10/04/2007

Saffron Saturday and Sunday

There is an International Day for Burma planned for this Saturday, October 6th. You can read about it HERE. (thanks to Ann). On this day the hope is that various places will mount a 12 noon show of solidarity for the monks in Burma who have been standing in opposition to the military dictatorship in Burma.

I think Sunday would be a wonderful Saffron day in which we Christians might express our solidarity with the amazingly courageous witness of the monks by making saffron a liturgical color of the day - something on the altar, on vestments, by the entry way. And more, by specifically praying for them in their hours of trial.

Compassion is sometimes seen as a passive way of being and the saffron robes a retreat from social conscience. Nothing could be further from the truth. Compassion is the gut wrenching engagement with suffering and its offspring is often profound social change.

This Saturday and Sunday show the saffron and pray for the safety of the monks, the release of the prisoners and the doing of justice.

3 comments:

  1. I was carrying home a potted day lily from my inlaws' after a party last weekend.

    My clothes were stained the same color as the monks' when I got home. The lily pollen got all over me.

    Perhaps this suggests floral decorations for Sunday? Children's talks?

    ReplyDelete
  2. We will have altar dressings and prayers on Sunday. Thanks for the suggestion.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How did it go, Anonymous?

    Did the lilies work out?

    ReplyDelete

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