Bishop Philip Huggins of the Anglican Archdiocese of Melbourne gives a reflection on the value of human life in the light of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
WHAT VALUE DO WE PLACE ON HUMAN LIFE…
ON EACH UNIQUE LIFE?
The answer is in the question.
Of course we place inestimable value on each unique life!
Yesterday, I took two granddaughters to their primary school in a beautiful location. It was a dress-up day, and they looked wonderful. I picked them up after school, and we had afternoon tea together, looking out at our spring garden.
A few years back, I worked with a gardening expert on a project to provide gardens for children in places after war. We had projects for places now in the news.
In recent days too, I have been involved in three funerals. Each person lived a long life. Everyone who knew them well, their family and friends, loved and respected them. The funerals were thanksgivings. Lots of stories. Lots of laughter. Lots of tears… a seamless transition from the Church to the Parish Hall for fine beverages, and more shared stories. Each person had faith and trusted that this life leads on to abundant and eternal life.
The dress-up day for my dear grandchildren and last of these funerals took place as the haunting images of suffering in Israel and Gaza streamed into our awareness.
In the coming days, we will continue our interfaith prayers and meditations. When words fail, we must let God renew us.
Each morning, St Anthony praying in the Egyptian Desert in the 4th century, and not far from Gaza and Israel, would say simply:
“Today we begin again.”
So it is for us.
We are custodians of a treasure: the awareness in the divine of the universal value of each life.
This is what is vivid in our daily lives, is it not?
This is certainly what is vivid in the teachings and the example of the great saints and religious geniuses of every tradition.
In our tradition, the One who comes through violence and death to resurrection says,
“Look. I make all things new.” [Revelation 21:5]
So, in that faith, we do what we can to cherish and sustain every unique human life. We pray therefore for both those who are close, and for those far away.
Bishop Philip Huggins.
Israel – Hamas conflict
