Our Man in Wuhan - Our People in Myanmar
by Fr Patrick O'Shea - Lower Hutt
In the early days of the pandemic in China we started to get reports on what was happening from “our man in Wuhan”, living in the city where the original outbreak is reputed to have happened. The early reports were very much focused on the pandemic and what life was like for local people and especially for the Christian community living there. A year later our man in Wuhan continues to send reports on church life in China where the corona virus continues to exercise a deep influence. The latest report (March 7) focused on the fact that St Columbans Church in Wuhan is closed. There is a letter attached to the door bearing the red seal that marks it as an official document saying that the closure is related to an outbreak of the virus somewhere in China. However, elsewhere in Wuhan life has returned to near normality.
Photo from www.indcatholicnews.com/news/41703
These days we look for similar reports from our people in Myanmar though it is not easy to get word out as internet service is often limited. We understand that all are safe and well. However, there is reason for concern given the ongoing protests of the people unwilling to return to a dark past and a vicious crackdown by the military. We hear in the news of the bravery of the people who are back on the streets again day after day advocating for a return to democracy even though they have good reason to be fearful. The New York Times email news for March 10 describes the history of the military since the coup in 1962 as one of brutality, an army described by independent analyst David Scott Mathieson as having “a heart of darkness”. The article notes that the reason for the original coup was to safeguard national unity, a challenge in a country with 135 recognised ethnic groups. It adds that the army has been fighting for control in areas occupied by some of these groups for decades – especially in 3 states Rakhine, Shan and Kachin. It also notes that these areas are rich in jade, timber and other natural resources.
The image of the letter on the church door reminded me of an article I read some years ago entitled “The Resurrection is against the Law”. It reflected on how in the passion narratives in Matthew’s gospel there is reference to the “sealed and guarded tomb’. A seal was placed on the tomb of Jesus by the authorities. It was broken when the stone was rolled away and the resurrection happened. Breaking an official seal is against the law. Ruben Alves says, “the dreams of the powerful eternalise the present”. The seal placed on the tomb was meant to signify that the present situation would remain unchanged now that Jesus was dead. The breaking of the seal signified that in the resurrection of Jesus an alternative future was made possible.
In his reflection on the sealed church door in Wuhan our man recalls a Chinese saying that applies in situations where there seems to be no possible resolution - “walk in the back door”. In China and Myanmar people are searching for solutions in situations that are sealed and guarded. We pray that they will experience resurrection.
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