Christmas: Hope in darkness

Christmas: Hope in darkness

Benny Susetyo, Jakarta

Christmas is a time to reflect on the meaning of the savior,
particularly in the context of this era, a period marked by the
crumbling of public civilization.

When I mention the crumbling of public civilization, I wish to
emphasize that the problems we are confronting are not only those
related to individuals and how to be upstanding citizens but,
rather, the problems of how to take good care of things
individually while, at the same time, creating a climate that is
conducive to improved welfare for all.

The problems faced by the general public are very serious and
generally the outcome of the behavior of the well-off, who often
act like Togog, a disloyal and opportunistic character in the
Javanese shadow puppet story.

Nano Riantiarno's Teater Koma performed a play titled The
Republic of Togog some time ago. The play was an analogy
for an era when Indonesia was controlled by a number of Togog, a
period of time marked by greed and hypocrisy, both conspiring to
destroy justice and honesty.

The Republic of Togog is a warning to everyone that there are
many Togog around the power center. These Togog always speak
wisely and assume their outward appearance of pious people that
command respect to mask their very ugly and horrible character
traits.

A Togog can incarnate into any character as long as it can
seize power. In the Javanese shadow puppet story, for example,
Togog becomes Resi Tejamantri, a religious ascetic and mystical
leader. In the conflict-ridden Amartapura Kingdom, he pretends to
be a wise person like a religious leader. He enters the power
center through manipulative scheming. He influences King Samiaji,
who does not know that Togog is the spy of the Gilingwesi Kingdom
disguised as Resi Tejamantri.

Through cheating, he aims to put Amartapura under his control.
At the same time, Durga sends Kalika to persuade Samiaji to make
Sadewa an anidotal offering. If this political concession is
successful, the ugly-faced Durga can get back her old beautiful
face and woo Arjuna.

The Togog in this country are responsible for the damage done
to the otherwise peaceful public space. They are involved in
conflicts with one another, victimizing the public.

It is this crumbling of public civilization, if one may say
so, that has caused the people of this nation to become less
moral. In the political realm, their activities are synonymous
with efforts to gain status and money.

This is the reason why people tend to behave just as
they like. They have no role model to follow. They lack moral
guidance for their behavior because their leaders and the media
set examples only of activities that benefit them and augment
their capital. It has come as no surprise, therefore, that
community members have become wild and fierce in the spirit of
the survival of the fittest.

It is this gloomy prospect that we must deal with,
particularly if we still retain a morsel of orientation in our
lives toward civilization. It is these gloomy signs of the future
of our nation that we must make bright. A new orientation is
needed to create a democratic and civilized public space that
favors the ordinary folk.

The church is aware that it is not free from the absence of
civilization and is also involved, directly or otherwise, in the
creation of the absence of public civilization. The church's
attempt to follow God's movement of incarnation must first of all
be construed as a movement of repentance.

That is why the 2005 Great Conference of the Indonesian
Catholic Churches (SAGKI) has been marked by the church's
admission of its involvement in creating or allowing the absence
of public civilization in the three pillars of the nation, namely
public bodies, the market and the public. The church has not
always shown its clear commitment to developing a better life as
exemplified by Jesus Christ.

All this has happened because the life of the church is still
dominated by the old habitus, which is not in tune with what God
has decreed and has become real in the event of incarnation. It
can happen because there is a feeling of powerlessness because of
considering oneself to be a minority, the separation between what
is sacred and what is profane, the practice of talking rather
than taking real action.

The old habitus must be abandoned. The church must find and
develop a new habitus, such as being involved in the public's
positive activities, changing the pattern of thought; being
faithful to a process, being militant and hard-working, always
opening oneself to all groups; doing exemplary deeds; spreading
news of values and being imbued with the spirit to fight for
social piety.

We hope for the emergence of a new habitus and a public space
where the poor and the destitute will be protected. This year at
Christmas we are encouraged to be no longer afraid to face the
world which, today, is no longer hospitable and friendly.

This brings to mind the conditions faced by Mary, whose era
was also marked by injustices, hypocrisy, dishonesty, oppression,
manipulation and despotism. God brought forth tidings of joy.
These tidings came not to prime ministers, kings, rulers and
tycoons but they came through a village girl called Mary.

Mary was the picture of a modest and innocent mother. However,
a great mystery enwrapped her modesty. She could break through
the dark horizon to let in light. When other people were
powerless and hopeless, Mary was present among them.

When angels' greetings were conveyed to Mary "Hail to You that
is blessed", this greeting served as a token of salvation that
was present in the embodiment of Mary. The good tidings signified
the alienation of human beings, who were controlled by their wild
desires, revenge and the struggle for power, riches and crowns.

This chain was broken off by this "Hail Mary" greeting. The
angels said, "Don't be afraid because you are blessed with love,
in fact, you will be impregnated and give birth to the Messiah
who mankind has been awaiting."

Christmas brings with it good tidings to those who are modest
and sincere. Hope is still aflame in the midst of darkness.

The writer is a Catholic priest.