Christmas: Hope in darkness<\/p>\n
Benny Susetyo, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Christmas is a time to reflect on the meaning of the savior,
\nparticularly in the context of this era, a period marked by the
\ncrumbling of public civilization.<\/p>\n
When I mention the crumbling of public civilization, I wish to
\nemphasize that the problems we are confronting are not only those
\nrelated to individuals and how to be upstanding citizens but,
\nrather, the problems of how to take good care of things
\nindividually while, at the same time, creating a climate that is
\nconducive to improved welfare for all.<\/p>\n
The problems faced by the general public are very serious and
\ngenerally the outcome of the behavior of the well-off, who often
\nact like Togog, a disloyal and opportunistic character in the
\nJavanese shadow puppet story.<\/p>\n
Nano Riantiarno's Teater Koma performed a play titled The
\nRepublic of Togog some time ago. The play was an analogy
\nfor an era when Indonesia was controlled by a number of Togog, a
\nperiod of time marked by greed and hypocrisy, both conspiring to
\ndestroy justice and honesty.<\/p>\n
The Republic of Togog is a warning to everyone that there are
\nmany Togog around the power center. These Togog always speak
\nwisely and assume their outward appearance of pious people that
\ncommand respect to mask their very ugly and horrible character
\ntraits.<\/p>\n
A Togog can incarnate into any character as long as it can
\nseize power. In the Javanese shadow puppet story, for example,
\nTogog becomes Resi Tejamantri, a religious ascetic and mystical
\nleader. In the conflict-ridden Amartapura Kingdom, he pretends to
\nbe a wise person like a religious leader. He enters the power
\ncenter through manipulative scheming. He influences King Samiaji,
\nwho does not know that Togog is the spy of the Gilingwesi Kingdom
\ndisguised as Resi Tejamantri.<\/p>\n
Through cheating, he aims to put Amartapura under his control.
\nAt the same time, Durga sends Kalika to persuade Samiaji to make
\nSadewa an anidotal offering. If this political concession is
\nsuccessful, the ugly-faced Durga can get back her old beautiful
\nface and woo Arjuna.<\/p>\n
The Togog in this country are responsible for the damage done
\nto the otherwise peaceful public space. They are involved in
\nconflicts with one another, victimizing the public.<\/p>\n
It is this crumbling of public civilization, if one may say
\nso, that has caused the people of this nation to become less
\nmoral. In the political realm, their activities are synonymous
\nwith efforts to gain status and money.<\/p>\n
This is the reason why people tend to behave just as
\nthey like. They have no role model to follow. They lack moral
\nguidance for their behavior because their leaders and the media
\nset examples only of activities that benefit them and augment
\ntheir capital. It has come as no surprise, therefore, that
\ncommunity members have become wild and fierce in the spirit of
\nthe survival of the fittest.<\/p>\n
It is this gloomy prospect that we must deal with,
\nparticularly if we still retain a morsel of orientation in our
\nlives toward civilization. It is these gloomy signs of the future
\nof our nation that we must make bright. A new orientation is
\nneeded to create a democratic and civilized public space that
\nfavors the ordinary folk.<\/p>\n
The church is aware that it is not free from the absence of
\ncivilization and is also involved, directly or otherwise, in the
\ncreation of the absence of public civilization. The church's
\nattempt to follow God's movement of incarnation must first of all
\nbe construed as a movement of repentance.<\/p>\n
That is why the 2005 Great Conference of the Indonesian
\nCatholic Churches (SAGKI) has been marked by the church's
\nadmission of its involvement in creating or allowing the absence
\nof public civilization in the three pillars of the nation, namely
\npublic bodies, the market and the public. The church has not
\nalways shown its clear commitment to developing a better life as
\nexemplified by Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
All this has happened because the life of the church is still
\ndominated by the old habitus, which is not in tune with what God
\nhas decreed and has become real in the event of incarnation. It
\ncan happen because there is a feeling of powerlessness because of
\nconsidering oneself to be a minority, the separation between what
\nis sacred and what is profane, the practice of talking rather
\nthan taking real action.<\/p>\n
The old habitus must be abandoned. The church must find and
\ndevelop a new habitus, such as being involved in the public's
\npositive activities, changing the pattern of thought; being
\nfaithful to a process, being militant and hard-working, always
\nopening oneself to all groups; doing exemplary deeds; spreading
\nnews of values and being imbued with the spirit to fight for
\nsocial piety.<\/p>\n
We hope for the emergence of a new habitus and a public space
\nwhere the poor and the destitute will be protected. This year at
\nChristmas we are encouraged to be no longer afraid to face the
\nworld which, today, is no longer hospitable and friendly.<\/p>\n
This brings to mind the conditions faced by Mary, whose era
\nwas also marked by injustices, hypocrisy, dishonesty, oppression,
\nmanipulation and despotism. God brought forth tidings of joy.
\nThese tidings came not to prime ministers, kings, rulers and
\ntycoons but they came through a village girl called Mary.<\/p>\n
Mary was the picture of a modest and innocent mother. However,
\na great mystery enwrapped her modesty. She could break through
\nthe dark horizon to let in light. When other people were
\npowerless and hopeless, Mary was present among them.<\/p>\n
When angels' greetings were conveyed to Mary \"Hail to You that
\nis blessed\", this greeting served as a token of salvation that
\nwas present in the embodiment of Mary. The good tidings signified
\nthe alienation of human beings, who were controlled by their wild
\ndesires, revenge and the struggle for power, riches and crowns.<\/p>\n
This chain was broken off by this \"Hail Mary\" greeting. The
\nangels said, \"Don't be afraid because you are blessed with love,
\nin fact, you will be impregnated and give birth to the Messiah
\nwho mankind has been awaiting.\"<\/p>\n
Christmas brings with it good tidings to those who are modest
\nand sincere. Hope is still aflame in the midst of darkness.<\/p>\n
The writer is a Catholic priest.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/christmas-hope-in-darkness-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }