Are We Asleep in the Garden?
by Christopher Allen-Doucot
My friends I am both weary and hopeful. Since returning from Iraq
this past May I have made my slide presentation on the effects of the
sanctions dozens of times. In recent months I have been making the
presentation 3 or 4 times a week. Before each presentation my ears fill
with the shrieks or grieving mothers, my nose is overwhelmed with the
scent of death. Each time I see the pictures we took of the skeletal
children, our enemies?, I get sick in my gut. By making the presentation
so often and by talking with reporters and cable access television hosts
the genocide in Iraq is never from my consciousness.
My experience in Iraq has irrevocably changed me. At first I was not
aware of the changes in myself. Jackie had expressed concern that I
seemed more upset and depressed than usual when I returned. I dismissed
her concerns and told her our attention should be focused on the
situation in Iraq. A few weeks later a fellow parishioner at St.
Michaels approached me after Mass, put his arm on my shoulder and said
to me: I just read about your experience in Iraq, Now I understand why
you have that (troubled) look on your face.
When I first returned I sent out letters to every priest and teacher I
knew requesting invitations to make my slide presentation. With the
suffering of the people of Iraq so fresh in my mind I was frustrated
and, yes, discouraged, when very few invitations were proffered.
My frustration was elevated when my repeated calls and letters to
archbishop Cronin proved fruitless. In my meeting with him before
heading for Iraq he said he would consider making a statement about
the effects of the sanctions. In my letters I have referred to the many
statements made by the pope, Cardinal Law of Boston, and various other
bishops who have condemned the sanctions and the bombings of Iraq. I
simply want(ed) the bishop, as the spiritual/moral leader of half the
states population, to publicly affirm the popes condemnation of the
sanctions.
At times my conversations, letters and pleas have been passionate; it
has been suggested to me by those close to me that I have been perhaps a
bit too passionate- maybe so. But what of the other end of the spectrum.
What of the matter of fact reporting on the 6:00 news that a dozen
civilians were killed in a recent bombing; the twisted logic of Pentagon
spokesmen that Iraq is responsible for the innocent victims of American
bombs; or the response by a young man to my presentation that the people
are getting what they deserve?!
What is the experience of these wry commentators. Would they be
dispassionate if missiles fell on East Hartford because of the Pratt and
Whitney plant? Would they be disinterested if they were unable to fly
out of Bradley because of the U.S. invasion of Panama? Would they smugly
say their children and grandchildren deserved a torturous death by
dysentery?
Not surprisingly the National Gulf War Resource Center, the largest Gulf
War veterans organization, has recently condemned the sanctions and
questioned the use of Depleted Uranium. The NGWRC strongly believes
that further civilian casualties in Iraq must be avoided. As soldiers we
were trained to abide by international laws relating to the treatment
and protection of civilians. Economic sanctions which prevent of
otherwise hamper nations from maintaining the public health of their
citizens are in violation of these international laws...The U.N. and the
U.S. must work toward an immediate end to the humanitarian crisis in
Iraq.
Shortly before his arrest Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray that Gods
will be done. Before entering Gethsemane Jesus said to his disciples,
My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with
me. (Matt. 26:38). After an hour of intense prayer on his hands and
knees Jesus returned to his disciples only to find them sleeping. Twice
more Jesus left them to pray that Gods will be done, again instructing
them beforehand to watch him intently.
Twice more the disciples let Jesus down by falling asleep when they
were supposed to be on the watch. Disappointed, and I would guess a bit
disgusted, Jesus said to his disciples: Are you still
sleeping?...Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is betrayed
into the hands of sinners. (Matt. 26:45).
As Christians we are trained to love our enemies and pray for our
persecutors. We are called to feed, clothe, shelter and heal Christ
among us. This is Gods will. Yet still I fear that the hour of Christs
betrayal has not passed. Lo! still we sleep while Christ cries for
Gods will to be done. Sleeping, how are we able to hear his cry, heed
his prayer, witness his pain, know Gods will, do Gods work?!
It is not Gods will that we starve children and shower their land with
missiles and radiation. It is imperative that we awaken ourselves and
friends; that we stir our neighbors and our families and see that we are
needed to be active participants in Gods plan for Salvation- our
Salvation.
After Jesus was arrested the disciples scattered like cowards. From a
distance Peter followed as Jesus was taken into custody and tried. From
a distance Peter denied his discipleship to Christ and he sat on his
hands while the scribes, high priests, and elders spat in and slapped
Jesus face and hit him repeatedly. (Matt 26:67). Only after hearing the
cock crow did Peter break down and weep.
We must not be like Peter following Christ from a distance, standing by
as Christ is abused and denying Him when our active allegiance might be
unpopular, illegal, injurious or even fatal. We must not deny Christ
revealed in the suffering of the Iraqi people, while our elders and
scribes condemn him to death.
To shake the lethargy which seals our lids and fetters our souls we must
exercise the flesh. Indeed, when Jesus first found the disciples ping he
remarked: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matt
26:41). The flesh is weak because we dont exert it.
Discipleship means active participation in Gods plan. It means using
our talents, our voices and our bodies. It is hard to sleep while
feeding the hungry, or delivering medicine to the ill. It is also hard
to sleep while calling our elders in Washington or vigiling at the
Federal Building.
We may confess discipleship to Christ, and perhaps our spirit is willing
to do Gods will, but professions and yearnings mean nothing if we
dont act concretely.
Those who would crucify our Lord, those who are killing the people of
Iraq, care little about our statements and rantings so long as we dont
act on them. Awake! Arise! Christ is again being led to Golgotha. Are we
going to do something about it?W
