Question about article in The Far East
Saturday, November 17, 2007
How do these principles apply here in 5outh Melbourne, if at all?
'Under the influence' Leo Donnelly, The Far East, May 2007
Do many of us ever ask ourselves why Christ went to the bottom of the pile? Why, within the Roman Empire, he went to its troublesome fringes within Palestine. He went to the rural people and fishermen who were even out on the edges of that culture. Why? We know this was a deliberate though no excluding choice on the part of 'Abba,' His father. This gesture carried a strong message, confirmed in a final, beginning step at Pentecost:-
'Surely these people who are speaking are all Galileans! How is it that each of us can hear them in his own native language? . .' They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What can this mean?' (Acts 2:7-8,12).
Missionaries, who attempt to cross the boundaries of language and culture throughout the world, announce this same Pentecost Gospel in tongues. Few speak the language well, and even when they do, it's always with an easily recognizable accent. Many of us are poor linguists. Yet somehow or other we manage to communicate with the people with whom we are working and who share the same commitment to the Gospel.
I'd have to say that my best and most satisfying memory over all the years is one small incident from Huasahuasi. My Spanish is poor and I have no Quechua (the language spoken by many who live in the outlying smaller villages of the parish), yet I once got this accolade of which I am inordinately proud, 'Leo treats us as persons.' It would be hard to better that. Since then I once read that less than 50% of human communication is vocal, which I also find encouraging.
The other memory that comes to mind is that of a young couple in Our Lady of Sorrows parish. Anna Maria was the young mother of three little ones. I met her when her husband turned up in the parish office asking for our support to convince his wife to caste back onto the street a very ill young single mother. Pablo, rightly didn't want this diseased person in their yard where his infants were safely playing off the street. It was all this couple had, one room and a waIled-in yard. Anna Maria stuck to her guns and had the young woman lying on rags in a chicken coop. Fair play to Pablo, he let her have her way until 12 days later the abandoned mother died. A childless couple nearby, friends of Pablo and Anna Maria 'adopted' the infant.
Many of the Pentecost tourists were interested, while many brushed aside the apostles as 'under the influence' 'Others said contemptuously, 'They have been drinking' (Acts 2:13).
They were right to do so, but wrong also, because mission is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit at work. We, spiritual and financial supporters, missionaries, both clerical and lay, as well as people like Anna Maria and her husband are together under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Together we make a difference, even as the Apostles did. And the difference we make? The Pentecost we achieve? '....anything you did for one of my brothers here however insignificant, you do for me' (Matt 25:40)
Pentecost is only for those 'under the influence' (Acts 2:13).
'Under the influence' Leo Donnelly, The Far East, May 2007
Do many of us ever ask ourselves why Christ went to the bottom of the pile? Why, within the Roman Empire, he went to its troublesome fringes within Palestine. He went to the rural people and fishermen who were even out on the edges of that culture. Why? We know this was a deliberate though no excluding choice on the part of 'Abba,' His father. This gesture carried a strong message, confirmed in a final, beginning step at Pentecost:-
'Surely these people who are speaking are all Galileans! How is it that each of us can hear them in his own native language? . .' They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What can this mean?' (Acts 2:7-8,12).
Missionaries, who attempt to cross the boundaries of language and culture throughout the world, announce this same Pentecost Gospel in tongues. Few speak the language well, and even when they do, it's always with an easily recognizable accent. Many of us are poor linguists. Yet somehow or other we manage to communicate with the people with whom we are working and who share the same commitment to the Gospel.
I'd have to say that my best and most satisfying memory over all the years is one small incident from Huasahuasi. My Spanish is poor and I have no Quechua (the language spoken by many who live in the outlying smaller villages of the parish), yet I once got this accolade of which I am inordinately proud, 'Leo treats us as persons.' It would be hard to better that. Since then I once read that less than 50% of human communication is vocal, which I also find encouraging.
The other memory that comes to mind is that of a young couple in Our Lady of Sorrows parish. Anna Maria was the young mother of three little ones. I met her when her husband turned up in the parish office asking for our support to convince his wife to caste back onto the street a very ill young single mother. Pablo, rightly didn't want this diseased person in their yard where his infants were safely playing off the street. It was all this couple had, one room and a waIled-in yard. Anna Maria stuck to her guns and had the young woman lying on rags in a chicken coop. Fair play to Pablo, he let her have her way until 12 days later the abandoned mother died. A childless couple nearby, friends of Pablo and Anna Maria 'adopted' the infant.
Many of the Pentecost tourists were interested, while many brushed aside the apostles as 'under the influence' 'Others said contemptuously, 'They have been drinking' (Acts 2:13).
They were right to do so, but wrong also, because mission is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit at work. We, spiritual and financial supporters, missionaries, both clerical and lay, as well as people like Anna Maria and her husband are together under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Together we make a difference, even as the Apostles did. And the difference we make? The Pentecost we achieve? '....anything you did for one of my brothers here however insignificant, you do for me' (Matt 25:40)
Pentecost is only for those 'under the influence' (Acts 2:13).
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8:49 PM
