Tower and Town, March 2026 (view the full edition)Clergy LetterJesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow but that doesn't let us off the hook for being concerned about the things over which we have some control and that present as 'justice issues' today. For Jesus, 'Justice' is the biggest issue. It's a huge matter of human concern, because we have the opportunity to emulate God most, as we are called to do, when we commit to real, solid, concrete justice, and to get it right by our neighbour, in our world, with all of our might, by not using people; by respecting the integrity of everyone; by being kind; by being fair; by being generous with the gifts not of our own creation, but of which God has been the generous provider. There are many things in life about which we should not worry. But in this century there is a goodly share of things about which we should concern ourselves. Erroneously attributed to Thomas Jefferson is the saying, 'The price of freedom is eternal vigilance'. Freedom needs to be protected, constantly, lest it be lost to complacency or 'encroachment' from those in society who might gain advantage from taking our freedoms. The 21st century has seen the rise of many in political leadership doing their best in scurrying away our rights and freedoms for their own despotic advantage and aggrandisement. If you want something to worry about, this is truly it. Maybe better than worrying and distracting and paralysing ourselves with that worry, we should invest our energy in doing something about it. I'm done reading 'The Nazi Mind: 12 Warnings from History' by Laurence Rees - but I'm not done with the impact that it has had on my thinking and upon my sense of Civic Responsibility. In the words of Rees: 'Everything is fragile - often a great deal more fragile than we think ... the essential values of Nazism - hatred, scapegoating, anti-Semitism, racism and violent nationalism - are still very much with us ...'. To paraphrase Rees: Authorities seeking despotic power foster a 'them and us' false dichotomy; promote a leader to whom we abdicate decision-making; connive with elites and the mega-rich; attack human rights even through Courts; exploit religion; make enemies amongst the populace; escalate racism; kill at a distance and stoke fear. Jesus said: 'Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?' But, as found in numerous other places in the Gospels, when it comes to defending Fundamental British Values, Jesus shows he would agree - we need to be worried - and we need to take action. Amen. Tim Novis |