LAST Friday, June 3 at Blackburn parish my community, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart in the evening, with Mass, a homily delivered by Jesuit Father Frank Brennan followed by dinner.
This feast is a timely reminder of the love of God made flesh in Jesus of Nazareth. It immediately lends itself to themes that should, but do not, feature greatly on the current political landscape.
Namely, can strangers become friends (refugees); enemies be reconciled (Middle Eastern wars) and reconciliation within Australia (First Australians). I recently tweeted: “Why is this election only about economics?” The response was unexpectedly vigorous.
With the overwhelming election of Mr Duterte, as President of the Philippines, and the rise and rise of Donald Trump in the United States and, here in Australia, the soon to be felt swing to the minor parties and independents, we are perhaps witnessing the emergence of the anti-politician, supported by disillusionment with the two major political forces.
I raise this because, to my mind, the roots of more division are emerging and this makes a message of hope, reconciliation and tolerance ever more imperative. The role of true religion in these circumstances must be to bring-together people and not fan division. It is regrettable that this is not always the case.