Fr. Richard Ho Lung - Diary Of A Ghetto Priest AS JAMAICANS we have a profound motto derived directly from the Word of God. St. Paul says in 1 Cor12:12, "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ". Our motto 'Out of many, one people', reminds us that we are a people united under the one and same Lord, Jesus Christ.
When we look at the faces around us we see a rainbow in the variety and mixtures of our fellow citizens who come from or are descended from faraway lands such as Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Jamaica is like a mini-world, a microcosm of the macrocosm. In my own little community, Missionaries of the Poor, we have a variety of countries, races, languages, and cultures represented but we all come together and live in harmony and love in the name of Jesus Christ. Though many, we are one.
It is sad and unfortunate however, that in spite of our inspiring motto, we sense and sometimes see only too well the beginnings of fragmentation in our beloved country. There are deepening political, social, economic divisions but most disturbing of all is the growing spiritual struggle between good and evil. The serious crises we now face as a nation are rooted in these divisions.
VISION AND PURPOSE
In the political sphere what is needed is unity of vision and purpose for the good of our country and people. If there were even an inkling of this kind of unity there would be less strife among the various political factions. The selfish quest for power and the overemphasis on the spirit of competition for individual gain contribute to conflicts of all kinds. We need to remember that as a primarily Christian nation, Christ is our Good Shepherd. When we recall and implement even in the political arena the Christian principles of 'love of God and neighbour' we will see dramatic changes in all the aspects of our national life. Peace, justice, and mercy will abound.
When we look out for our brothers and sisters in need, when those who are fortunate materially share with the less fortunate, then we will be true to our motto in the economic sense. It is evident to many that there is a widening gap between the rich and poor. Within our little island we can see the best and latest innovations of the rich western nations while at the same time there are people whose basic daily needs are barely met. Christ is calling each and every one of us to "share your bread with the hungry". When this gap is bridged, then we may see ourselves coming out of our economic crises.
Spiritually, our nation is in a serious state because what is of God is being rejected while all sorts of ungodliness are being embraced. Isaiah says in 5:20, "Woe to you who call evil good and good evil". The spiritual crisis in our country is the primary source for all the other crises.
We want to serve both God and the flesh, and this is impossible. In fact it is a serious insult to God, and even a sacrilege to strive to satiate our fleshly desires while calling ourselves Christians who go to church regularly. Casinos and other forms of gambling, hedonism and nude weddings, flexi-week plans, abortions, contraception, and many other evils are not only being accepted by us as the norm, but are also being adopted into our culture.
When these evils are condemned and Christ truly becomes the Shepherd, whose example our leaders follow, and when holiness becomes our goal and aim in life, then we will be able to live out our motto in truth, love and sincerity. Then with great pride and delight we can say, "Out of many, one people", then all divisions and factions will disappear and we will be an integrated nation with "Christ as our head and we as His members".
Father Ho Lung is Founder and Superior General of the Brothers of the Poor.
