Navalny and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Photo by Liza Pooor

This is the transcript of the Revd Prof David Wilkinson’s ‘Thought For the Day’ on BBC Radio 4, 19^th February 2024.

Good morning. The death of Alexei Navalny has led to an outpouring of grief and been widely condemned by many world leaders. His campaign against high level corruption and opposition to Vladimir Putin, led to harsh jail sentences and previous assassination attempts which made him vulnerable to this possibility. He had flown back to Moscow rather than live in exile following one of those attempts, knowing he would be arrested. He commented, ‘if I want people to trust me, then I have to share the risks with them’.

Navalny was a complex character, criticised by some for his belief in Russian nationalism and lack of clarity in political ideology, yet he was courageous in pursuing truth. In his closing statement during his court appeal, held three years ago this week, he characteristically used humour and references to pop culture but also spoke about his Christian faith. A former atheist, he highlighted the importance of the Bible in sustaining and energising his activism. He quoted specifically the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied’.

This is part of a series of sayings called the Beatitudes. They are promises of God’s blessing on those who are vulnerable, ‘the poor in Spirit’, ‘those who mourn’ and ‘the meek’ and those who choose the path of vulnerability, ‘the merciful’, the pure in heart’ and ‘the peacemakers’. They reflect the values of the Kingdom of God which are not based on military or economic power, tyranny or oppression, but on the courage of self-giving love and commitment to truth.

There are many in this world who are vulnerable because their agency is taken away by force, whether through violence, imprisonment or economic injustice. There are others who choose vulnerability, using their agency for the sake of others. As a Christian I see a model and inspiration for this in the God who risks becoming a human being in Jesus. And in the resurrection of Jesus, a reassurance that this way of love will ultimately triumph over evil.

With others I will mourn the death of Alexei Navalny, giving thanks for his courageous activism and faith. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness give me both hope and a challenge. The challenge is about justice for all who are imprisoned or threatened in the pursuit of truth, here and throughout the world. It also raises questions for my own life, about how I might speak and act for those who are vulnerable, even if that is a risky thing.