Darkness over nation brings rage

Darkness over nation brings rage

Illuminating the Dark Side of Our Humanity

Benny Susetyo, Pr
Catholic Priest
Malang

It seems that the political confusion in the present reform
era has become a vicious circle. Corruption, violence, intrigues
and calamities have battered us time and again, close to
paralyzing us as a nation. We have become a nation without wit,
powerless against a host of problems.

Amid the anti-graft campaign that the religious movements have
launched, we are stunned by reports about banking scams at BNI
and BRI. No parties wish to assume responsibility. Instead, they
are blaming one another.

Our reason is rarely used in the right manner, if not failing
to function altogether. Bloodshed is everywhere across the
country but it fails to move us to tears or resort to self-
criticism. For most of us, it is but a natural course of events.
The political elites, who have lost their common sense, have
evicted people from their birth places. It seems that this nation
is now devoid of a sense of humanity.

This is the dark side of humanity in this country. Why have we
suddenly become blind and incapable of reading the signs of the
times? Why have we, all of a sudden, turned beastly, killing,
slandering and hitting one another? Suddenly, we have been
shocked to learn that we top the list of nations where
corruption, oppression, arson and rioting prevail.

This Christmas, we have to ask again whether there is still
some light in this country. Do we still celebrate Xmas as a
ceremony only, an occasion without substance? Why is it that
darkness veils the humanity in a country where religion is
supposed to permeate all aspects of life? We do not realize that
this dark side of humanity has deprived us of the right
orientation in our life.

It is darkness everywhere. The firmament of the nation is
overcast. There is hardly any virtue left in the entire country.
What is left is disappointment mixed with rage. Every day of the
year this supposedly religious country witnesses how we condemn,
pounce upon and topple one another. We no longer trust one
another and act like lions ready to prey upon one another.

Mother Nature has sent a lot of warnings and meted out
punishments -- disasters, drought, flash floods, landslides --
but our elites have instead gone deeper in their oblivion. They
have lost their conscience and have failed to see these mishaps
as signals that they should rectify the behavior with which they
fool the ordinary people. Their conscience has been blinded by
their pursuit of personal benefits. For them, religion is only a
twilight carol hummed at midnight.

These people are simply dancing on Mount Sinai and turn a
blind eye as well as a deaf ear to the oppression that is
unfolding before them. They ignore the quality of faith. They
don't bother about the necessity to lead an honest life before
God.

Isaiah says that God will accept a religious service if there
is solidarity among men. Isaiah tells us that God has decreed
that He would like us to distribute our bread to the hungry, give
homes to the homeless and provide the naked with clothing.
Isaiah actually corrects our narrow-minded way of practicing our
religion, in which we are concerned with ourselves (our own group
and our safety). Isaiah admonishes us because the way we practice
our religion has failed to become a beacon for other people.

The presence of a man with faith must be a blessing to his
fellow human beings. The late Mr Soegipranoto said that
Christians had to be strong and consistent in their principles
but should demonstrate gentleness when meeting with their fellow
human beings. In reality now, religion has degenerated into
simply "a language of identity" devoid of humanity. Light will
prevail when a man of faith is not simply performing his
religious service as a rite.

This is what every man of faith should feel called upon. To
have faith but be devoid of justice is sheer nonsense. To have
faith but stop short at taking a humanitarian act means death.
When you have faith but you are not ready to fight for justice
and truth, your faith is rotten. There is no bargain for this
demand. When a man with faith simply turns a blind eye or a deaf
ear to oppression, exploitation and manipulation, he commits a
gross sin, much bigger than if he is faithless.

Faith that is implemented only in the context of a rite will
never liberate people from prejudices. When you have faith, you
must have the courage to go beyond yourself and serve as a
witness. Bishop Romero has said: "Engaging yourself in politics
means serving the community, not engaging yourself in a power
play. When a Christian decides to engage himself in politics, he
must uphold morality, refrain from lying, avoid graft or resort
to intimidation and violence.

He must not pursue his goal at the expense of other people's
interest and public welfare. He must not strive to reach his
objective by depriving other people, especially the little
people, of their rights and happiness."

Just humanity must be used as a yardstick for the exercise of
politics. Those involved in politics must give light to the
world. This is the responsibility we all, who long for the end of
violence, shoulder.

This is the genuine Xmas celebration. It is not a rite only.
Instead, it is the celebration of faith marking the presence of a
cute baby amid us when the world is in sorrow. It is a
celebration of faith when millions of children are weeping in
their powerlessness against the increasingly more cruel world.
These children have been robbed of their childhood as open fields
have been turned into supermarkets, factories and golf courses.
Millions of other children must leave their birthplaces as
victims of the games played by the political elites. Many more
have to work day and night at crossroads to feed their hungry
stomachs.

The sorrow of these children must make us reflect on the more
profound significance of Xmas. The Xmas message tells us to be no
longer afraid to face this hostile world, a miserable world
without certainty in every aspect of life.

Bear in mind that it is this condition that Virgin Mary was in
when injustices, oppression, manipulation and arbitrariness took
a dominant hold in her society. God sent good news. He did not
send this good news to prime ministers, kings, rulers or tycoons.
He sent this good news through a rural young woman called Mary.

Mary was the reflection of an innocent and simple mother. This
simplicity, however, was wrapped inside an extraordinary mystery.
She could bring light to the dark horizon. When people were
powerless and hopeless, Mary was present among them.

When the angels sent their greetings to Mary -- "Hail, You the
Blessed One,", this greeting marked that safety was present
inside Virgin Mary. This good news showed that the greeting had
severed the shackles that alienated man, till then controlled by
his wild desires, revenge and the fight for power, riches and
crowns. The angels said: "Do not be afraid because you have got
the blessings. In fact, you will be pregnant and give birth to
the Messiah that mankind has been awaiting."

And Xmas brings good news to those who are simple and live in
sincerity. This is our common Xmas.