Dwindling mutual respect and the breakdown of relationships are at the heart of the global crisis. The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster suggests that unless we nurture the Christian understanding of our purpose and destiny, society will grow even more dangerous, extreme and violent

These are difficult times. Knife crime here in London, spreading death and fear; the terrible shootings in the Christchurch mosque and the brutal murder of 200 Christians in Nigeria within the last few weeks; and, of course, the confusion, anxieties, deep disagreements and anger over Brexit, seen not only in the Palace of Westminster but also within families and communities across the country. Have we forgotten how to live together? Perhaps this is the fundamental question. Can we be different without those differences leading to a breakdown in relationships?

It is often said that tolerance and respect are vital qualities in our society: respect for one another and for the rule of law. It’s true that society needs tolerance and respect for its coherence and nourishment. But tolerance of difference and mutual respect are the fruit of something with far deeper roots. It is these deeper roots that we are neglecting, and this is why the fruit are now in short supply. To find these roots, we must go to the heart of how we understand ourselves as human beings. One of the roots of the Ash Wednesday ceremony, with which we began this season of Lent, is the Book of Genesis – an early attempt to answer our question about how we understand ourselves. Genesis tells us, in its unique way, that the human being is formed from the dust of the earth. The name “Adam” comes from the Hebrew adamah, which means “ground” or “soil”. But Genesis also tells us that God took this soil into his hands and breathed into it, giving it a unique form of life – a life that is made in the image and likeness of God. The rest of creation comes to life through the word of God; only the human person is formed by the hand and breath of God.