God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

12/24/2009 • 4:45 pm Comments Off on 24.12.2009 Christmas Eve

24.12.2009 Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve 2009: The noise of the construction side next to my cottage has ceased – since month the first day without noise – what a relief. The sun is shining and my cellphone is giving its characteristic “sms beep” again and again – all the good Christmas wishes are coming in – even the email box is full of well wishers. The coming services are prepared – and it feels like time and hectic is calming down for a moment.

Christmas Eve – traditionally in Germany the most important family event and as parents preparing the last necessities for their kids, I will now close down my office and enjoy a Christmas Eve with friends. I must admit that I am not a real Christmas person – too much sentiments are not my cup of tea on this day. I cherish my memories of a winterly Christmas time in Germany but I must say that I enjoy a sunny Christmas the same way if not even more. Sun, laughter, kids at the poolside, braai: doesn’t that sound like a real birthday bash? 🙂

We celebrate the coming of God into the world – and we proclaim us brothers and sisters in Christ, sons and daughters of God. But looking around, watching the news, experiencing it in my own environment: Do we have drawn any consequences out of this event? Is mankind better in dealing with each other? Do we see our sisters, our brother in the person next to us? According to statistics the most poor people in this world living in Africa have become more poor in the last two decades. All the progress, all the donations have done virtually nothing to change the world as a whole. Millions dying of hunger in the developing countries while others live and digest more than it is healthy. The funny conference in Copenhagen – has it shown that those having benefited since years from climate change, are now really looking towards the lives of their brothers and sisters when they propose targets to stop this change in nature. Or do they, like always, just offer money – the rich ones can always bail themselves out,it seems.

Christmas – we celebrating the coming of God into our world – and we proclaim us brothers and sisters in Christ, sons and daughters of God. On this day we also should look and acknowledge all those, who take these titles serious and try to act on that – sometimes against the will of a state or a church. People, who are really take it on – day by day – to fulfill the promise of Christmas. I just read about Erwin Kraeutler, bishop in the Amazons, who is not able to walk a mile without security because of death treats he received. Those are the people balancing the bitter balance of human mankind’s dealing with each other in a way, which indeed shows the likeness of God.

Merry Christmas to all of you – and may the blessings be felt by each and every one of you!

Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

12/23/2009 • 7:42 pm Comments Off on 23.12.2009 Last shopping

23.12.2009 Last shopping

Like in any other household, also a priest’s one is not immune against the practical consequences of the festive season – so the last shopping spree secured enough stock to survive the coming days of Nativity. And one can sense that “business” is dying down – less emails except for all the good Christmas wishes – less phone calls – it seems that a day before the “Heiligabend” everybody is indeed concentrating on his or her own business to finalize whatever is outstanding…

My sermons are prepared – for Christmas Day as well as the Feast of the Holy Family – and also most other urgent office stuff is attended to… so tomorrow it will be a more quiet day in preparation of the big feast.  What is more to say? Just that I wish all readers a Merry Christmas – may the blessings of this feast be felt for you all still in the new year – and may you enjoy hours of joy, peace and harmony with whomever you chose to celebrate these days. And may the world take a deep breath and stop all violence and wars during this festive season.
May the death toll on our streets in SA decline and may most people only start drinking after the midnight service..  🙂

Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized, ,

12/22/2009 • 11:42 pm Comments Off on 22.12.2009 how are you?

22.12.2009 how are you?

“How are you” – that is one of the most heard question I encounter in the last days and weeks. People want to know how I got from one task to my new portfolio. And I find it difficult to answer: How should one feel, when the transformation from one post to the other was somehow forced, but when the result of this forced transfer came to a good end at the end. There is still that part in me who feels that it should not be allowed in church to act in a deceptive and dishonest way – on the other hand I do refuse to see myself as a victim. My way through 2009 has shown me clearly how one mean person and many people simply nodding or looking away can change the life path of someone. On the other hand it has shown me that there are people in church making their own judgement and are brave enough to act on it.

Nevertheless, a transition is never an easy thing – and one has to work to all what one has experienced to be able to answer the question “how are you?” with an honest “fine”. The learning curve was a steep one, but I am sure I go stronger into 2010 then I have been entering 2009. I am looking forward to all the new and exciting things laying ahead on my way for the coming year.

Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized,

12/19/2009 • 7:29 am Comments Off on 19.12.2009 Civil rights lost and the meaning of a state community

19.12.2009 Civil rights lost and the meaning of a state community

Discussion yesterday evening while meeting up with friends. The failure of Copenhagen is imminent, and I do argue that the biggest problem is, that the rich industrial states are not genuine in their desire to cut CO2 and provide other measures in a way which would make the world community really an equal bunch of states. There is always the impression, even for somebody watching from outside, that the aim of the game is to keep all economical advantages and injustice the world is experiencing since decades.

And there is more: Politicians in most countries have given away their power to establish rules and regulations to economic powers, which are meanwhile the major global players. Free capitalism seemed to be the key for prosperity and success (for those who anyhow have already more than enough) – and suddenly the recession has shown, that it is not working out this way. The institution of a country are meant to create and enforce a framework which also keeps a certain ethics up and protects those, who are falling through the roaster of society. It seems that it will be a long way until politicians take on their original duties.

On the other hand, Europe is losing out when it comes to civil rights – we are developing more and more into a surveillance society where the right of an individual is completely ignored. It is time that all people of good will are standing up to defend the hard-won civil liberties – also in Germany. The institutions of a state are to serve the well-being of a group of people pursuing the same goals. One has the impression, that meanwhile those institutions are there to be served by the people – and that politicians are above the rest of society. Democracy in its original form is surely on the losing side contemplating the state of affair in European politics. It is time that civil society, but also churches are taking note of the eroding of civil rights and of a capitalism, which does not care about people or moral values.  That this has also consequences for a topic like HIV and AIDS goes without say.

Filed under: General, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

12/18/2009 • 5:11 pm Comments Off on 18.12.2009 A new bishop..

18.12.2009 A new bishop..

Since 13h00 local time, it is official: Cape Town has a new bishop and – what coincidence – it is a Stephen. After my home bishop Stephen Ackermann in Trier Cape Town will now be represented by Bishop Stephen Brislin. Without being to superstitious I take it as a good sign.

Who is he, the new bishop? It is amazing to see how thrilled people are to know more about the newly appointed one. Is he progressive, conservative, open-minded, pastoral… ? Especially the clergy has an interest to know more and I am sure the next days and weeks will be filled with whispered what one has heard about the new bishop.

I hope like always that the newly appointed is first and foremost a human being, touched by the love of God. Not more, not less. This is for me the basic to be able to stand despite all the massive expectations of the people of a new diocese and to humbly accept the big task lying ahead of him. A man of prayer and recognition, that we all struggle one in a while to match our vocations, but that we try our best to be good worker in the vineyard of the Lord.

Also for me, a “visiting” priest in the Archdiocese of Cape Town, it is a change of times. Having served under Archbishop Lawrence P Henry the last 12 years, I am grateful for all, I have experienced so far in this Archdiocese and I am looking forward to be part of this new chapter of the Archdiocese of Cape Town, the mother of Catholicism in South Africa.

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