An air of anxiety is with us. ‘Disaster’ is a word that occurs frequently in the media here in Japan. Politicians use the word when canvassing for votes. The predicted disasters include stronger and more frequent typhoons, causing surging floods and house-crashing landslides. Television news readily supplies graphic images.
Seismologists predict a massive earthquake and super high tsunami waves.
The Nankai Trough, which skirts the east coast off Tokyo and Yokahama, is due to slip soon, they tell us. An earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale and a tsunami will follow. “Prepare now!” we are told.
North Korea, our close neighbour, is arming. They test missiles that can reach Japan. The government’s response is: “Let us arm ourselves with more defensive weapons.” Russia still occupies Japan; the Kuril Islands have remained occupied since 1945 though Japan claims these northern islands as Japanese territory.
In this sad atmosphere of anxiety the message of Jesus is so important: “Fear not! I am with you.” Jesus is the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “When you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned. For I am the Lord your God… You are precious in my eyes and I love you.. Be not afraid, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 43:2)
In a time of disaster we are called to trust our God who loves each of us. That is Christ’s message that I give to my people at Mass – especially on the two Sundays of the year when Yokohama City holds its ‘Disaster Prevention Exercise’.
Our community held that exercise recently. After Mass a whistle blew, the candles were extinguished, and the community, using designated exits, filed out with their hymn books covering their heads. We all gathered in the church yard. It had been raining before Mass; but the rain stopped and the sun shone again.
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrew 13:6)
Fr Barry Cairns was born in New Zealand in 1931. He trained as a Columban missionary in Australia before going to Japan in 1956 to serve on mission. After eleven years in parish work in Japan, he then spent the next 13 years on the staff of the Columban seminary in Sydney before he returned to Japan in 1983. At 94 he continues to serve in a parish in Yokohama City.