THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

By Canon Gerry Conroy

In the news these days, there is often a piece about protests being held to complain about the erosion of liberties as a result of the restrictions placed on us. MP’s also want their chance debate before any further restrictions are imposed.

There are conspiracy theories in abundance about governments or some shadowy figures wanting to establish a new world order where we all do what we are told, when we are told. For some, the restrictions, the rules and regulations are for the good of the health of all of the members of society, they are to try and help society flourish, for others it’s too great a denial of their individual rights.

This pandemic hasn’t just highlighted physical illness, it has also revealed emotional and mental and economic and even societal illnesses.

Protests are being held to complain about the erosion of liberties as a result of the restrictions.

In that Gospel parable, I can see some lessons for the what’s going on in the the pandemic. When Jesus said they didn’t produce the fruit required of them was he simply meaning they didn’t keep the commandments. That they didn’t follow the rules and regulations laid down for them?

Here we find the same question as people are asking about the pandemic regulations. Is it simply about doing what you are told? People with power establishing a new world order and having greater control over people, denying them their liberties?

The book of Deuteronomy sought to answer that when it said: ‘Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who… will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us…? It is saying these commandments were for the good of the people and also that people will see how God is a loving and caring God. But they didn’t show that to people, that is how they failed to bear fruit.

What about us, the people to whom the vineyard has now been entrusted? What does it mean for us to bear fruit? Pope Francis said recently that ‘Our mission as baptised persons, is to generate change and to awaken wonder and compassion in our world.’ How do we do that?

Well, there is a great opportunity for the Church in these polarised times, to promote the value of friendship. That doesn’t seem such a big thing, but so much in our world just now speaks of things falling apart, of disparities strong enough to evoke anger and hate. Simple courtesy and neighbourly kindness, basic civility to others are no longer just bland banalities, they are the foundations that we need if we are to reclaim a society that seems at times in danger of disintegrating in anger and recrimination.