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19/11/2016
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Claire Campbell Smith.
Last on
Sat 19 Nov 2016
05:43
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
Script
Good morning. Β I remember the chill I felt as a teenager when I went through Checkpoint Charlie to visit East Berlin. Β Iβd read of families forced apart, of people shot as they tried to escape to the West, but found it hard to comprehend the idea of a wall dividing a city, separating its people. Β Now I saw the barbed wire and the watch towers. Β
So in November 1989, I rejoiced to see the Berlin Wall torn down, the euphoric crowds pouring across it. Β Memorably, the American, Leonard Bernstein, conducted Beethovenβs 9th Symphony in Berlin that Christmas Day. Β For him, the finaleβs Ode to Joy, a celebration of love, peace and brotherhood, had always been associated with the year of his birth, 1918, when hostilities ended in the first World War. Β βWeβre all children of one father,β he said, βlet us embrace one another.β
All that might sound a rather hollow note today when walls seem to be going up rather than coming down. Β Migration has raised complex issues, but the response doesnβt speak of an increasingly globalised world. Β
The central thought of St Paulβs letter to the Ephesians is of God as the great unifier. Β Of two communities β Jew and Gentile β whoβd previously been totally isolated from each other, he says: βChrist is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.βΒ
Lord, we belong to one humanity. Β May we order our world in a way that recognises our inter-connectedness. Β Amen.
So in November 1989, I rejoiced to see the Berlin Wall torn down, the euphoric crowds pouring across it. Β Memorably, the American, Leonard Bernstein, conducted Beethovenβs 9th Symphony in Berlin that Christmas Day. Β For him, the finaleβs Ode to Joy, a celebration of love, peace and brotherhood, had always been associated with the year of his birth, 1918, when hostilities ended in the first World War. Β βWeβre all children of one father,β he said, βlet us embrace one another.β
All that might sound a rather hollow note today when walls seem to be going up rather than coming down. Β Migration has raised complex issues, but the response doesnβt speak of an increasingly globalised world. Β
The central thought of St Paulβs letter to the Ephesians is of God as the great unifier. Β Of two communities β Jew and Gentile β whoβd previously been totally isolated from each other, he says: βChrist is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.βΒ
Lord, we belong to one humanity. Β May we order our world in a way that recognises our inter-connectedness. Β Amen.
Broadcast
- Sat 19 Nov 2016 05:43ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
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