I spent my primary school years in a small country town in western Victoria. It was a cold place filled with warm-hearted people. Our town had three schools; a state primary school, a state high school and a Catholic school. We never really mixed with the kids from the Catholic school. I would pass by it with my friends as we made our way to our own classes. I’m ashamed to say that I would often join with the others in reciting some nasty little anti-Catholic ditties as we ran past their fence. Name-calling our way to school, we were ‘brave’ boys.
I never really knew where my anti-Catholic sentiments came from – certainly not my parents. I had no understanding of the theological issues over which Protestants and Catholics disagreed. I just knew they were different to us – strange in some way – and therefore to be ridiculed in my own childish, follow-the-leader way. It was my first taste of xenophobia – the fear of that which is unknown or different. God has a sense of humor in that years later I found myself in theological college studying alongside Catholic lay men and women, and those training for the priesthood. I was taught the theology of the Protestant Reformation by a Roman Catholic priest!
Thankfully anti-Catholic sentiment has retreated markedly in Australia in recent decades, although not completely. Having said this, xenophobia remains - alive and well. And of course age-old racism has never died out. Many Australians fear women wearing Muslim headdress and men of Arabic appearance. And so people of different faiths and different races can feel like strangers in their own land, alienated by fear projected on them by others. Ever opportunists, many of our politicians know that lurking behind xenophobic feelings are votes.
In stark contrast to this depressing reality, the Christian faith is marked by radical hospitality. Jesus scandalized his world though his conversations with a Syrophonecian woman, a Roman soldier and a Samaritan woman - amongst others. Further, God extends his loving hospitality towards us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us that we might be reconciled to the Father and to each other. Out of this experience we are invited to extend hospitality to others- including those who are ‘different’. How else but through the language of hospitality and by conversations marked by love and grace are we able to give an account for the hope which is ours? We cannot share the gospel with those whom we irrationally fear.
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