Seeking freedom from colonial rule

Today's first reading is made up of verses from chapter 26 of Isaiah. They speak of a community that is under foreign rule. Despite being under foreign rule, they are a people who keep alive their memories, memories which sustain the hope that they will gain freedom and peace. Sadly, they see their oppression as a punishment from God. Nevertheless, they also see life beyond death, hope beyond despair. It is a text that brings to mind the plight of people who still under the burden of colonial rule in our world today. Close at hand, here in the Pacific, is the experience of people in New Caledonia who still live under French rule. I recall attending a meeting in New Caledonia back in the mid-80s during the height of the Kanak struggle against French colonial rule. We were taken by bus to a village in the hills beyond Noumea. For security reasons we were not told where we were going until we were coming close to the village. It was a village where four young men had been killed because of their support for the independence movement. They told the story about a priest who was saying mass there. That Sunday, the gospel reading was about the Good Samaritan. Towards the end of his homily, the priest told the people, "Jesus says to you, go and do likewise." After mass, as he was sitting around with the people he asked them what they thought of his homily. One of the elders plucked up the courage to finally tell the priest that they found his homily hard because they could not be like the good Samaritan. The priest was astounded and asked them why they could be like the good Samaritan. Another elder spoke up and said, "We cannot be like the good Samaritan because we do not have a donkey and, if we found someone beaten up on the side of the road and took him to the inn, we could not afford to pay for his lodgings." Out of desperation, the priest asked them, "Well what do you think Jesus is saying to you?" Another elder said, "Jesus is telling us to do something about the bandits. Too many of our young men get beaten up and left on the side of the road. We need to stop the military and others from coming down out of the hills and beating them up. In this way, we can look towards the day when our people can return to their homes from their work, their schools and from the market in safety and in peace." It was a good lesson for the priest. But it still remains a vision for the people.