What a beautiful town: wide avenues along the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers, lined with spacious French and local buildings – remnants of the late 19th and early 20th century. Cafés, bistros, markets.
And yet, behind all this, there is a history of brutality and exploitation: Thai imperialism; French colonialism; American military aggression. And now, Chinese economic expansionism.
Luang Prabang lies nestled among the mountains and jungles of Northern Laos. An area of incredible beauty. But we are seeing it all through the dense pall of smoke from the slash and burn fires as farmers all around clear areas for next year’s crops. Even the sun just shimmers as a dull red globe hanging in the breathless, oppressive air.
Our world, too, groans with the exploitation of people and planet: violence, greed, a trampling on all that is good.
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him, falling on their knees they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
- Mark 15: 16-20