In November of the year 1984 two children of a construction worker in Chile

were taken away by the CNI

the name given to the military dictatorship in power.

The father,

his name was Sebastian Avecado,

searched desperately for three days,

begging at Police Stations, 

calling their names outside the houses of the secret torture buildings,

walking the streets.

Finally he went to the cathedral,

sat down in front of the foot of the cross,

and doused himself in petrol.

sat down in front of the foot of the cross,

and doused himself in petrol.

As he set himself alight,

the cathedral priest raced out and called over him the last rites,

and as the father burned he said:

‘I want the CNI to return my children, God forgive them for what they have done and God forgive me too for my sacrifice’

Today we walked with Christ and the donkey towards the cross.

Walking, walking with chants and children.

Today we stood in solidarity with all the children of God,

All those who,

throughout time and place,

have walked across cobbled stones seeking justice against oppression. 

Once such group of children are ‘The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo’

or as they are known in English ‘The Mothers of the Disappeared’.

This unique collection of Argentinean women became human rights activists in order to achieve a common goal. For nearly three decades, the ‘Mothers’ have fought for the right to re-unite with their children, their children who were taken from them

by the dictatorship that had taken over their country.

In protest against this oppressive regime these women took to the streets,

 just as Christ did today, and they walked,

every Thursday afternoon for half an hour around the city square.

The women wore white scarves in remembrance of the nappies that they once wrapped around the naked flesh of their lost children.

The women wore white scarves in remembrance of the nappies that they once wrapped around the naked flesh of their lost children.

Today, three decades on, the Argentinean military have admitted that over 9,000

of those kidnapped are still unaccounted for, but the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo say that the number is closer to 30,000.

But (and this ‘but’ is where the hope begins) on the 26 January 2006,

the mothers and grandmothers made their final annual March of Resistance

around the square

saying that ‘no more marches are needed because the current government is not hostile or indifferent to the fate of our missing children’.

However the Mothers have decided that they will continue their weekly Thursday marches in pursuit of action on other social causes.

I speak to you of these women today to remind us all that no matter how vulnerable

we may feel, no matter how insignificant,

we all have the power to stand up for what we believe in,

we all have the power to walk the walk of non violent protest,

the walk of love.

Christ challenged the powers that be in a totally unexpected way.

The state expected to be attacked by a warrior: they got a bare foot storyteller.

The religious authorities expected dignity and respect:

they got a donkey and children dancing in the streets.

The Argentinean dictatorship expected submission and terrorized victims,

they got mothers and grandmothers standing up and walking forward and saying ‘Enough’.

The Chilean Government expected silence; they got a father aflame at the foot of a cross.

Global warming with drowning polar bears.

Violence against women and children in here and overseas.

Australian Indiginous poverty and child abuse.

Cruelty to animals, barbaric farming practices.

Detention centres for refugees even though they have been recognized by the United Nations as legitimate..

Take your pick folks, choose your walk, but enter your own Jerusalem today. 

Enter by writing a letter of protest, enter by catching the train instead of driving the car, enter by stopping to think before you buy, stopping to feel before you eat,

Stopping to question before you vote.

What are you waiting for?

Enter in solidarity with all those around the world who enter everyday.

One step at a time, one cause, one passion…but choose and walk…

and love will win.