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St. Thomas à Becket Foundation |
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making a
difference |
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The first
of a series of articles from John Bonner, our
Pastoral Worker |
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‘Talitha
Koum’; ‘Little child,
get up’.
These were the simple
Aramaic instructions
that Jesus gave to
Jairus’ daughter.
Jesus assurance that the
little girl was asleep
and not dead was met
with ridicule.
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Jesus
had the
ability to
be able to
see beyond
appearances
and to the
heart of
things. |
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New Testament there are numerous
occasions when people are rejected
because of their illness or condition or
simply because of whom they are (for
example Tax Collectors, Foreigners,
Women). When Jesus meets these
people he does not pass judgement or
make superficial assumptions, but sees
them as Human Beings to be valued and
loved.
Equally there are numerous occasions
recorded in the Old Testament when God
clearly does not see as we see, not
looking at appearances but at the heart.
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One example is the
story of Samuel
meeting the sons of
Jesse and not
feeling comfortable
that any of the sons
he has met is to be
God’s chosen one.
He asks Jesse ‘are
these all your
sons?’ It is
then that Jesse
reveals David, the
youngest boy who was
out tending the
sheep.
Immediately Samuel
is instructed by
God, ‘Come, anoint
him, for this is the
one.’ |
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As we prepare for the coming of Jesus at
Christmas I recall an invitation I received last Christmas to come for a meal at
the local community centre.
Diana, who had organised the gathering, reassured
me that I would not have to worry about any of the cooking, but to simply be
there to meet and chat with whoever came for dinner. I had expected that the
gathering would be made up of the elderly from our community, but was surprised
to see a diverse group. |
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There were
some elderly people including
two WWII veterans, however there
was as many young as old, some
from as far a way as India and
Namibia, as well as some People
with Disabilities.
What all these people had in
common was
that they lived alone.
As I travelled towards my
sister’s house in Northampton
later that day I was looking
forward to what I considered to
be my ‘real’ Christmas meal with
my family.
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The afternoon
and evening with my family had been filled with joy
and laughter and the odd song for good measure.
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However it did occur to me that maybe I had
left the ‘real’ Christmas behind at the
community centre. |
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When I
think of the birth of Christ I suspect that
if a young woman expecting a baby arrived at
my door I would not welcome her into my
home, but provide directions to the local
maternity hospital. It is extremely
unlikely that anyone will call on Christmas
Day to our homes looking for shelter;
nevertheless it is worth considering whom we
would welcome.
Would it be homeless people, a
traveller, someone with an incurable
illness, all of whom appear socially
questionable? |
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I wonder if I lived at the
time of Christ would I too have wished to cast a stone at the sinner, or dismiss
the lepers, or laugh at the suggestion that Jairus’ daughter
was only asleep.
As I settle into my work with the St
Thomas a Becket Foundation, promoting the rights of People with Disabilities,
the most difficult task I have had to address is challenging my own outlook and
reviewing the attitude that I hold towards others. What exactly does
‘Inclusion’ mean?
Does it mean that a community building has wheelchair access,
loop systems and toilets with hand rails? Without doubt these things are most
important, but equally of importance is a change of heart, to see people, not
for their looks, or what they have achieved, or what they do.
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My
challenge, our challenge is to see people not as Human Doings but as Human
Beings,
and to actively engage in welcoming the stranger, the lost, the blind and the
lame.
Let us arise from our slumber and be
inclusive of all whom we meet,
and respond positively to the simple
instruction: ‘Talitha Koum’
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