here is the article for the Northern times that goes with the banner on our wall - what are you gonna do tomorrow? Boats for votes? The election is right around the corner and the issue of asylum seekers on boats is still running hot. I can’t help but think of another boat from long ago that carried people in the very same predicament. The SS St Louis carried nearly 1000 Jews fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939. Hitler was getting serious about his hate-on for all things Jewish. It was time to flee Germany, even though most of them had been born Germans! The passengers had begged, borrowed or scrounged the fare to Cuba, as Jews had been prevented from working for some time. From Cuba they hoped to go on to resettle in America. Despite having the correct visas, they were refused entry. In fact, the Cuban government changed the law so that they could legally keep them out! And there was fearmongering that these Jewish refugees would take Cuban jobs. Sounding like us yet? The SS St Louis then headed for the United States. Telegrams were sent personally to the president. There was no reply from him, and they were refused asylum there as well. The ship returned to Europe, where England, France, Belgium and Holland resettled them. When the European nations were overrun by the German army, the passengers, along with all the other Jews, wound up being sent to concentration camps or executed. Cuba and the USA were responsible for the imprisonment, torture and murder of the passengers of that ship by their refusal. Australia was one of the first signatories to the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees because as a nation we never wanted to see desperate people face that kind of horror again. But apparently since 2001 we’ve gained the stomach for it. For Christians the matter is quite clear and straightforward with no shade of grey. Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you that are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11.28; Jesus also says: Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25.37-40. This second quote is from Jesus’ description of a time coming where nations, not individuals, are called to account by him. Going by this standard, can we expect to hear from him, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’ or can we expect something else? How we as a nation treat the most vulnerable people in our world matters personally to God. I pray you cast your vote on the seventh with all wisdom and grace. Cheers! Simon
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 09:00:24 +0000
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