Pray in Solidarity

Why are the policy in Australia inhumane for those seeking protection, which only offer a reflection of demeaning of this nation!!!

Arriving back at St Patrick Cathedral once again in union with many brothers and sisters, yet absent noted from some,  to let our prayers be raised, let our presence be known that its time for change. Together in solidarity and pray to let them stay! 

Im tied of reality, reality that Australian government has no compassion, and also a reality that some of my brothers and sisters in Christ don't see what Jesus taught us leaving me crying out, please let us all be united to see the face of Jesus.

With the current situation of the little children among others, been told they are going to be deported, leaves me with the sense that the Australian policy on asylum seekers seems to understand only the first words of Jesus instruction to 'Suffer the little children to come unto me', with many children, adults alike suffering acute psychological stress along with a lot of other suffering. 

Despite the numerous repeated appeals and protest from people - living people, real people not numbers, people who speak different tongues; people coming together crying for the stop of immoral actions of inflicting cruel treatment upon asylum seekers in order to deter others from hazarding a dangerous boat journey. The end does not justify the means!! Such deliberate cruelty makes a mockery of the countries anthem, the reputation as a land of 'fair go'. It violates the tradition of providing new life for millions of immigrants to Australia. 

The policy particularly mocks one of our core Christian beliefs, shared so widely in our community, that God is intensely concerned about the fate of vulnerable people, the Bible's widows, orphans and strangers in our midst, who clearly include refugees. We hear Jesus identifying very personally with those in distress, the hungry, the thirsty, the sick and prisoners. He is not fooled by empty piety or religiosity. That counts for nothing in his eyes while ignoring the plight of people in deep trouble. 

In this time of lent its like the face is so exposed, lay before us with strong power. How can we look at the suffering of Jesus without taking into account the deeper principles of compassion, love and human solidarity Jesus taught and exemplified. Those powerful principles through out the centuries have been a beacon, a goal for Jesus followers to aspire to, even with their imperfections. 

For me I just need to think of one word that changes so much, changes my thinking, my heart, my perspective, my faith…. 

HOPE

Without hope, human life becomes unendurable. For Christians, hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus, the guarantee that cruelty, violence and despair are not the final words. The pure litany of human misery is endless yet even in this reality we the church cannot be silent!!!

There is a spark in all of us, given we believe each individual is the image of God, believing that the face of Jesus can be seen in all, even those on the margins of society - including the poor, prisoner and the asylum seeker. Jesus teaches us that whenever we do something for the least of people, we do it for him too. The crucifixion is Gods great act of solidarity with all those who suffer, including the millions of beautiful people in the world who are refugees or seekers of asylum, even those in offshore detention centers.

Listening to Bishop Vincent Long, left me with a deep sense that right now is the time to step up, there is possibly a few steps that have not been reached in our response to the cries of the need among our brothers and sisters; regardless of what race, creed or background, we fall short of our full humanity to which Christ bore witness and to which the Lord calls us too. 

I struggle to believe that all members in the federal parliament agree with the treatment of asylum seekers. Maybe there needs to be a form of a new bi-partisan policies that were done in the past, a need to repeat again in order for the parliamentarians to be supported. 

In conscience we must say to the government leaders its not good enough! The treatment of asylum seekers is shameful and violates our core values as Christians and possibly even as Australians. Beyond the government though, a call goes for those who live in prosperity, peace welcome in all seekers with practical support, love and open hearts. As Pope Francis reminds us instantly, silence on our part on such issues would be complicity.