Stand up

Today is Gaudete Sunday, the day of great rejoicing, the day when our anticipation for the coming of our Savior is all but brimming over.  It seems ironic that on this day of great joy, the scriptures speak of situations and people who often can hamper such celebration.  Is it true that the scriptures provide paradox?  Is it not true that often this paradox allows us to unveil a deep-seated truth about our call to be people of faith?

Here then (or should that be hear then?) is my reflection based on the gospel passage of John, a voice crying in the wilderness, a witness to the Light:


I am the voice

Across our country, especially among children, there is significant concern about a prevailing tendency for bullying among peers.  This is not a new phenomenon, but it seems to have reached epic proportions in recent years.  As part of the campaign to identify the perpetrators and to control this issue, the local Catholic School Board has recently introduced a new slogan which is being repeated within the walls of our schools.  The words Stand up to bullying provide the framework for addressing the problem of bullying whether it takes place on the school bus, in the school yard, in the halls or in the classroom.  Some if not all of us present today may very well have known our own fair share of bullies in school, at work or in some other setting.  Regardless of their age and size, bullies are either controlled or allowed to control, and unfortunately, the ones who are bullied often end up feeling powerless.

The scripture passages we have heard today tell us that bullying existed even as far back as the time of Jesus.  In fact, I would venture to say that bullies have existed for many centuries before that time too.  In the time of Jesus, the Romans were occupying the territory of present-day Israel, and they ruled with an iron fist.  There was little mercy shown to anyone who dared to question their methods, and this bred a sense of fear in their subjects.  Jesus knew this repression only too well, but he also knew that the spirit of the Lord was upon him and that he was to be entrusted with the task of bringing good news to the oppressed, of binding up the broken hearted, of proclaiming liberty to captives, and release to those who were imprisoned and who were being repressed.

Even before Jesus came onto the public stage though, there were other heroes for the cause.  John the Baptist stood in the waters of the Jordan and testified to the Light.  The Roman rulers were smart political figures.  They knew the signs of insurrection, so even as the first signs of threat to their rule were becoming apparent they sent emissaries to put John to the test.  The arrival of these priests and Levites (the law enforcers of the day) would have been like the school yard bully making a grand entrance.  They thrived on the fear that was conjured in the hearts and spirits of their captives.  Although John would have known this to be true, he appeared to have the answers well-rehearsed.  I wonder whether his voice cracked as he answered their queries: Who are you? and Why are you baptizing?

The truth is that his answers paved the way for the one whose sandals he himself was unworthy to untie.  The truth is that he was able to overcome the fear that imprisons so that he could find a voice to proclaim a new truth: that he was but a voice crying in the wilderness, speaking out against the ever-present oppression.

What of our world today?  There are places in our world where political oppression makes it feel as though any words spoken about the promise of one who can bring freedom are indeed the voice of one crying in the wilderness, as though such an effort would be worthless.  In India, Christians count for only 3 percent of the population.  Across the mountains, in China, words about Christianity might very well meet with a much more severe punishment.  In the Northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat, words once spoken in hope have been stifled, and unkempt promises have resulted in a decimated people.  Yet, one of the signs that convince me that faith is bigger than any of us is that there is a thriving Christian presence in China, and the three percent of Indians who are Christian can teach us a thing or two about not being afraid to be fervent disciples.  The truth is that wherever it is oppressed, faith seems to grow stronger.  Even when attempts to silence our words appear to be triumphing, we must be brave enough to speak, especially for those who have no voice.

Perhaps we can’t change every situation, but I wonder if we have the courage to leave this place tonight (today), to go into our streets, into our schools and into our workplaces, ready to face the challenges we will meet there.  We know only too well who the bullies in our own situations are.  The truth of the matter is that bullying itself is often a response to some kind of oppression, and bullies often are the ones who most need to be convinced that they are loved.  What would it take for us to answer terrorizing tactics with enough love to convince even the most skeptical?  Paul’s words encourage us to rejoice always for the Spirit within us will give us the words we need to speak at the appropriate time.