4 Corners Festival - Opening Night
As a young Protestant boy growing up in Belfast my imagination wasn’t nearly creative enough to picture a scenario where the Pope would send personal greetings to an ecumenical gathering at the Anglican cathedral where his biographer was going to be speaking. The very idea that the Pope would thank, by name, an Irish Presbyterian minister would have been considered comedic a few years ago, but last night Pope Francis named and thanked both Father Martin Magill and Rev. Steve Stockman in his remarks before his biographer Austen Ivereigh spoke. I suppose this is one reason tonight was titled, “Let Us Dream.”
In the holy space of St. Anne’s cathedral I experienced a serendipitous moment that I will most certainly treasure for years to come. What I could never have imagined came to be.
I felt tremendous joy as I returned to Belfast for the opening event of the 4 Corners Festival. I felt alive as I walked the streets of the city to photograph the City Hall. Lighted in red to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival. The city felt like it cared, even if many were totally unaware of what was unfolding in sanctuary of the Cathedral, but even the unaware will be blessed by what took place last night as the Holy Spirit moved in the city of Belfast, reminding us of what could be; of what should be; of what must be as we seek to see God’s kingdom come and God’s will be done.
I was totally unprepared for what happened last night. The joy of seeing friends I hadn’t been with since the start of the pandemic, accompanied by the splendor of the cathedral created a great sense of presence, both the presence of people in community and the presence of God in our midst. This was a holy moment. Added to this was the wonderful testimony from Jasper Rutherford that was followed by the gift that is Austen Ivereigh. God was at work.
In his final remarks Dr. Ivereigh mentioned a speech given by the Pope in which he said, “The task is not just to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and give water to the thirsty, but it is when the homeless, the naked, the prisoners feel at home at our table that is the sign of the kingdom of God.” To which I say “Amen.” While recognising the challenge this presents in a world in which those on the margins are often disregarded or even treated as disposable entities and not seen as people who bear the image of God.
To cap off the evening Father Martin, Jasper Rutherford, Austen Ivereigh, and myself were invited by Steve to go back to the Presbyterian manse for a drink. We spent an hour or so just chatting and sharing a little of our lives with one another. It was beautiful. My heart is full.
I don’t have the talent to adequately articulate what I experienced last night. In a world that is so often divided along religious, political, tribal, cultural, racial, economic, and social lines this was a moment when all of these disappeared as we caught a glimpse of what the kingdom of God looks like. It was holy.
