"Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody's business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbours worthy."
These words of Thomas Merton were posted on Facebook today, the anniversary of his passing. Alongside this I saw a video of a certain American President banging on about people from shithole countries. Then we have in our country Tommy Robinson and his “Christianity” - the claim that Jesus might be into nationalism and supremacy of some over others.
Today I’ve been with one of my dear people whose husband has just died. It would have been their golden wedding a week on Saturday. She needed to know she was cared for today. Then we had our monthly bereavement cafe at church. We shared that Christmas is born in the darkness and pain. The two hours were a safe space for people to be themselves.
If all the outsiders, those society would erase from the picture weren’t in the Christmas story there would be few left in it. The fact is God came long ago for everyone. And he still does. Our pastoral care and our conversations cannot exclude anyone.
I love Khalil Gibran’s words ‘On Giving’ ….”surely he who is worthy to receive his days and nights from God is worthy of all else from you.”
We need to remember the divine story how God came and is and we need to learn again to be truly inclusive. Don’t we?
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