Plenary, 21 Mar 2007

Meeting date: Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Official Report 381KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Rev Robbie Hamilton of New Wellwynd parish church, Airdrie.

Good afternoon.

If you think that I look a bit tired, you are probably right. Last Thursday, I returned from leading a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Even though the visit was my fourth to Israel/Palestine, I still came back having been exposed to new challenges that made me think of the situation there and of other situations closer to home. The group had the privilege of encountering not just the bricks and mortar of churches and excavations, but the living stones that make up Israel/Palestine—the people who have been divided for so long and are hurting.

A week past on Monday, we went back to school to learn about the kind of work that is being done to try to break down the barriers that are manifested in walls, fences, mistrust and misunderstandings. Tabeetha school in Jaffa is the only Church of Scotland school. It brings together Jews, Muslims and Christians, and pupils and staff alike work in a Christian environment to break down the barriers that divide by working, playing and learning together. They get to the very heart of the problem there and in many other situations: fear. Fear turns diversity into disunity and distrust. It turns groups and individuals into adversaries rather than neighbours who respect one other.

As leaders in society, in the church and in the Parliament, we are reminded by this very building that we are here to serve the needs of all people. Allied to that, we have a duty to lead by example, remembering the words of John in 1 John:

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear."

Be it in church, the community or the chamber, or when canvassing, may we carry out our duties out of love for the individual and the groups around us and respect for those who differ from us. Yes, we need to engage with one another in discussion and debate, and we should not be frightened to deal with the difficult and thorny issues that divide us. However, we should never do so in a way that engenders fear and generates bitterness; rather, we should drive out fear and bitterness, replacing them with love, respect and acceptance.

Let us pray.

O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

In the strong name of Jesus. Amen.