Richard Ho Lung - Diary of a ghetto priest

"What a magnificent land." Everybody seems to recognise that, but would shake their heads sadly in regret: "we now have become barbaric."

Jamaicans of a different generation remain noble, if not heroic, in their love of our island and our people. I meet men and women daily who are strong, generous, talented and with a deep soul. They want the best for our island; they are patriotic with a passion - more so than most people are - for their country.

Thank God that has not been lost, not even among those in the modern generation. As a Jamaican who knows many different people from many different countries, I feel and I know from the depths of myself, that it is God who is lost in the soul of Jamaica.

I also know there is an epic battle between good and evil, and that, if Christians will unite and live out the word of God, and His love for the poor (as an expression of true religion), we will win the victory.

Generous people

There isn't a more generous and bold people than Jamaicans. I am constantly surprised at the charity and concern for the poor that surfaces from the middle class, the lower middle class, and even the poor. The wealthy will give, but the poor keep surprising me! As Mother Theresa rightly says, "There is no one so poor that he has nothing to give, and no one so rich that he cannot receive."

The boldness of our people comes from the magnificent mountains and hills; the strength of the terrain is infused in the soul of every Jamaican. The power of God is seen in the breath-taking beauty and unpredictable contours of these giants that surround and protect us like a fortress.

And out of this country formed by God is the image and likeness of our people. I will recount only briefly the savage and funny humour in our folk songs, our old ladies with tobacco between their teeth, our men goat climbing over the mountains to plant their trees and vegetables, our waterfalls pouring off from great heights and peaks, our powerful swift-footed athletes and dancers, our poets and musicians, our well-defined rhythms in music that have captured the world, the excessive spices and strong-tasting food! Jamaica! Most beautiful, most fascinating.

Terrible evil

Yet, what terrible evil that has gotten into the soul of Jamaica: the greed, the hedonism, the carnality, the violence, the drugs, the ignorance, the banality - all consecrated to the evil - Satan himself! I don't believe white and black, Indian and Chinese, straight hair or kinky hair, are the causes of division and hatred in our island. Partly, it is the world culture - the world soul that has been introduced into our island.

We have become a worldly island rather than a spiritual island. We have lost Christ, his mind and his heart, and we have been confused by a world of modern cultural aberrations which are mostly dead-end streets separated from the foundation on which Jamaican culture and life are built. Christ is the soul of Jamaica, even for those who are not so religious.

I know that he lives in the depth and the soul of this country. And, I believe Christ will prevail. Thank God for my country, but without Christ, it will no longer be Jamaica, and, we would have lost our civilising force and our soul.

Very Rev Fr Richard Ho Lung, is founder and Superior General of Missionaries of the Poor. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.