Repentance, humility, inclusion and advocacy

At the EMBRACE Annual General Meeting in 2004 Sr Brighde Vallely (then EMBRACE Vice-Chairperson) reflected how, in John’s Gospel, while Peter warmed himself by a charcoal fire, in the in-group, Jesus was in the outgroup, among the demonised. After the resurrection, it was Jesus who cooked breakfast on a charcoal fire for the disciples, and Peter, following his earlier denials of Christ, had the opportunity to make his threefold response to Jesus’ question: “Do you love me?”
Brighde then asked ‘So what must we do?’ and answered:

• Repent of sectarianism, racism and prejudice
• Wash the feet of others
• Churches and church communities should be communities of the inclusive charcoal fire
• Be informed and learn to ask the right questions, of churches, politicians and policy makers

Embracing the Stranger
God is portrayed in the scriptures as identifying with fallen and broken humanity. God revealed Himself as the God of the outsider when He intervened in the lives of the Israelites in Egypt. His liberation of His people from their oppression displayed His commitment to the marginalized and the vulnerable. And it is this concern, compassion and commitment that God holds up as a blueprint for His followers. … Continue reading ‘Reflections on what the Bible says’