Subject: 'austraLasia' #274
A SIMPLE TIME
L. Capelli
HONIARA: 6th Jan '00 --
Dear ....,
Thanks for stimulating my reflections of How I spent my Christmas...
It helps me reflect, appreciate and share...
How did I spend my Christmas? In a "simple" way...
The eve blessing of the jubilee cross was simple...
The Silence and stillness of the midnight "alone in front of the manger"
experience was simple...
The first experience of being alone at Christmas was "simple"
The "panettone" (Italian Christmas fruit cake) miraculously fallen from
heaven, was simple
The good glass of table wine that went with it was simple too...
The Morning Eucharist in our remote Tetere parish, with simple people,
and a simple confrere, who also was
alone, was simple
The 6:00 pm Eucharist at the Honiara Cathedral was simple and intimate
too: three sisters, threes ladies, three
gentlemen and four "pikinini" (Children)
The sharing that followed the Mass with one of the three gentlemen,
chief Justice of the land, on behalf of the
underprivileged youth was very timely and simple too...
The Pardon Ceremony in which the Governor general forgave 10 life
imprisonment criminals convicted (for
murder) was very touching and simple too...
Mercy and compassion triumphed over legal Justice (many other steps had
to be made before this one though)
This made me reflect on the mystery of the incarnation in my life...
I saw my own self as undeserving of the grace of the incarnation and
salvation...
I felt it deep inside it is all a gift which began from God's infinite
mercy and pardon...
I saw the many youth who are waiting for this grace and yet there are
provisions in the law...
They have to join common criminals also if their offence is minimal and
their age is 12...
The connection of the Christmas story and the mystery of the "pardon"
has hit me hard, touched me and
motivated me to work for young prisoners" "freedom to the captives..."
and prevention from going to
captivity...
The mystery of Christmas was so relevant to the prisoners and to me too,
pardoned and sent to "preach
freedom to the captives...and the redemption from sin"
The new millennium years eve was simple too:
No fire crackers... no noise... only some ringing of bells at
midnight... as we are in the 12th time zone divided
by the 180th meridian (international date line) we had the privilege to
usher, into the planet earth, the new day,
century and millennium for all to enjoy...
We did toast at the new millennium with Bro. Tanaka...
(I had to wake him up for the countdown and the
toast)
The first day of the millennium was simple too! In Komporo, a very
remote village at the Tetere beach
(remember: "The thin red line" movie?) a simple ecumenical
concelebration with the Anglican brothers started
the millennium in peace and harmony.
There are signs of new life in the villages as shown in the number of
piglets freely roaming around...
The "Malaitans" however were missing from the village.... they have all
been pushed to the capital or out from
the Guadalcanal island, in a violent ongoing confrontation. Fear of
revenge with all what it entails is a sad
reality.
Here I am then on the feast of the three kings, reflecting on my
Christmas experience and praying that the
starting Salesian presence in the Solomon Islands may be a "star" for
all the youth of Solomon Islands to
witness and to reveal to them "freedom from captivity" and the
"remarkable compassion of a a Loving God
whose mercy greatly overcomes all legal Justice"....
Thanks Thirdy for the question... I know now what to share to all my
friends on the feast of the 3 kings...
Ciao!!!
Ignore the AOL address in returning mail. It is temporary only.
'austraLasia' can be contacted at jbfox@is.com.fj
