|
AIM
|
To provide an alternative focus for Hallowe'en to the commercial hype.
The purpose of this reflection is to encourage attention being given to good, not to superstition.
We can avoid making this an occasion when Christians come across as killjoys; rather we can make it an opportunity to celebrate the life and work of good people.
Masks and the dressing up of Hallowe'en, by comparison, have their origins in magic and trivialise its evil effects.
|
DEVELOPMENT
|
- Use a picture of anyone - or suggest looking at your neighbour / friend.
Ask: Who is a saint?
What does it mean to be 'holy'?
Hallowe'en simply means Hallow's even (the day before 'all saints' or all those whose memory is hallowed (i.e. 'holy').
- You might next have a picture - or an example - of the things which go on sale around Hallowe'en.
Without being too heavy you can explain that 'Hallowe'en' as it is today isn't about 'holiness' or goodness - it's about magic... masks (pretending to be frightening or evil - or pretending to be good but in fact being evil)... it's about spells (having control over other people for bad).
Making this fun can mean accepting that evil, frightening events and powers people use for wrong, are fun.
- The masks of 'Hallowe'en' may look harmless fun but think of the masked face of the young person whose life is torn apart by drug taking...
The girl under the magic spell of her befriender and forced onto the streets to pay for ...what?
The boy, high on drugs, who steals cars and kills an innocent person 'joyriding'.
The list can go on being developed... cruelty, abuse, exploitation, bullying.
We can ask 'Whose idea of fun is this?'.
- Without overplaying the 'goody goody' image, the other side of Hallowe'en can be celebrated.
We can ask 'Or should we be celebrating... the holy.
- Ambulance crews, nurses and doctors in the casualty ward on a Friday night - trying to help the drunk and senseless who've injured themselves and get abused for their pains...
- Friends and family members caring for the sickest in our midst - the long term ill whose life seems to offer nothing but excrutiating pain of body or mind - lightened only by unselfish and uncomplaining love daily given without question...
- The social worker trying to help rebuild the lives of children who've been sexually and physically abused...
- The peace worker bringing life to starving, homeless, war scarred people in too many places.
|
PRAYER
|
God make us laugh about the right things...
Make us care about what matters to you
Keep us from easy and cheap fun
Which laughs at weakness, makes fun of broken lives
Bless, we ask, all those whose life is touched by 'holiness'
The un-named... whose every day has good in its purpose and in its doing.
|
READING
|
A reading could come from one of the following:
Matthew 6: 1-4 (especially v3 and 4a)
Matthew 7: 15-20 (especially vv 16-18)
Luke 5: 12-16 (especially vv12,13)
Luke 5: 17-26 (especially vv 18-20, 25)
Luke 8: 27-31,36-39
|
