Chris McDonnell, UK
 christymac733@gmail.com

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March 15, 2018 

What's in a date?

 

Our lives are littered with dates both personal and shared with the larger community, dates that are significant markers on our journey. Our liturgical calendar is framed round such dates, great feast days and smaller remembrances. Easter, Christmas, Pentecost all define points of faith, the developing story of the Christian people.  

March 15 is a special date from the pre-Christian era. It was on March 15 in 44BCE that Julius Caesar was assassinated  in the Roman Senate. It gave rise to the words in Shakespeare's play "Beware the Ides of March".  There was nothing special about the date other than it being the middle of the month. The first of each month was known as 'Kalends' and the 7th as 'Nones'. The warning given to Caesar by the soothsayer has become associated with the Ides of March since Shakespeare's play of 1601.That date in March became a turning point in the history of Rome as empire took the place of republic.  

Warnings and premonitions litter our histories. They are often no more than made-up stories to catch the imagination (and fear) of the age. Everyone waits for the date to arrive and the prediction to be fulfilled and when the sun has set and another day dawns, some semi-plausible reason is found to justify continuity.  

There is a similar story in the Gospel of Luke in the conclusion of the Birth narrative, when Jesus is being taken to the Temple on the occasion of the purification of Mary. There the family are met by Simeon and Anna, in their elder years and known for their presence about the Temple. Simeon's arrival is recorded first by Luke and his words are of conclusion and expectation. He exclaims, “Now, Lord, you can let your servant depart in peace”.  He prophesies that the child in his arms is God’s salvation, “prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” the presence of the Saviour in acknowledged and indication of his purpose is proclaimed. We marked that event on February 2nd, the feast of Candlemas.  

The difference here though is that Simeon's words are fulfilled in the public ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and the subsequent mission of the Church of which we are a continuing part. Faith is not certainty given us on a plate. It comes from a never-ending search and exploration, from being alongside others, from reading and listening. We continually have to sift through an accumulation of stories and events to focus on the reality hidden in their depths. It is then that our response takes us on the way and our lives are strengthened and changed.  

There are times, often brief, sometimes of a longer duration when there is a darkness and numbness of heart, when old certainties seem lost and obscured by a present reality and for a while the going is tough. All of us have been there, including the great saints and prophets of previous times and the present day, times when doubt and uncertainty pervade our very being and it is hard to keep going. That is when trust is born and those about us are there to be leaned on and their support sustains us.  

For some, that is hard for they see such dependence as weakness, feeling that they should be 'able to cope' when in fact the hand to hold, the shoulder to lean on, the reassuring voice and the opportunity to listen are freely offered and should be gratefully received. The phrase 'care in the community' goes beyond the statutory services of medics, district nurses and home care visits, there must be a community awareness and response to need. There is a fine African phrase that tells us that 'the village brings up the child'

Our collective relationship is becoming lost in the selfishness of our Western world. We need to remember each other and do what we can to help when the need arises.  

Visiting a big hospital recently I was struck how the open space of Reception was similar to the bustle of a main line rail station. I wrote this later that day.  

     Another place  

        An open Concourse

        walkers, some pushing wheel chairs,

        reminiscent of a rail station

        where they hurry for trains.

 

        Here the pace is slowed

        by circumstance.

        Here the pain and

        inconvenience of illness

 

        gathers for appointments,

        moving down long corridors

        to small waiting rooms,

        there to be greeted and assessed.

 

        A secure place for listening

        set aside for caring

        compassionate experience

        hidden in the hollows of open hands.

 

We are indeed fortunate to live in a country where we care for each other and although it is not perfect, the intention is true.

 

END

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