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Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
I watched the memorial service for Nelson Mandela and listened to the address of President Obama keeping in mind and heart The United Methodist Church.
Cynthia Astle in her Advent message begins with the word "Anticipation." It of course refers to the anticipation that is so much a part of the Advent story. We wait not for "Godot," as in Samuel Beckett's absurdist play, but for the coming into our lives the life, message and ministry of Jesus. This is my 80th Advent Season, and of course as a young child I did not understand the meaning of the coming into history of Jesus, but ever since my family and my church through teaching and living, made the meaning of Jesus a reality for me, I have anticipated during each Advent, a new breaking into my life, the lives of those whom I love, and into the life of the United Methodist Church, deepened understandings of the message and meaning of Jesus.
As I preached at Park Hill United Methodist Church in Denver on Dec. 8, I used as one of my texts, Matthew 5: 23, 24; "If you remember that your brother or sister has something against you (or you against them), leave your gift there before the altar and go, first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift."
I said in my sermon that these words were followed by Nelson Mandela, as he did not allow those who had something against him, or he against them, to keep him from creating a multi-racial, equality-based South Africa. It was because he did this that he was able to bring people together while he lived, and the Memorial Service with more than 90 nations represented through their leaders, was living evidence that Mandela was able to bring people together through his death.
President Barack Obama in his address at the memorial service used an Nguni Bantu word familiar to South Africans: "Ubuntu." His use of this word brought cheers from those gathered. The word is defined as "human-ness" or "human kindness" and the President described its meaning this way: "I am because you are." Already there are those who have brought to the surface again negative descriptions of Nelson Mandela. Some have said he was a terrorist and was influenced and shaped by communism. Mandela's response to the terrorist accusation was that he and the members of the African National Congress (ANC) engaged in self-defense against the South African state and those persons who through words, legislation and violence attacked black South Africans. And he explained his association with communists and with leaders whom the USA did not approve as being, "Friends who were our friends when we needed friends." And the USA through its policies was not a friend of Nelson Mandela or black South Africans during the beginning of the struggles against apartheid.
The Matthew 5: 23, 24 Scripture has become my text this Advent as I "anticipate" a fresh coming again into my life, the Jesus of Advent and Christmas. And, my hope is United Methodists, regardless of our faith perspective, biblical interpretation, and response to the issues that divide us, will in this season of gift giving, reach out to those who disagree with us, and we with them, and give the "Gift of Reconciliation".
May Nelson Mandela be a model for us as he so powerfully and practically, "trusted others in order to get their trust of him." If Nelson Mandela, who had some of his education shaped by Methodists, could reach out to the white South Africans who jailed him, who demeaned and dehumanized his fellow black South Africans and invite his jailers to his inauguration as President of South Africa, why cannot we United Methodists this Advent, reach out to each other despite our differences?
If we believe "Love came down at Christmas" in Jesus, let us "show some Jesus love" to each other this Advent, as never before.
The Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell of Asbury Park, NJ, is a retired clergy member of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference. He and his wife Grace were recently honored with the Paul & Paula Murphy Lifetime Achievement Award from the Center for the Church and Global AIDS.