Sometimes one feels that the tolerance of South Africans go into the wrong direction. I woke this morning up to the noise of heavy hammers – the neighbour, reconstructing his house since months (and years) now seems to have the urgent need to get ready – even working over “The Day of Goodwill”. That was too much for my goodwill – and after some noisy arguments they stopped working for the day. At least I want to have the two Christmas Days in peace and quietness. The guy who ordered the construction was not available – seemingly did not want to be disturbed during the Christmas period … Now there is peace also in our neighbourhood again.
What a start into St. Stephen’s Day – the day of the patron of my name. He was the first martyr – and sometimes it seems to me, that even within the church some people see it as a good tradition to throw stones at others. Specially those sitting themselves in a glass house. Well, humans remain humans, even if they are Christians. This is always good to remember.
For me the St. Stephen’s Day is a reminder that we have to stick to our principles, even if the world around us turns around and sees it differently. There are convictions which should never be overturned – they remain the pillar of one’s life construction – and they turn to be the cause of life destruction if one let them slip and go. The crib and the martyr – more clear nobody can show how close joy and tragedy are lying together in everybody’s life. And when we tomorrow celebrate the feast of the Holy Family – it is the same pattern – the joy of the birth of the baby boy and the tragedy of the mother standing under a cross – two extremes are meeting in one families life. A realistic view – as we all experience the same in our lives. God’s solidarity with human mankind is complete.
Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized, conviction, martyr Christian, St. Stephen
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