OPINION
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games had the potential to unite a world that has become divided by hate and infused with evil. Instead, the organisers opted to mock the Last Supper. They either didn’t know the significance of the Last Supper to Christians, or they simply didn’t care. Either way, the display, which at this stage I don’t think requires describing, and also there is no need to pay it credence as it has already gone viral online and in the mainstream media, was an insult to the 2.4 billion Christians across the globe. However, the visceral reaction to boycott or condemn must be resisted.
I saw plenty of claims that “they wouldn’t do it Mohammad”, an easy claim to launch and understandable reaction given France’s previous ‘Je Suis Charlie’ debacle and the tragic response and loss of life associated with it by Islamic extremists. But that is quite a distraction from the more salient point that Christians don’t tend to retaliate to criticism in the same way anymore. It’s a consequence of, as a collective Christian family, having had over 2000 years to mature as a religion and develop more sophisticated responses to insulting critiques of our faith and religious history.
However, I understand the urge to criticise such an abhorrent display of contempt for this pivotal moment in Christian history, as Christ shared his final meal with the disciples who would build His Church. But it is important for Christians to remember that it is not sufficient to simply be Christian; we must also strive to be Christ-like. Yes, I know, quite the grand statement. But it’s one that Bishops, Church leaders and rank and file Christians seem to have failed to acknowledge.
As any Catholic with even a basic understanding of catechism will know, forgiveness is one of the cornerstones of the Catholic faith. Personally, when I make mistakes, I try to forgive myself, knowing that God infinitely forgives us all, understanding our true hearts and our deep regret for our missteps and sinful actions; and remember we are all sinners, whether we admit it or not. For as it is said and written: no soul is beyond redemption in the eyes of the Lord. It is not the gift of man to judge man but the reserve of the Lord, and as it is written in Romans 12:19:
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”.
Yes, the organisers and participants in the mockery of the Last Supper, the moment in Christian history that Jesus prepared Himself for the cross angered me and many around the world. But we must remember that to “err is human, to forgive is divine”.
In our daily lives, when we see people stray from the path laid out by Christ, we should try to turn our anger and contempt for their sometimes gross betrayals into compassion, as that is the true path to redemption. Christ forgives, and therefore we too should forgive if we wish to follow in His footsteps.
It’s hard to forgive such behaviour, and it is easy to judge. But we must remember in the post-modernist, secular world that has infested the hearts and minds of billions of people across the world, it is imperative on the true servants of Christ to forgive. For forgiveness is what God gives us, and in return, we must give it to others.
So, I plead with Catholics and the wider Christian family to not let this horrific display fill them with hate. The world is already filled with enough hate. Instead, turn that hate into compassion and remember that God is Love; God is peace. And we must rise above the human condition and predilection to give in to the desire to hate, for that is what is expected of us. We must love the sinners even if we hate the sin. We must have compassion even in the face of flagrant disrespect and profound betrayals of our shared history and values.
Yes, it is hard. But there is enough hate, anger, spite, and evil in the world. If we truly want to serve the Lord, and live up to the expectations He puts on us as Christians, we must forgive, we must love, and we must strive for peace.
Again, I say, it is not sufficient to call yourself Christian; you must strive to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.
I truly believe, in their hearts of hearts, the organisers and participants will, if not today, one day regret their actions and realise they sinned, and in God’s infinite wisdom and ability to forgive He will see their souls saved. Piecemeal and all as the apology issued by the Paris Olympic organisers was, it was an apology. Some tried to backtrack on the intent and meaning of the display and that is the action of regretful individuals.
In closing, and I can’t emphasise this enough… let go of the human instinct to be filled with anger and hate and instead forgive, let live, and leave the judgement to God. And remember: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”.
