Lismore, in New South Wales, was hit by yet another massive flood on 28 February 2022, with the floodwater that rushed through the town peaking at over 14 metres. During the crisis little government help was immediately available and something remarkable happened. In the dark and the rain and in the many weeks that followed, people reached out to each other, bringing together a community filled with hope because of the love shown to each other when in need. There were dramatic rescue scenes where the tinny brigade, neighbours in their own boats of varying kinds, set out to save those who were stranded.
Hannah Massey, who lives in Lismore, painted the artwork ‘FloodWaters’ (pictured) for the Mandorla Art Award 2024. She recounted to me how her house was on high ground so people were dropped off by the tinny brigade rescuers. Not long after the onslaught, all the power went out and so did mobile phones and all communications. A neighbour turned up at Hannah’s door with a half-cooked chicken because her stove was electric but she knew that Hannah had gas. People shared food and love abounded. Images appeared in the media of heroic actions of people helping each other and listening to each other.
REACH OUT
In ‘FloodWaters’ we can see the people in need reaching out and calling from a window. Seated below there is a young family with a companion dog at their side, referencing Jesus, Mary and Joseph, who also needed help to escape Bethlehem.
The tinny comes to the rescue, shining the light of faith and hope; the person at the helm is surrounded by a nimbus, or halo, signifying that the power of their love comes from God. On board there are already desperate people. In the night sky three circles represent the Trinity: God who is present in this human activity shown by the motivation to love. The colours show us the contrast between the darkness and cold and the warmth of love and rescue. This is an active love that St Paul calls us to embody: ‘Let all that you do be done in love’ (1 Cor. 16:14).
In our continuous pilgrimage here on earth we are called to be people of hope, and Pope Francis is leading us on the journey. His constant cry for synodality is reawakening our hearts, minds and souls to the possibility of being a Church that is walking carefully and lovingly together and renewing the call of the Second Vatican Council to be a people of the world that live in the world and for Christ.
Next year has been declared as a Jubilee Year by Pope Francis and it is a very interesting tradition. The word in Hebrew means ‘ram’s-horn trumpet’. The trumpet was used every 50 years to announce the beginning of the jubilee year in which all slaves were freed, debts were cancelled and the land was to lie fallow and recover.
RESET BUTTON
Basically, it meant that the reset button was hit. How would we cope with such a custom in our world? Could banks forgive debts? Could we forgive personal debts? In the ancient world the change of generation was around 40 years so most people alive would not have experienced a jubilee year before, so it opened up the community to complete change. Our culture is so bound up in personal and corporate wealth that it becomes an unimaginable idea. So how can we do this in 2025?
In, Tim Costello’s book Hope: Moments of inspiration in a challenging world, he recounts a story that follows the Jewish values of the jubilee year. He was visiting Nagaland in the north-east of India, a Christian area, in his role with World Vision. When they all met at 6am for a prayer meeting, he saw a man in an exceptionally beautiful gold coat. Tim asked how one could rise to be able to wear such a coat and he was told that the person had given a feast of merit (p14). The feast of merit is when you host a party for the whole village, including all the poor, which continues until your wealth has all been consumed. You are celebrated with great respect and the gold coat is placed on your shoulders. You then start again to attain wealth but meanwhile everyone has enjoyed your success.
UNCOMMON GENEROSITY
There are people in our society who are capable of such generosity, but it is uncommon. We seem to be stuck to our wealth and unable to focus on generosity, unable to let go and reset. So how are we going to celebrate a year of jubilee? What shall we do to alleviate the debt of the poor? Are we going to free ourselves from the slavery to consume, the slavery of addictions?
In Matthew’s Gospel we are told not to judge, as only God can judge. The Son of Man is going to sit on his throne of glory and judge everyone (Matt 25:31-46). As a shepherd separates the goats from the sheep, those who have followed the Gospel will be called into the kingdom and those who have not will be cast out.
If we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, care for the sick and visit those who are sick and in prison, we will be welcomed into the kingdom because ‘just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me’ (Matt 25:40).
This is all very heavy to contemplate, and we cannot do it alone, hence the need for synodality. The support of walking together and sharing the joy and difficulties makes it possible. This can be our goal for a jubilee year, for a resurgence of hope on our pilgrim journey.
Image: Hannah Massey, Flood Waters. Oil and metal leaf on canvas. Mandorla Art Award Finalist 2024
