Independence Reflections

My Dear Parishioners,

I greet you all on this the third Sunday in September. In the course of this week – Tuesday to be exact our Federation will be celebrating 23 years of political independence. Anniversaries are always occasions for thanksgiving, praise, reflection and repentance. As we stand just a few days away from the 23rd anniversary of our nation’s independence, we have much to praise and thank our God for. Not withstanding our small size (St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest independent nation in the world), lack of mineral or other natural resources (other than our people & environment) we have been able throughout our period of independence to enjoy a good standard of living. Let us thank God for the leadership of our nation over the years and for the resolve of our people who by our hard work and creative genius have been enabled to affirm ourselves as part of that true humanity that God has created and is redeeming.

We give thanks and praise to Almighty God who has sustained us with a decent standard of living even though we have had to cope with massive destruction by natural disasters namely hurricanes. We also praise and thank our God for the fact that all throughout our twenty-three years of independence we have been able to enjoy democratic governance. As we give thanks and praise for all that is good in our Federation, we are called to reflection on and repentance for what is not so wholesome.

In our Federation at this independence tide, we are experiencing, like many other nations in our region and beyond, unacceptable levels of violence and criminality. All segments of society with citizens and residents have to work together with our security agencies (Police and Defense forces) to stem the tide of crime and violence and turn around this unacceptable situation. Parents and guardians with youth leaders and workers, priests as well as pastors and our political leaders alongside leaders in industry and commerce have to do much more to train our young people to find positive ways of dealing with anger and frustration. We have to create avenues for all our citizens especially our young people to use their energies and creativity to build rather than to destroy.

At twenty-three our nation is still very young; this means that we have the opportunity to learn from other nations which have been around much longer. We know from as far back as the time Before the Common Era (BCE) that those nations whose leaders and citizens failed or refused to live in accordance with the will of God, that is, promoting respect for human rights, and upholding righteousness, godly morality and justice have always failed. As we face new challenges such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic let us resist the temptations for us to turn away from Godliness. As a nation deeply grounded in Christian morality let us not put an entertainment value on sexual relationships; we must instead continue to promote sexual intercourse as one of God’s good gift to celebrate love, commitment and the deepest sharing between married people; let us not go the route of those for whom prostitutes are no longer prostitutes, but are referred to as sex workers. As we look towards our 24th year as an independent nation let us resolve to do everything we can to accept and treat all persons as children of God. This means that we must love and respect everyone especially those who are living with the HIV/AIDS virus or full-blown AIDS. Respecting everyone though is not about apologizing for and or finding ways of removing any offense associated with acts of ungodliness and departures from the norms of Christian morality. Happy 23rd birthday to our nation and all her people! Let us as we look for further progress and prosperity in the years ahead strive to uphold godly morality, live righteously and service justice.

Rev. Isaiah Philip