Zechariah’s words,
spoken over his son –
And you, child, shall
be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go
before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people
knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of
all their sins.
In the tender
compassion of our God
the dawn from on high
shall break upon us,
To shine on those who
dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet
into the way of peace. –
spoken in response to
his angel-encounter,
swirl through history
until they settle on a child born in the Cape, in 1918 – a son on whom is laid
the mantle Rolihlahla, ‘trouble-maker’…
When I was a child,
my government told me that Mandela was a terrorist, a dangerous man who must
not be free. When I became a man, he became an elder statesman to the world. We
discovered that it was us who were in a prison cell, and he led us on a long walk
to freedom.
How did we go from demonising this man to loving him? One repentant step at a time.
How did we go from demonising this man to loving him? One repentant step at a time.
When I was a man, my government told me that bin Laden was a terrorist, a
dangerous man who must not go free. But we killed him before we asked, from
what prison cell might this deeply flawed man – as we all are – free us?
So when the British Prime Minister and American President praise Mandela,
remember: Mandela opened the door to our prison cell - a door Christ had
unlocked - but we have chosen to return to the comfort of its familiar walls...
When Jesus said, "Love your enemy, and pray for those who persecute you" he was only
giving us the first step.
The next step is, "Love your enemy, and pray with those who persecuted
you."
And the next step is, discover that your enemy has become your critical - but
committed - friend...
Today, we have a
choice: will we take the first step on the long road to freedom?
I cannot be sad that
a great man, whose life was an epic journey, and whose mortal body had worn
frail, has entered into eternity. Rest In Peace, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, and Rise In
Glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment