful Companions I arrived at the Abbey on the island of Jesus Congregation had started a of Iona, Scotland, once the home of new ministry based in the Santiago St Columba and the Book of Kells, Pilgrim office. They offered pilgrims where I volunteered for the summer. the opportunity to process their Prayer was held daily in the Abbey pilgrimage experience — as a way to church, meals were in the refectory mine its riches. and meetings in the chapter house! In the 1930s a Presbyterian Epilogue. community worked with unemployed Between each of my “geographical craftsmiths and rebuilt the abbey chapters” I flew to Ireland to visit from its ruins. The group’s leader, my elderly parents, Annie and George McLeod, recognised Iona’s Kevin. This regular punctuation celtic spiritual legacy as “a thin place was a blessing because it where only tissue paper separates reminded me again as an adult, the material from the spiritual”. I love of the depth of their love for me meaningful ritual and was moved expressed in many different ways. daily by the Morning Prayer when It’s particularly poignant now as participants were invited to explore our family has just received news “the way I wound myself, wound that Dad has lung cancer. I realise others and wound the world”. that I’m experiencing golden time Iona is also home to the liturgical with him. Like Celia Lashlie, I am Wild Goose publications. I’m bringing challenged to see “the magic in home with me, Stages on the Way Photos by Philomena Clare front of me”. Perhaps my sabbatical (Holy Week), Eggs and Ashes, (Easter) year with its goal to live in the and Cloth for the Cradle (Advent), as strip away my façade and be open to present moment was preparing me resources for liturgies. change. The green farms and ancient for Dad’s death. woodlands of Galacia reminded me As I return to Aotearoa, Rumi’s Chapter 3:1 Camino across Spain of the gift of God’s creation. words scrawled on a hostel wall in I walked El Camino, the ancient It’s true — a tourist travels Jordan, echo in my heart: “Goodbyes pilgrimage route following the through the land while a pilgrim lets are only for those who love with Way of St James to Santiago de the landscape pass through them. their eyes, because for those who Compostela. I started in France, I believe that you don’t walk love with heart and soul there is no crossed the Pyrenees and walked the Camino by accident. There is such thing as separation.”■ from east to west over northern something transformative about the Spain. I encountered amazing sheer grit needed for the pilgrimage Philomena Clare is from Ireland landscapes and profound people. in tandem with the shared life- and her passions are children, The uphill struggle of the stories of those who undertake scripture and the environment. Pyrenees and other mountains this journey — a child’s death, a After many years teaching, she mirrored my life hurdles. The flat broken heart, a grieving partner, a is now the Religious Education adviser in the Auckland Diocese. land of the Meseta invited me to messy divorce, the challenge to let

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 29 Ecological Reading of the Gospel of Mark In the final part in the series Elaine Wainwright looks at Mark 16: 6–7 and points us back to Galilee to where the story started.

s I came to prepare the Jesus as the one “who was crucified” December ecological reading to focus our ecological eyes just Aof the Gospel of Mark, I was briefly on what was wrought on the aware that our somewhat sequential human, the material body of Jesus. reading would focus us on the This takes us from the time conclusion of the Markan story of of Jesus’ receiving the healing Jesus — his death and resurrection. ointment that Murisa poured over This seemed somewhat out of sync his anxiety-wracked body (Mk 14:3- with the Advent liturgical season we 9) to that same body being placed are entering. Further reflection turned in a rock-hewn tomb (Mk 15:46), my attention to the verses that all but embraced by Earth. conclude the short ending of Mark and which seem most appropriate to Earth dangerously disrespected this season. Bread broken and wine poured out (Mk 14:22-25) symbolise the heart Mk 6 But he [the young man in a of Jesus’ ministry that will be re- white robe in the tomb] said to encountered back in Galilee. But this them: “Do not be alarmed; you bread, this wine, this body and blood are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, of Jesus are not singular. Caught up who was crucified. He has been in them is Earth that is being raped raised; he is not here. Look, there by logging, by fracking, by deep sea is the place they laid him. 7 But drilling and myriads of processes too go, tell his disciples and Peter that numerous to mention. he is going ahead of you to Galilee; So many human and other- there you will see him, just as he than-human beings are sharing the He carries in his body the told you.” same fate as Jesus. Their bodies are abjection suffered by many among annihilated by a greed-filled human the human and other-than-human Go back to Galilee — go back empire like that of Rome. The very of the Earth community who are to the place where this story cosmos is being polluted by human abandoned and betrayed. These began — there you will “see” him interventions and inventions. include refugees fleeing violent or even more strongly: there this death, earth itself, species and powerful sense will enable you to Betrayal in the Garden resources like water. We can see it “see again”, to see anew. A garden called Gethsemane mapped in and on many places and Jesus the crucified and raised provides the place, the space for spaces in our neighbourhoods and one is not found in this one material Jesus’ prayer that prepares him for across our planet. space, the tomb, but also on the a profound betrayal by one of his “open road” as scripture scholar, own beloved disciples. It is enacted Shattered hopes Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, says, through the most intimate form of Order and identity continue to be going back to and in Galilee — but not touch — the kiss (Mk 14:45). shattered as the abjection of Jesus’ as when we started. And this is followed quickly by the body continues in the Markan story: profound desertion: all the disciples he is beaten by the guards (Mk 14:65) Jesus’ body killed and buried deserted him and fled (Mk 14:56). and led away by the soldiers, who strip Before we turn to this open road and Jesus’ very identity as teacher and his body of his own material covering toward Galilee, it seems appropriate friend has been shattered and he is and give him instead a purple robe in light of the young man’s naming of left alone before a hostile power. which mocks him (Mk 15:16-20).

30 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 Jesus’ body and clothes, the manifestation of his the cross as food for carrion birds and animals or person, are profoundly dishonoured as are all Earth’s simple decomposition, is returned to Earth in another other-than-human as well as human constituents who manner — it is laid in Joseph of Arimathea’s own tomb suffer and endure such abjection today at the hands hewn from rock. The body of Jesus returns to earth as of others, most predominantly from human others and does that of all Earth’s creatures. their powerful coalitions. Back to the begining Cry of abjection Our journey has brought us back to where we began: the The very cosmos itself is caught up in Jesus’ final Jesus of Nazareth who had been crucified has been raised. moments as darkness covers the earth (and planet This place, this space of the rock-hewn tomb has been Earth) from noon until three (Mk 15:33–34). rendered empty of the corpse of Jesus. He has been raised in his body-person-self, a claim that expands our material and our corporeal understandings. To stand at the empty tomb of the crucified one is transforming, an experience that at least momentarily caused the women to be filled with terror and amazement. The message from the empty tomb is for disciples: “He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him”. Galilee is the place of the gospel, the place of teaching and healing, the place of the call to metanoia, to a profound change of perspective (Mk 1:15). Having followed the gospel story with Jesus through ministry, abject death, and quiet resurrection — listening, experiencing all with ecological eyes — we, the hearers/ readers, must enter into the story again. We have sought to repent, to change our perspective so that we might read ecologically. That we might include within our story the other-than-human whom we have so often ignored. That we de-centre ourselves as the human ones, as the only actants in the gospel narrative.

Living anew into the gospel As suggested at the beginning of this article, the directive to “go back to Galilee” fits well with our entry into the Advent season. It is as if Earth mourns the profound and absolute At the beginning of the liturgical year, we hear anew abjection of Jesus and carries this across time. The cry of the call to metanoia, to repentance, to a shifting of our Jesus concludes the relentless process of degradation/ perspective so that we might live anew into the gospel abjection — “My God, my God why have you (the Holy One) story of Jesus as played out in the liturgical year. abandoned me.” We have sought during this year to read the gospel This cry echoes from all who suffer today, all the with the other-than-human, with Earth and all Earth’s more-than-human constituents of Earth, all in-habitants processes and beings as these interrelate profoundly of every habitat that is being degraded at this time, as with the human within the Earth community. To do so was the body of Jesus. is to hear a new ethic. It is to give voice to a new call to repentance. Not alone As next year unfolds, back in Galilee, we will hear This profound abjection does not, however, leave Jesus the Gospel of Luke with these new ears, new eyes, new alone as in the garden. Readers learn that there are senses and sensitivities that we have learnt from the many women looking on from afar, their bodies straining Gospel of Mark. ■ toward the body of their companion (Mk 15:40-51) who has died before their eyes. The narrator’s description of them is that they have followed Jesus from Galilee, Elaine Wainwright rsm is the new Painting by Daniel Executive Director of Mission and doing diakonia, the tasks of disciples of Jesus. Bonnell ©. [Used Ministry for the Mercy Sisters in Also, another disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, requests with permission. Australia and New Guinea. She will www.bonnellart. the body of Jesus. Jesus’ material body, that has been continue to lecture and write com] in biblical studies. dealt with abjectly and that could have been left on

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 31 THE WORD MADE FLESH Kathleen Rushton explores the meaning of John’s Prologue, 1:1-18, as a Christmas reading. Photo by Thomas Shellberg.

hristmas carols such as O beginning (en archē)”. The opening of Jesus in the context of an Little Babe of Bethlehem lines of the creation account of understanding that saw the Cand Once in Royal David’s Genesis 1:1-2:4 have been described world’s wonders as living and City evoke the infancy narratives as “geography of the cosmos”. moving images of the eternal. in Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels. The first five verses of Later the second century Jewish The wonder, lowliness, humanity John’s prologue evoke other writer, Philo of Alexandria, and vulnerability of the mystery of creation motifs — light, life and uncovered the principle of the new-born Christ child in those darkness. As God is central in creation and gave this a Greek gospels inspire cribs, cards, and the biblical creation, so too, is Jesus. name that evokes a thousand liturgies of the midnight and dawn “Beginning” (archē) evoked many resonances: logos. For him, logos, masses. John’s gospel, heard on Hellenistic or Greek notions. which contained the world of Christmas Day, expands this horizon: For philosophers, archē was ideas, is the instrument of creation “In the beginning was the what was there before anything and the principle which holds the Word … All things come into being else was there. It did not have to cosmos together. through him … the true light … was be explained. It was a “beginning” Calling Jesus the “Word” evokes coming into the world … And the although it does not have a the many varied meanings of Word became flesh and lived among beginning itself and has a continued “the word of God” found in the us” (John 1:1-18). existence. It also surrounds and biblical traditions. The word of While English translations steers all that is holding the whole God conveys energy and power. capture the poetry of this ancient and, in some way, is responsible for Word and deed go together. In the hymn they also obscure what it and explains its direction. It is the creation account, God creates by would have evoked in its first basic “stuff” of the world. speaking the word. In the prophetic century hearers. The prologue was tradition, “the word of God came not anthropomorphic (human- The Word …” (eg, Joel 1:1) challenging and centred) for them. Particular “In the beginning was the Word propelling into action. words in John’s prologue would (logos).” The term for the Word The word of God is a life-giving have evoked biblical and ancient expresses many Hellenistic factor (Deuteronomy 32:46-47); Hellenistic cosmologies inserting ideas. Logos is not confined to has power to heal (Psalm 107:20); Jesus into biblical and ancient the meaning “word” only. Logos and is a light for the people (Psalm understandings of the universe. is the main principle, the reason 119:105). Many times, the word underlying all reality. This term is shown to have a seeming In the beginning enabled the writer of John to existence of its own, carrying out The prologue, like the Book of express the central truth of an independent, personal function Genesis, opens with: “In the the life, death and resurrection (Isaiah 55:11).

32 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 Wisdom-Sophia “orders all things well” (8:1). “all flesh” (Gen 9:8–11). God sustains The Word theology, outlined above, Because “she is an initiate in the “all flesh” (Ps 136:25) and “all flesh” would be familiar to first century knowledge of God” wisdom is “the praises God (Ps 145:21). hearers of the prologue. In contrast, active cause of all things” (8:4–5). they would have been surprised by This biblical use of the phrase, John’s particular telling of the story “all things”, to convey a sense of the of Jesus because the male Logos cosmos, matches a similar phrase, (the Word) is being spoken about in “holds all things together,” found in the way the Wisdom Books speak ancient Stoic philosophy to express a of the female figure, Wisdom- concept for a divine bond that unified Sophia. The one declared to be with the world. In summary, in the divine God from the beginning (John 1:1), Sophia, the Hellenistic intellectual pre-existent with God and through tradition of a unified cosmos is whom “all things” (pánta) came to expressed in biblical terms. be, is named not as female Wisdom- Sophia (Proverbs 8:22-25) but the The Word became flesh male Logos. The Logos is source of The becoming of Jesus is not life (John 1:9) instead of Sophia expressed as a birth. Instead, “the (Wisdom 8:13). Word logos became flesh (sarx) and lived among us” (literally pitched a All things tent in us). Sophia pitched her tent By Plato’s time, the word pánta, (Sirach 24:8) and “appeared on In John’s prologue the all things, was one of several ways earth and lived with humankind” Incarnation is not a one-off event of naming the universe. In the (Bar 3:37) but never became flesh to be celebrated at Christmas. The Wisdom traditions it refers to as Jesus does. It is significant that interconnections of biblical and the other-than-human creation the prologue states that Jesus ancient cosmologies are reshaped in (Wisdom 7:15-22). The narrator in became not “a man”, or even “a order to insert Jesus, the Word made Wisdom 9:1–2 addresses God: “you human person”, but flesh sarx. flesh, into an evolving understanding have made all things by your word, In classical and biblical writings of our incarnate, dynamic God and by your wisdom have formed sarx has a range of meanings, among and the universe. Creation and humankind. “Thus, the word and them a strand linking human persons Incarnation are interrelated. wisdom, along with humankind and with other living creatures. Often The French philosopher, Remi “all things,” are linked. the word “all” is inserted. God’s Brague, explains how ancient Sophia “pervades and penetrates continuing relationship with creation cosmologies link cosmology and the all things” (7:24), and “can do all is with “all flesh” — not just human human person. Cosmology is linked things” and “renews all things” persons. In the flood, the focus is on to a wisdom in this world leading (7:27). Sophia, reaching from one “all flesh” (Gen 6:13-22; 7:15–16,) to contemplation, which leads to end of the earth to the other, and later the covenant is made with ethical action. Read in this way the prologue speaks of a long, enduring love story of the ever-unfolding interconnection of God, the cosmos, flesh and “all things.” The wonder and beauty of this understanding affirm and A journey with Saint Ignatius of Loyola challenge the 21st-century reader to live wisely, caring for our cosmic home with its complex,

Course Date evolving, beautiful, suffering and Monday 1st – Friday 5th February, 2016 9am-4:30pm global world. ■ Open to all, limited places available. This five-day course is facilitated by José García de Castro Valdés SJ. José is a professor at the Pontifical University Cost Comillas in Madrid. His area of expertise is the spirituality that $859 live-in Composite image above by Sandy Leaitua started with Saint Ignatius of Loyola and his First Companions. $440 live-out ($540 incl Lunch) Jose is an animated and engaging presenter who brings a contemporary freshness to Ignatian Spirituality. Location Home of Compassion Kathleen Rushton rsm tends Heart and Mind will help participants explore Ignatian spirituality 2 Rhine St, Island Bay, Wellington. her vegetable garden, walks in in an experiential and prayerful environment. The material presented will be drawn from the key texts and writings of St To register email: [email protected] the hope her feet will allow her to Ignatius including: the Autobiography, the Spiritual Exercises, the or book online: www.arrupe.org.nz tramp again and delights in Spiritual Diary and Letters. Participants will discover frameworks and practices in Ignatian spirituality, including aspects of Arrupe NZ is a ministry of Sentir Graduate learning about Scripture. contemporary interpretations of the Ignatian tradition. College of Spiritual Formation Melbourne

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 33 F rom first to 200 issues

t is a happy coincidence that the 200th publication of Tui IMotu magazine is the Christmas issue. Christmas is a celebration of new birth, the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the most beautiful of all Christian feasts. Each issue of Tui Motu is like a new birth. I like to think that the magazine is also a thing of beauty. John O’Donohue describes beauty in these terms:

“Beauty is not a luxury —it ennobles the heart and reminds us of the infinity that is within us. Beauty is about more rounded substantial becoming. And I think when we cross a new threshold … we cross onto new ground where hopefully they will all make us think. at and feel — even to smell. Many we don’t just repeat what we’ve In that sense they are bringing us to people have chosen to keep their been through before. new birth. magazines over many years — some Within the Christian tradition Think of those writers whose all 200 issues. there are zones of darkness … but page you turn to first. If I mention We learn by using both sides of also of great light — immense wells two names it is because they belong our brain. A rich piece of writing of refreshment and healing.” to our history and both have gone will nourish the intellect. It is an to God. Many readers turned first to activity of the left brain. But the In its writing Tui Motu strives the back pages to read Humphrey context of care in choosing the to bring to life again within us the O’Leary and John Honoré. Those font, illustration, white space and Gospel message of Jesus. Good writers challenged, informed and placement of the articles helps writing crosses new thresholds. It entertained — and were never dull. to feed the right brain. It is a takes us into a space where we have Well-written articles are the balanced diet. never been before. It serves to bring lifeblood of good journalism. Tui I have said nothing about light and healing into troubled lives. Motu over its 18 years of life has the magazine’s being one of the One good reason why the provided such nourishment. Plato very few independent religious magazine is now 18 years old is wrote: “The soul awakens in the journals in the world, although that it has provided a forum for presence of beauty and recovers that too is vitally important. This some of New Zealand’s best writers. her eternal wings.” Good writing aspect was dealt with admirably Some instruct, others challenge, takes us into the realm of the by the editor of the American some offer criticism, others simply transcendent. It is a thing of beauty. National Catholic Reporter in the comment. And some, we will Other aspects of beauty I see Tui Motu August issue. not necessarily agree with. But in Tui Motu are the art, poetry and I wish to close by thanking the format of its pages. As time you, our readers, our most passed we were able to add colour valuable asset, for your loyalty and Rosminian priest Michael Hill is to the magazine: at first that was generosity in supporting Tui Motu the founding editor of Tui Motu prohibitively expensive. From the over so many years. And I wish magazine and lives in Dunedin. first we resisted the temptation the present editor and staff every He is writing a book about the ■ Rosminian mission in England. to use newsprint. We wished to success in the future. provide a magazine pleasing to look

34 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 PEACE ON EARTH

ne of my most poignant memories was during Early Christians were not permitted to serve in the my compulsory National Service stint at Waiouru military. This changed when Constantine aligned the OMillitary Camp. At 10pm each night as we stood church’s interests with the Roman Empire. Ambrose, to attention theLast Post boomed through speakers all Augustine and Aquinas subsequently developed the theory over the camp. that there is such a thing as a “just” war. As a 20-year-old I learnt a lot about life and killing The alignment of the Church and state was recently during my three years in the Territorial Army. reinforced with the astonishing decision of the New When my term was completed I was offered the rank Zealand Catholic Bishops to support the deployment of of sergeant to “sign on”. I declined! New Zealand troops to Iraq. I’m grateful that I am part of the first generation in The Bishops said New Zealand could no longer watch history not to have to fight a warcompulsorily. from the sidelines as ISIS inflicts immense suffering and After 50 years I am still pondering why anyone would brutality on the Iraqi people. What they fail to mention is voluntarily hand their lives over to a military system as, that much of the suffering has occurred since the illegal once again New Zealand soldiers, choose to do. American invasion of Iraq in 2003. Since then over one All wars rely on lies. The “Gulf of Tonkin incident” million Iraqi people have been killed. triggering the Vietnam War was invented. The false claim When it comes to beheadings, ISIS has nothing over that Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction” rationalising the America’s archaic oil friend, Saudi Arabia — 175 beheadings USA’s and Britain’s illegal invasion has helped create ISIS. in the past year — one every two days. Not one of the 9/11 “terrorists” came from Iraq or War propaganda is kept simple and consistent: “The Afghanistan but both countries have vast reserves of West is always the innocent victim of terrorism, never its minerals and natural gas. These are resource wars. perpetrator”. The challenge for Christians this Christmas is The global discourse on war to reflect on why we call the non-violent Jesus Myths about the value of going to war to defend one’s the “prince of peace”. Where is our witness and real country are deeply embedded. commitment to peace? ■ • War makes the world coherent and understandable. The world is construed as black and white — them and us. • The language of sacrifice plays a central role in how war is understood. • Politicians find it impossible to admit that they were ever wrong about wars, and they posture about war at every opportunity. War seduces not just those on the front line but entire societies. It corrupts politics, destroys culture and perverts basic human desires. Support Through Solidarity The Psychological Costs of War Peace in the Middle East campaign Studies reveal that killing creates a world of silence. This might explain the silence of veterans. The Armed Forces Show your support for the millions of refugees in the Donate to the Peace in the teach how to kill but not how to deal with killing. Middle East by helping us Middle East Fund: to help those in need. More American Vietnam veterans have committed • Online at www.caritas.org.nz suicide than the 58,000 who died during that war. Your support will provide • Phone 0800 22 10 22 (office hours) food, shelter, healthcare, to donate by credit card Described as an epidemic, the current suicide rate for comfort and hope to • Phone 0900 4 11 11 to automatically veterans from the Iraq war is one per day. thousands of refugee donate $20 from your phone families affected by the account ongoing humanitarian crises. • Post a cheque to Caritas Robert Consedine “My Irish revolutionary PO Box 12-193, Thorndon ancestors and my Catholic experience taught Wellington 6144 me justice. I have always been surrounded www.caritas.org.nz by love and wisdom and trust the invisible world.” [email protected]

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 35 Catholic Women Speak: Bringing our Gifts to their bonds of connection and love, the Table points the way to a more inclusive and pastorally responsive and Edited by the Catholic Women Speak Network responsible approach to families. Published by Paulist Press, 2015 The fourth and final Reviewed by Dianne Strevens section — Institutions and Structures — exposes the many ways in which the absence of women limits the capacity of the his publication is produced four main topics: Traditions and institutional Church in God’s mission by the Catholic Women Speak Transformations — looking at Catholic of evangelisation and pastoral care. It TNetwork — an online forum for traditions over the past two millennia, is here that most women are invisible theological dialogue and collaboration and ways in which they might be and silent in Catholic life. among women, about issues relating transformed in the 21st century. Catholic Women Speak: Bringing to their participation, presence and Marriage, Families and our Gifts to the Table is, I believe, representation in society and the Relationships — many of the essays a significant contribution to the church. The list of contributors to in this section grapple with painful discussion around the role of women Catholic Women Speak reads like a and complex realities, as women in the Catholic Church in the 21st “who’s who” from the Catholic world of faith bring theological and century. It is not only well-researched, of scholarship, containing voices from personal reflections to bear on the but is a lively and thought-provoking Africa, the Philippines, Latin America, dilemmas and challenges of modern read. I thoroughly recommend it, and USA and Europe, many of whom, but relationships and family life. This would like to conclude this review not all, are teaching at universities is the largest section of the four, with a quote from Ursula King’s paper, throughout the world. covering not only marriage and where she compares the relationship The foreword sets the tone for divorce, but also same-sex love, between the Catholic Church and the 40 papers in this publication. The celibacy and the vocation to solitude. women as being “rather like the intention is to encourage “authentic The essays in Poverty, Exclusion experience with one’s own parents dialogue and debate, embrace and Marginalisation describe families when one wants to affirm close, loving difference, and affirm the equality and that are far from the idealised model bonds, but is all too aware of the gaps, dignity of all conversation partners … of the nuclear family found in official the shortcomings, the narrowness of there are no outsiders or insiders.” church teaching, yet each of them, in vision, and limitations of achievement The papers are divided into their very diversity, their struggles and of another generation.”■ Umrika Directed by Prashant Nair Reviewed by Paul Sorrell he flyer for Umrika describes it as “a feel good movie between TSlumdog Millionaire and The Lunchbox.” In reality, the film is a rather sombre depiction of Indian village and urban life in the mid- 1980s that barely elicits a chortle — let alone the belly laughs associated with the current crop of “feel-good” films designed to appeal to middle-aged, middle-class audiences. There are few if any concessions to Western tastes in Umrika’s portrayal of life in the northern Indian village of Jitvapur, a close

36 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 Now You Know

by Michael Fitzsimons and Philip Birch of poems and photographs finds Published by Fitzbeck Publishing 2015 inspiration in the wild weather of Reviewed by Alice Sinnott RSM life— its wonder, its sadness and its surprises. Wellington poet, Gregory O’Brien, describes the poems thus: “these graceful poems are poems of equilibrium, acceptance, and holding fast.” Now You Know is the stimulating and moving result of an innovative partnership. Michael Fitzsimons is a professional writer and director of the Wellington communications ow You Know brings Know is essentially an optimistic and publishing company, FitzBeck together an inaugural book. The first series of poems, A Creative. He is the co-creator of Ncollection of poignant Slow Show, explores and describes two very attractive, illustrated poems by Wellington writer, the spiritual underpinnings of many books: The Wellington Book and The Michael Fitzsimons, and a series apparently unremarkable events NZ Book. He is also the co-author of luminous weather photographs and people. I mention just three with Nigel Beckford of With a taken by Philip Birch who was of the most engrossing for me in Passion — The Extraordinary Passions Fitzsimons’s close friend and the this series, A love I can’t undo, Little of Ordinary New Zealanders. catalyst for this collection. When white boat, and Ride in the hearse. Philip Birch was a former priest, Philip Birch received a diagnosis The second series of poems theology lecturer, counsellor, of terminal cancer in November entitled, Now You Know is about landscape gardener and a 2013, these friends of more than Philip. The initial poems in this passionate observer of weather. He 40 years decided to co-operate on collection including, You saw it was a parishioner at St Joseph’s, a publication, which would combine coming, The garden and the final Mt Victoria, for more than 20 years some of Philip’s vivid weather poem, Now you know, are among and established the garden around photographs with poems by Michael. the gems of the whole collection. the church. Diagnosed with cancer This is an especially moving result of The poems sparkle as they in November 2013 he died in their creative teamwork. embrace themes of new life, life’s October 2014. ■ Despite the sadness which surprises and revelations and death triggered its creation, Now You itself. This beautiful collection

community where one family’s his father’s tragic death, younger son is forced to grow up quickly as he business is everyone’s. For the Ramakant (Suraj Sharma) discovers battles to make a living in a hostile young in all cultures such intimacy that the letter trail was an elaborate environment, cement personal can be stifling, and we watch as the deception conducted by his father alliances and even nurture a budding village farewells Udai, elder son of and uncle. Desperate to console his romance, all while following the trail one close-knit family, as he leaves doubly grieving mother, Rama sets of the elusive Udai. to make a new life in “Umrika” out to track down his missing brother. This heady potpourri of urban life (America). When nothing is heard Armed with the slender information would make good sense if director of him for months, his family is that Udai was despatched to America Nair was presenting a coming-of-age plunged into despair, especially his by a mysterious Mr Patel, Rama sets story in which Rama gives up his loving but overbearing mother. off for the big smoke of Mumbai. fantasies of Umrika in order to find Then, letters start arriving. They From this point, the mood of his real, Indian, identity. However, the include weird factoids about life in the film changes sharply as Rama film’s final scene contradicts such a the US — “bathrooms here are twice becomes immersed in the hectic life reading, leaving us in a mood that is the size of our houses” — and are of the metropolis, including its brutal anything but uplifting. Far from being illustrated with magazine clippings underworld in which Patel proves a light-hearted, exotic romp,Umrika is featuring scenes that range from the to be a kingpin. Subplots multiply, a complex and contradictory film that iconic (the Manhattan skyline) to the threatening to submerge the main leaves many issues unresolved. See it bizarre (mud wrestlers). Following story line in a welter of detail. Rama and make up your own mind. ■

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 37 Jim CROSSCURRENTS Elliston Economy and Climate Conflicts that some structural change is Advertising Overload Two reports appeared in New needed. “Experience has made it Last May a report on advertising Zealand in the same weekend in clear that adaptation to the times trends in the Financial Times claimed: October. An article in the New is always necessary in the pursuit “Media advertising is about to reach a Zealand Herald: Business explained of the ultimate goal of granting tipping point. Marketers are likely to how Norwegian StatOil is hoping to all countries, without exception, increase their spending from $US69 develop giant oilfields off the New a share in, and a genuine and billion in 2015 to over $US100 billion Zealand coast “that would transform equitable influence on decision- in 2016 in mobile adverts, overtaking our economy.” making processes.” the sum spent on desktop advertising.” And a New Zealand Listener article Addressing the Synod, Francis In the economies of the detailed a growing consensus among continued the theme. As well as developed world people need work world leaders that the current noting the value of Synods over in order to live. And employers need generation is the last one able to the centuries, he pointed out the advertising for sales to keep their prevent a calamitous increase in need for structural change. He businesses viable and their workers climate change. Necessary actions called for a Synodal Church, with employed. But is the relentless will include the elimination of the regular Synods at diocesan, national stream of advertising garbage that profligate use of fossil fuels. and regional levels. This inevitably assails us really necessary? Meanwhile Pope Francis, one means significant lay participation. of those world leaders, said to All kinds of approaches A Heart that Sees the United Nations: “A selfish and and strategies are needed to The Associated Press reported that boundless search for power and address the world’s — and the on his way from the airport to the material prosperity leads both to Church’s — myriad problems. international meeting of families the misuse of available natural Francis’s prophetic example of in Philadelphia in September, resources and to the exclusion of humility, kindness and concern, Pope Francis spotted a boy in a the weak and disadvantaged, either especially for the disadvantaged, wheelchair. He ordered his driver because they are differently abled, is having a profound effect of to stop, “got out and walked over or because they lack adequate encouragement in the Church and to the boy, put his hand on his head information and technical expertise, around the world. He is chipping and kissed him, coaxing a small smile or because they are incapable of away the hardened crusts of from the severely physically and decisive political action.” institutionalism and planting seeds mentally disabled 10-year-old as his of new life. sobbing mother looked on.” ■ Structural Change Needed in Church and United Nations Address: Independent Catholic Magazine Ltd, In his address to the United 52 Union Street, Dunedin North, 9054 Nations Pope Francis said: “The P O Box 6404, Dunedin North, 9059 contemporary world, so apparently Phone: (03) 477 1449 connected, is experiencing a TUI MOTU InterIslands Email: [email protected] Independent Catholic Magazine Email for subscriptions: admin@tuimotu. growing and steady fragmentation, org Tui Motu – InterIslands is an independent, Website: www.tuimotu.org which places at risk the foundations Catholic, monthly magazine. It invites its readers of social life and consequently leads to question, challenge and contribute to its TuiMotuInterIslands discussion of spiritual, social and ecological issues to battles over conflicting interests.” in the light of gospel values, and in the interests Twitter Tuimotumag of a more just and peaceful society. Inter-church Francis’s words also reflect the Editor: Ann L Gilroy rsj and inter-faith dialogue is welcomed. divisions apparent among the Assistant editor: Elizabeth Mackie op The name Tui Motu was given by Pa Henare bishops at the recently concluded Tate. It literally means “stitching the islands Design & layout: Greg Hings Synod on the Family. together...”, bringing the different races and Printers: Southern Colour Print, 1 Turakina peoples and faiths together to create one Pacific Road, Dunedin South, 9012 The United Nations, like the people of God. Divergence of opinion is expected Board directors: Neil Darragh (chair), Church, is composed of a great and will normally be published, although that Rita Cahill rsj, Philip Casey, Paul Ferris, does not necessarily imply editorial commitment Elizabeth Mackie op, David Mullin, diversity of people and cultures. to the viewpoint expressed. Kevin Toomey op, Cathrine Harrison, Francis praised the positive effects Agnes Hermans ISSM 1174-8931 Honorary directors: Pauline O’Regan rsm, the United Nations had brought Issue number 200 Frank Hoffmann about over 70 years and added

38 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 WHAT I WOULD SAY and away from the millennia-old LETTERSto the I read with astonishment Jim prejudices and hostility. I recently EDITOR Elliston’s extract, It’s a Tough Life met Rev Sarah Jones, a UK Anglican (Nov 2015). If I was part of the transgender priest, who is also a Indian government, I would have talented singer and song-writer. We welcome letters of comment, told all those billionaires they could Her story dissolves preconceptions discussion, response, affirmation buy their own land, get in the right and judgements. Even as a small or argument of up to 200 words. contractor to build runways, round child she had a deep sense of The editor reserves the right up many hundreds of jobless people God, which continued through the to abridge longer letters, while to help and build their own airport. various prayed-through steps of keeping the meaning. Then I would add: “Perhaps you her transitioning. This had been completed before she applied for We do not publish anonymous could also offer, when your country ordination and she was fully open letters except in exceptional needs you, to give your great mana about it to the hierarchy. circumstances. to your fellow citizens, ( flattery goes a long way), and use your It’s the personal stories that do planes for humanitarian grounds it. I note that these two Sarahs share when needed.” Rich men don’t with the biblical Sarah a heritage of cry — I think God cries a lot. leaving everything and travelling to NEED TO UNDERSTAND Susan Lawrence, Auckland. an unknown land. They have both I was very interested in Robert discovered God is indeed “in the Consedine’s article, In our own STORIES CHANGE ATTITUDES other place”. language (Oct 2015). The problem I am grateful to Sarah Bradley for Trish McBride, Wellington is not new. Thomas Cranmer sharing her journey with HIV/ AIDS wrote the original Anglican Prayer (TM Nov) at such depth. Her story MAIL WELCOME Book in 1662 in “everyman’s” brought back memories of Sister My copy of Tui Motu (November) language (of those times) so that Paula Brettkelly who was Education arrived on Friday, so yesterday I the ordinary person could be part Officer at the AIDS Foundation in had a lovely time curled up by the of the Eucharist. Wellington in the 1980s and 90s. window watching the rain and wild In a similar way the King James She too discovered the beauty and winds as I read the magazine from Bible made scripture available to the goodness of people — the gays, the cover to cover. Wonderful articles. ordinary Christian. That was over transgendered ones, the straight I had read some articles from this three centuries ago however and ones — who had each acquired the issue on the web page a few weeks yet some folk think it is the only virus in various ways. I sense a ago so I was waiting impatiently for true bible. Modern translations recent shift in the attitudes of many the mail to arrive so that I could such the Jerusalem Bible make the Christians towards acceptance of read everything. truth available in a language all the spectrum of human sexualities Pauline Morgan RSJ, Ireland can understand today. Language is ever-changing. One of my most profound Subscribe to Tui Motu InterIslands Magazine Christian experiences was hearing $33 for five issues (unwaged $28) a professor of ancient languages Name $66 for a one-year subscription say the Lord’s Prayer. He began in Address 11 issues (unwaged $56) English, then changed to Latin, then $132 for a two-year subscription

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LIVING WITH AN OPEN HEART I am enclosing an additional donation to secure the future ofT ui Motu...... I have included a cheque for $...... GST No: 68.316.847 The Tui Motu November cover is glorious, pure joy. Open to “Life’s or, please debit my credit card (Visa/Mastercard) Changes” is a wonderful and Card No: Signature practical theme — that may have Name on card Expiry date been my unconscious way since 1982. I am looking forward to taking or, pay by direct credit to: BNZ, University of Otago branch, Tui Motu-Interislands, 02-0929-0277471-00. (Please use subscriber number and name, and confirm by that walk with you along the Camino email that payment has been made.) Way — clearly you are a “trooper”. post to: PO Box 6404 Dunedin North, Dunedin 9059 Email: [email protected] Gerald Della-Porta, Scotland.

Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015 39 In contrast St Paul talks about the “foolishness of God”. The gospels present a completely inverse set of values and ways of living that are almost incomprehensible today. As I read again the Testing of Jesus, it seems that his real temptation was to settle for serving his own needs and get so caught up in the busyness and niceness of that, that he would Looking and end up leaving his vocation and miss OUT IN the mission of God. Other scriptural verses point he day Pol Pot died I was living to recognise it? me to a radical re-jig of values. in Phnom Penh and in the Reflecting during a hard-hitting “The life you save is the life you ensuing weeks his photo was sermon recently on the temptation T lose.” Or, as paraphrased by author splashed across newspapers. I kept of Jesus, I was pushed to think about Frederick Buechner: wondering at how this mild-looking, what temptation for me looks like. In “The life you clutch, hoard, guard elderly man had facilitated so much Luke’s account of the testing of Jesus, and play safe with is in the end a life evil and death. the Evil One’s invitations to him were worth little to anybody, including Though less obviously evil, not to do very bad things. yourself, and only a life given away the private healthcare provider Satan/ the Evil One wasn’t for love’s sake is a life worth giving.” advertisement on television here proposing Jesus set up child If I think that I can follow Jesus, in India, also presents a banal face. trafficking rings. His invitation was who ended up giving his life away Kind, smiling nurses push an old lady to turn a stone into bread after a without a penny in the bank, without in a wheelchair through a shiny- very long time fasting. To leap off a making something of a fool of myself, clean hospital. mountain and trust that God would I am deluded. Yet glossy healthcare providers be there with the angels. If I settle for my life mostly across South Asia support and Essentially they were actions and attending to the normal and safe underwrite a privatised health system attitudes to distract him from his options, I risk being too busy and that ensures patients are sent for core mission. too distracted to support truly diagnostic tests they don’t need I too can be distracted by “wise transformative change. To topple and are prescribed medicines and words” from people and structures the globe’s prevailing structures of operations that are not required. This around me. Look after myself and inequality, injustice and violence needs results in many families taking on my children. Save for the university intentional and concerted action. debts that may ultimately impoverish education of our older daughters. So help me God — may I be a fool them irreversibly. Secure the future with a retirement for Christ’s sake. ■ India has the most privatised health plan. Keep a nest-egg for the next system in the world. Lack of regulation, generation. (Your children deserve it.) corruption and avarice mean most Give money to an orphanage in Kenya. healthcare providers are part of a Subscribe to Avaaz. Sign a petition. Kaaren Mathias is the system that is, at best, ineffective. It is Help with morning tea on the church mother of four children aged 7–16 years and works often exploitative and oppressive. roster. These are not bad things but in community mental health Wrong. Evil. It looks so banal. Can they can absorb all my attention and in North India. I keep my wits about me sufficiently energy. And are they enough?

May love, like the brightest star, glow from us. May security, like our grandmother’s kitchen, settle around us. May anticipation, like a nearly-ready bbq, bring us to life. May holidays, like a hammock in the bush, recreate us. May kindness, like gifts under the Christmas tree, invite our response. May each child, like the new-born Jesus, move us to reverence this Christmas. From the Tui Motu team

Painting by Tiare Ngu, age 6, St Teresa’s, Bluff 40 Tui Motu InterIslands December 2015