Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Very Rev Monsignor Allan Chambers of St David’s Catholic Church in Dalkeith.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I thank the Presiding Officer and Mr Colin Beattie for their kind invitation to me to offer this time for reflection.
We who are engaged in working with others in our capacity as members of the Scottish Parliament or priests or ministers of religion always have a story to tell that can at times lighten our less bright days. What follows is a true story and, while I was not central to it, I was part of it from the sidelines, which is sometimes a very good place to be.
Over and above my parish work, I am part of the chaplaincy team at HMP Edinburgh. A few years ago, while we were all taking part in an advent service for the prisoners, led by one of the chaplaincy team, an attempt was made to engage in a dialogue the congregation present, all of whom were prisoners or staff.
The question was asked if anyone in the group could give three words that would best sum up the forthcoming Christmas celebrations. There was a long, long period of silence, which bordered on the uncomfortable. Eventually, one of our much older guests put up his hand and said, “I’ll give you three words.” At that, a look of trepidation passed between the members of the chaplaincy team present, because we knew the gentleman well. Then we heard the voice announce his three words: “Let me oot.”
I have often reflected on that night, on its humour, on a degree of poignancy, but, surprisingly, also on the accuracy of that statement. The chaplain who was leading the service was looking for another three words: “Jesus is born”. However, on further reflection, perhaps there is no contradiction between the statements. However we engage in the work that we do as members of the Scottish Parliament or as members of a religion of whatever denomination, essentially we seek the same purpose. Simply put, that purpose is to enhance the quality and the dignity of the lives that we seek to serve or minister to.
Clearly, for someone such as me, who is engaged in the proclamation of the gospel, that purpose is rooted in the teaching of Jesus Christ. For others, it may be rooted simply in the belief of the good of humanity. What we have in common then, is an honest and deep desire to make the lives of all those who are trapped in poverty, in homelessness, in addiction or in mental illness better. Therefore, perhaps the old prisoner’s words did contain quite a bit of wisdom and, hopefully, will cause us daily to reflect on the fact that we have the ability to liberate and to make better the lives of those who feel trapped or who are in despair.
That, ladies and gentlemen, may I respectfully suggest to you, is our common mission and purpose.
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