By Neil Armstrong
Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, vicar of St. James Cathedral (Toronto), says Bob Marley’s songs remind religion communities that their mission in life isn’t just for private salvation however for social transformation.
He mentioned in a world with financial inequalities and far division, the reggae icon’s message urges the church and anybody of religion to be energetic in mild of justice.
St. James Cathedral (Toronto), certainly one of Toronto’s oldest church buildings, held the Bob Marley Mass, composed by the Barbados-born cleric, on Sunday to watch the Worldwide Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is on March 21.
Dr. Fields mentioned in October the management of the church was concerned in planning the Snell Lectures and the featured speaker, theologian Dr. Brian Walsh, linked the songs and poetry of the late Canadian songwriter Leonard Cohen with scripture. Fields additionally found that there was a mass referred to as the Cohen Mass.
“I assumed what about Bob Marley to myself as a result of in his songs — certainly one of his songs to paraphrase he says he has a lot issues to speak about — I assumed let me perform some research, let me do some reflecting, let me do some praying after which let me try to jot down a service that attracts upon his work. For sure, he has a lot issues to say to us at the moment — church and unchurch.”
Within the homily, Fields instructed the congregation that he was certain none of them had ever imagined that they’d have lived lengthy sufficient to listen to Bob Marley’s music in an Anglican church, St. James Cathedral.
“Drawing on the imagery within the bible, like a musical automobile, Marley’s songs take us on a journey by a means of awakening, of motion, and liberation. Within the music, ‘Exodus,’ he likens the plight of Black folks within the diaspora to these Hebrews in Egypt referred to as Israelites.”
He mentioned Marley “holds earlier than us a mirror exhibiting the struggles of the oppressed peoples of the world as all of them dream of a promised land. For Marley, what is obvious is God is actively concerned in that motion to this promised land.”
Fields mentioned Babylon is a recurring theme and represents oppressive programs: colonialism, racism and all of the isms and schisms that debilitate and dehumanize humanity.
He mentioned liberation was each bodily and religious for Marley. Referencing ‘Redemption Tune,’ Fields mentioned Marley’s emphasis on psychological and religious liberation challenges “us to think about how religion can free people and communities of all that binds and oppresses and never confine them because it has completed over time in a sinful approach.”
He mentioned a central tenet in Marley’s theology is that of radical love and unity, a oneness expressed in ‘One Love’ — “Let’s get collectively and really feel all proper.”
Fields thanked his mentor of 45 years, D.H. Kortright Davis, professor of theology at Howard College College of Divinity, and probably the most reverend Colin Johnson, former bishop of Toronto who he shared the primary draft of his Marley service with for a vital evaluation.
Fields instructed them that he meant to “go exterior the field” they usually gave him vital suggestions which he integrated in his reflections.
He additionally thanked “56 Hope Street Restricted” which homes the Bob Marley Museum, and Main Wave Blue Mountain Music for his or her help, and Bishop Andrew Asbil, and The Very Rev’d Dr. Stephen Hance, dean of the church. He expressed gratitude to Moka, a Toronto-based Caribbean fusion band led by Garth Blackman, which offered the music for the service, together with seven of Marley’s iconic songs. Fields famous that entrepreneur Joan Pierre linked him to the musicians. There was a response by Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, creative director of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, who mirrored on the best way Marley’s music continues to talk to the physique, thoughts, soul and aspirations of the oppressed and underprivileged.
BobMarleyMass #OneLove #TorontoEvents #ReggaeAndFaith #StJamesCathedral #RevStephenFields #RacialJustice #AnglicanChurch #BlackHistoryCanada #MentalLiberation #BobMarleyQuotes #CaribbeanCommunity #FaithAndJustice #MarleyLegacy #InternationalDayAgainstRacism
