"Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me."
Over recent weeks those of us in Northern Ireland have been reminded yet again of the divisions in our country. For anyone reading this who is not aware of the current situation, please refer to the following link:
Throughout the Advent/Christmas season we see many images of "peace" on Christmas cards, in our homes, and we sing about "peace" in carols. I do not remember a time in Northern Ireland where we have experienced rioting so close to Christmas. Timing may be the reason this current situation is so poignant.
There is no doubt in my mind that the violence should be, and has been, condemned. However, if all we do is condemn violence and not examine the way in which we may contribute to our divided society, then we have problem. It is too easy to point fingers at the individuals throwing petrol bombs, or injuring police officers. We can say comfortably, "isn't that terrible" and then go back to our day to day lives. Our lives, which in Northern Ireland are often lived separately.
These words of Jesus have echoed in my heart over the past few weeks;
"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7v5).
Each of us in Northern Ireland has been influenced by the sectarianism around us, to deny this could be our greatest mistake. We all have to stare those prejudices, we have inherited, straight in the face. We must ask difficult questions of ourselves, "how have I contributed to the situation in Northern Ireland?", "who is my 'other side' and who is my neighbour?" Removing that plank will be uncomfortable, for very valid reasons. We will need an abundance of grace to continue to walk together through the years ahead.
This Christmas may we all get on our knees, ask to be forgiven of our sectarianism, and pray the words, "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me".
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