In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, the late Nelson Mandela wrote: ‘No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.
People must
learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to
love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its
opposite.’
If we, as Church Leaders in Ireland, along with our predecessors, were
to write a book, it might have a title similar to the one referenced
above.
We would though probably change the word ‘Freedom’ to ‘Peace’.
It has been a ‘Long Walk to Peace’ in this island and between its peoples.
During 2023, we reflected on the twenty-five years which have passed
since the signing of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement. It has been a
long walk, which on occasion picked up pace, at other times was reduced
to a crawl, and is still ongoing. Since the signing of the Agreement
in 1998, a whole generation has now come and gone and much has changed
in our world on a global scale as well as at a local level, but very few
people living in these islands would want to return to the past. We
therefore need to stay clearly focused on the future, with a renewed
commitment to the process of building relationships of mutual respect
and trust. Although we have travelled a long way, there is still some
distance to go in our journey to peace and much work remains to be done.
As we acknowledged in our Saint Patrick’s Day Statement back in
2021, as Christian churches we have often been captive churches; not
captive to the Word of God, but to the idols of state and nation. The
shackles of our troubled and difficult past have restrained and hindered
us.
Relationships have been damaged. Yet we also need to appreciate that healing takes time. Nelson Mandela was right in his observation that people are not born hating others, it is something which they learn. We need therefore to ensure that we teach our children to love, respect and care for one another so that they learn that love is stronger than hate, good overcomes evil and light scatters the darkness.
We enter a new year in which war, violence and conflict now
overshadow so many parts of our world. With our experiences here in
this land, may we encourage and support others to take those first steps
down the road to peace, to walk in the way of reconciliation, to seek
to heal and not hurt.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s life and ministry were based on faith, hope and
love. As we try to faithfully follow in the steps of the Master,
seeking to love God and our neighbour, may the words of Saint Paul
encourage us to work more closely together for a better future: ‘So then
let us pursue the things that make for peace and the building up of one
another’(Romans 14:19).
Let us, therefore, continue to build relationships, break down
barriers, and work for a sustainable and lasting peace and as
ambassadors of Christ’s message of reconciliation may we model a better
way of living and loving now and in the years to come.
May you know God’s blessing and peace throughout 2024.
Archbishop Eamon Martin
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland
Archbishop John McDowell
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland
Rt Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Rev David Turtle
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland
Bishop Andrew Forster
President of the Irish Council of Churches