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Here’s a view which many readers will recognise – Aoraki looking across Pukaki.
I was on the road this weekend to celebrate weekend Masses in the beautiful Mackenzie Country: Saturday night in Twizel and Sunday morning in Fairlie.
The landscape across the Mackenzie country is spectacular, different each hour with big sky cloud formations changing in every weather to hide or highlight mountains.
The cloud-piercing Aoraki was well hidden on my drive up to Twizel but visible for me to snap this picture on the way back to Fairlie after the Twizel vigil Mass.
Half an hour later in Tekapo I couldn’t resist a swim in the lake.
Beautiful.
But it’s the people who are much more interesting and beautiful than the scenery.
In conversations before and after Mass people were very open responding to my rather general questions with details of their life experiences present and past.
What diversity and richness.
What tragedies and joys.
What endurance.
What faith…
…not the lakes and mountains but the men and women who live and love and loved and lived in this place.
And as I drove back home today I was aware of how skilled we are at appreciating the beauty of a landscape as the artwork of God.
But then I was immediately concerned at the difficulty we often have recognising each and every person as the ultimate example of divine activity.
Have you ever noticed that people never speak of an ugly or difficult tree, lake or mountain? But every day we attach negative labels to people.
We forget that for all the beauty of the created world in which we live, it is only people who are created in the image of God.
In the ultimate act of divine creativity God created people in the divine image Genesis 1:27
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
Gratias Deo.
A beautiful sentiment but doesn’t our Church focus on the negative sinners in need of redemption, Sin and Forgiveness seems to be our core business rather than a focus on as you say that we are created in the image and likeness of God something to celebrate.
God’s mercy Ah, yes. The beautiful purity and stillness of Lake Tekepo. Yet, how much more wonderful is the working of God in each and every person. Why does the Church words not match their actions. We are weary with public condemnations – they cause us to doubt. Let us pray for and believe in each other. Let our focus be to witness God’s mercy through our words and actions.
Jackie
Another thought-provoking observation to accompany the day, thank you John. Interestingly, your positivity is one aspect of your retreats that parishioners at Ponsonby Herne Bay always appreciate and comment on. (BTW, congratulations on swimming in Tekapo!)
Another good reflection as always. Nga Mihi Nui
Margaret
What a wonderful reflection “the People the People “ I have lived in Kaikoura a beautiful place like all of NZ ,all my life apart from Boarding at Sacred Heart & Nurse Training both in ChCh and it’s the people over the years who make it so special .
One can get critical sometimes but to remember we’re all human and need each other as well as Jesus in our lives.