Blessedness through service in for the Lord

We often hear of people’s prayers to God asking to be favored in a way. The favors are a sign from God that one is blessed. as such blessedness is equated to having earthly goodies and enjoying them.

This is quite a contrast to what God’s word today is telling us; “Blessed are the poor in spirit” Jesus proclaims.

This is a special call to Christians to consider their understanding of blessedness. The script behind Jesus description of different forms of blessedness is far much deeper in content that could be considered at face value. Jesus preached a blessed life that sprouts from a service that every human person renders to another and God often accompanied by suffering.

All the descriptions he gives are reminiscent of a life that puts itself on the knife’s edge for the sake of other people and the gospel; service. He even goes further to suggest if understood literally that riches and good things are prerequisites for life in hell. However, this would only be true if people understood their material wellness as the utmost goal of their life neglecting the needs of other who are suffering. This would be true if people commit to do anything that it takes as long as they get material goods.

Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading says that cursed are those that put their trust in fellow human beings and forsake the Lord. These are people who have everything or whatever it takes to flourish in the world but are not rooted in God and so like plants in the desert they will wither away and fade. It is a call to trust God at all times and seek his service as the first in our lives.

Paul says even in death, those that believed in the Lord are blessed. They shall rise with Jesus and reign in his kingdom. What a privilege and honor.

Let us all remain blessed by serving the Lord and reap rewards of everlasting life and joy.

God bless you all.

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Created for a purpose

Artisans are very good at bringing into reality things they merely conceived in their mind. As they do so they already fashion it in their brains how such things will work. Thus, anything will only be good if and only if it carries out the purpose for which it was made. We are all God’s creation. Just as artisan fashion how what they are bringing about will function, God created us for a purpose which we must carry out here on earth.

Today’s readings challenge us to know what purpose we must carry for God. In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah exclaims what God declared to him that He had known him at conception. This shows that at the very moment of creation, God sets a purpose for every human person. Just as Jeremiah, we are all created for a reason and purpose. What purpose do we see ourselves fulfilling fir God? Jeremiah knew that his purpose was to preach to the people even in the midst of fierce opposition and hatred.

In the Gospel today, Jesus explains to the people the meaning of a scriptural passage he had just read; a passage that lays bare God’s ordained purpose for his life. He had been sent to bring the Good News to the poor. With this passage he does not only announce his purpose on earth but also accepts to carry out his mission. He sets an example to us that we need to know our purpose and accept to live it.

The second reading tells us that our purpose in this life is service to one another. Paul says that we can be endowed with whatever gift but without love we are nothing; we are purposeless.

Let us all remember that our purpose for living in this life is service to one another without which we all fail to serve God.

Have a blessed Sunday.

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Trust in God’s faithfulness

Human life experience, and indeed our Christian life is often faced with challenges. It is a fact of life that we don’t get things as easy as we could love. There are times when these challenges or problems make question the things that we really held dearly to our chest and give us reason to believing. What do we do in such cases as Christians?

Our first reading this Sunday from Trito Isaiah addresses the broken Israel, the desolated Zion. They are a people in exile; God’s people but brought down to shame by Him for their iniquities. The exile for was for the Jews a demeaning experience that led many to question whether what God had said of them was true. The people he had chosen as his own were getting small in number, their life was no longer in their hands but their captors. Many deserted their faith and trust in God despite many prophets preaching of their impending return to their homeland. Thus Isaiah addressed them by announcing the new world order, a new Jerusalem which will be full of splendor and shall be a light to other nations. God will use the now desolate Israel to bring many nations to him. This called for trust in God. Those that trusted these words were in the long run among those returning to their land.

The Gospel on the wedding feast at Cana shows that God through Jesus is the one that can bring joy in our lives. He will bring fullness of life and happiness. The prerequisite for this is the faith and trust in him as showed by Mary. Mary had faith in his son as the Son of God. This is why she went to Jesus asking on behalf of the people that they had run out of wine. She asked Jesus’ disciples to have the same faith as she told them, do as he asks you to.

Jesus makes use of jars that were empty and were used for handwashing to bring joy the wedding party. This is how God can transform our situation from desperation to joy. He will turn around our fortunes, but only and only if we have faith and trust in Him.

Let us pray that we all have faith in God and He will surely come tour help for He is faithful to his promises.  

Blessed Sunday to you all.

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God’s children through Christ

Happy Feast of the baptism of the Lord!

Today, is the first Sunday of Ordinary time in the church, and we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Church doctrine talks about the necessity if baptism for the salvation of human soul. This was made evident in the beginning of Jesus ministry when he accepted to receive baptism meant for sinners.

As we celebrate this feast, we thank God for giving us an opportunity to get regenerated and be called His sons.

Jesus had wanted to authenticate his mission by the baptism he received at the hands of John where a proclamation was heard from heaven that “this is my son with whom am well pleased”. The baptism reveals to all people present that Jesus is the son of God. By his baptism he calls all to conversion and regeneration through water and spirit into God’s children.

Christ baptism is both an example and call. He shows that we all have to be reborn in the spirit if we are to called children of God having fallen into sin through our first parents. He invites us all to be Gods own and the way to be for God is through baptism.

Today’s feast is therefore our call to become God’s children and which will make the heavens proclaim “You are my son with whom am well pleased.”

Blessed Sunday to all.

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Christ, the salvation of all mankind.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, God’s self-revelation to mankind. It is a feast that celebrates the salvation of mankind where God reveals himself through the child Jesus to the magi.

From the prophetic proclamation of Isaiah in our first reading today, Jerusalem as a city represents the whole world which was otherwise engulfed in darkness and sin, but will now be shining brightly and show forth the salvation of God to the whole world.

In the second reading, Paul recounts his calling to make known to gentiles that they too are called to share in the salvation of God just as the Jews were.

The Gospel reading reveals from the beginning the universality of salvation by the presence of the magi who come to Bethlehem to worship the child Jesus.

The wise men from the East are the personification of the world which is now given an opportunity to know God and attain his salvation.

Today’s celebration is a call to for us to proclaim to the world his salvation and so be the light which Jerusalem symbolizes, or the star that will lead others to salvation.

God’s intention to save the whole world will only be realized when all of us take our part in the proclamation of salvation.

That is why today the church in Malawi celebrates Holy Childhood Day, when children are taught to serve in the world in their capacity as children through service to the church and society.

Let us all take up our vocation as proclaimers of salvation so as to remain light in the world.

Blessed Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.

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Garment of joy and glory

Readings: First reading: Bar 5:1-9; Second reading: Phil1: 4 -6, 8-11; Gospel: Lk3:1-6

Christmas season brings good tidings. Salvation is made real in the presence of Christ.

Our readings today give us thus.

In the first reading, Baruch who has probably seen it all, speaks to Israelites in exile. He gives them hope by telling of the coming of the reestablishment of the kingdom of Israel.

This must be some news for the suffering Israel. They have had enough suffering and humiliation at the hands of their oppressors. Sorrow covered them well enough that shame was their daily feeling.

It is in this circumstance that Baruch invites the people to expect the revival of their nation. No more shall Jerusalem be veiled in a garment of sorrow but joy and glory.

Thus, Baruch preaches deliverance and salvation to the people. This brings joy and glory to Israel since they will be able to live as God’s chosen race.

The gospel gives us an insight of the same. The birth of Christ at Christmas is always good news for the salvation of mankind. It also signals the kind of state we are in; lacking grace as we struggle through this life.

Just as in Baruch, John preaches salvation and that we need to put off some old garment. We are called to leave behind our sinful life and be born anew to enjoy the benefits of the coming of Christ.

Therefore, today, we are all called to leave behind our old ways as we expect the coming of our Lord. We all have to take off our old garment of sin which is keeping us captives of Satan and put on garments of good works so as to receive Christ worthily as he comes to us.

Blessed Sunday to you all.

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By: Tobias Marko Gamera

The Gospel according to Mark shows us in the passage we today that the apostles and disciples of Jesus were by no means perfect.  The Lord had chosen them even though they were sinners; but in the school of his discipleship they should mature to the perfection of love for God and neighbor.

Of all things, the disciples of Jesus argue about hierarchies.  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, also openly admit this, because they expressly ask the Lord to be allowed to sit on his right and left in his glory.  The other ten apostles are angry and indignant at the request of the two; but basically they think the same way.  Yes, they are all still very imperfect and have not yet understood what the kingdom of God really consists of.

Jesus rebukes them in a clear yet loving way.  In contrast to the earthly power struggles in the political arena, where everyone just wants to rule, it should be different with the disciples of Jesus: “Whoever wants to be great with you, he should be your servant” (Mk 10:43).  And Jesus refers to his own example: for he, the Lord and Master, “did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, opened a synodal process for the whole Church a few days ago in Rome.  Synod literally means “common path”.  The Church is on a common path as she walks in her history to meet Christ the Lord who will one day come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.  But we should be companions to each other.  In the Church of God, it must not be about striving for power, but every office and every commission is a service for the salvation of people and for the glorification of God.

But only if we understand ourselves in the church as a community of faith and love can we fulfill this mission to people.  That is why the Pope wants us to listen to one another and that we listen to God together.  Respectful listening and being aware of others is essential for what a synodal church should represent, i.e. a church in which we are all together on the way to Christ.

Jesus Christ is already our companion, and therefore it is about that fundamental community into which we have entered through receiving baptism and the other sacraments.  We share in the threefold office of Christ, priest, king and prophet.  The common priesthood of all baptized is intended to express the holiness of God’s people; the special priesthood of the consecrated is to serve this salvation mission.  This is actually about following Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.  Because we as members of the church fail again and again and fall short of the divine commission, it is important to call on God for his mercy and also to forgive one another.

But then we can walk out full of joy and confidence, because by virtue of baptism we participate in the divine life and are already grafted in an invisible way into the living vine, which is Christ.  In his opening address to the worldwide synodal process, the Pope points to the worship of God, which is central.  If we all give glory to God together, listen to his word and act accordingly, then we are a community of truth and love with one another.  Then the church as such will be leaven for society.  Because the people around us expect us to bear witness to God.  Even where we are contradicted, this testimony is important for the truth of Christ.  But love connects us with all who are called to salvation, the saints of heaven are close to us and, through their intercession, guide us to eternal life.

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Readings: First reading: Nm11: 25 -29; Second reading: Jas5: 1 -6; Gospel: Mk9:38 -43;45, 47 -48

Scripture today shows to us that we are called to the same mission; making Christ known to the world and bringing salvation to others.

The first reading gives an account of how God bestowed leadership on Jewish elders after the people had complained to Moses without ceasing. What was reserved for Moses had now been shared among the elders so that together with Moses they might lead God’s people to the promised land. The Seventy – two elders received the spirit and all began to prophesy; even those that had remained in the tent! We hear Joshua approaching Moses asking him to stop those that had remained in the tent from prophesying. Moses rebukes Joshua’s jealousy. It was the Lord’s making that they too were made prophets, that they received his spirit. In Moses’ speech lies a call to the young man who was learning his trade, to work with those whom he shares mission with.

In the gospel Jesus makes a plea for tolerance among believers; whoever is not against us is for us. Those that believe in Jesus must work together to establish the kingdom of God here on earth. In his response to John who was surprised that someone who was not among the twelve was casting out demons, Jesus shows the need for unity as we sojourn in the mission of Christ.

As he continues in his exaltation, the only thing we have to be occupied with is making sure that we do not cause others with little faith to sin.

The second reading gives a perfect example of how we can help preach the kingdom here on earth; Sharing our earthly riches with others so that we are all able to serve him with gladness.

Blessed Sunday to all.

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Readings Josh 24:1-2, 15-18; Eph 5: 21-32; John 6:60-69.

By Rev. Deacon Stanford Sungani.

Today, is the 21^st Sunday in the ordinary time and our readings are inviting all of us to reflect on various choices that we make in our daily endeavors. God through the readings is giving us an opportunity on whether to choose Him or not. As Catholics what do we want to choose between God and the evil one? And what kind of choices do we make?

Brethren, when God created us, He gave each one of us a meritorious gift of freedom which we use in choosing what is desirable to us. It is very clear and distinct that we Catholics today are the beneficiaries of this gift of freedom. You can agree with me that, each one of us today exercise their freedom freely and in that regard we see that choice is one of the most important things in our human life.

All of us make choices in life. To begin with, we all made a choice to become Catholics, and apart from being mere Catholics some of us chose married life and others chose priesthood or consecrated and religious life. However, every choice that each one of us makes has its rights, duties, obligations and consequences. For instance, those of us who chose married life, there is an expected pattern of behavior that we ought to exhibit and obligations that we ought to follow. The same scenario applies also to those of us who chose priesthood or religious life. Good choices have bearable and delightful consequences while poor choices have an unbearable and unpleasant consequences.

In today’s first reading and the Gospel, we encounter two groups of people who have been given a chance to use their freedom to choose to follow God or not. In the first reading, we meet Joshua and the Israelites who without hesitation have decided to serve God in their life. Likewise in the Gospel we meet St Peter and his companions who have also decided to remain with Jesus, when so many people have left Jesus for failing to understand Christ’s teaching on His body and Blood.

My dear friends, today God is also giving us a chance to follow him or not. Of course some of us would say, we already made that choice at Baptism. Again, some of us would say that apart from at Baptism, we made another choice, by following Christ through the vocations of priesthood or religious life and married life. However, today we are all being challenged that it is not enough to be baptized, to profess as a religious sister or to be ordained a priest. Because, every day, God expects us to answer the question, whether we want to keep on living with him or not. Because to be baptized, to be a religious sister, to be a priest could be something easy, but to identify oneself with Jesus Christ is a difficult choice or decision.

 Do our everyday activities reveal that we are following Christ or not? It is very evident that, we for many times behave contrary to the demands of our choice. It might be because of our stubbornness, hardness of heart and sometimes because of our lack of faith in God. We choose to serve our own gods, such as pride, pompousness, intelligence, wealth and other interests. My dear friends, the two groups of people we have met today in our readings, (thus Joshua and the Israelites, Peter and his companions), should be our model of choice. These people chose to serve God because they realized that in God there is peace, comfort, love and above all, everything. It’s true that we are baptized Catholics and some of us are married and others are religious sisters and priests, but today we are reminded to make a choice, thus to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ whose words have eternal life and are the source of everything that exists. 

To we who chose married life, we are also being challenged today in a special way to be conscious of the choices that we make in our families. Many marriages today are in disarray because of the poor and bad choices that we married couples make. If I may ask, what kind of choices do we make as husbands and wives? As the second reading has already alluded to, do we wives respect our husbands? And do we husbands love our wives? Do we as married couples listen to the advice of others? Do we love prayers?

Let us all use today’s readings as an opportunity to make an important choice of choosing God and continuing to identify our marriage, priesthood or religious life and more significantly our daily choices with Jesus, the source of all wisdom so that He may increase in us the energy to protect our marriages and priesthood or religious life and serve the Lord with zeal and commitment. Therefore, my dear friends, today our song should be “I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS, NO TURNING BACK, NO TURNING BACK”

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Mercy and Love in action

Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Eph 4:1-6; Jn 6:1-15

Last Sunday, we saw how Jesus is concerned and moved by the human condition. Despite the fatigue of his mission and consequent human need to rest on the other side of the sea, he is nonetheless moved with compassion upon seeing people who followed him like sheep without shepherd.

Today, we have compassion or mercy or love in action in both the first reading and the gospel.

In the first reading, Elisha got a gift of food from a well- wisher. Though sufficient for a single person probably, he ordered that the food be shared among the people present.  To the amazement of those present, the food sufficed for everyone and had leftovers too.

In the gospel reading Jesus feeds the multitude from the five loaves and two fish presented to him by a small boy. All had their fill and collected the remains.

The two passages teach us a number of things.

First is compassion for those in need. We see in Jesus as well as Elisha compassion for those who were in need. Each had food enough for themselves but had the welfare of the people around them. That is why they were able to share the little they had. In a special way today as we commemorate the day for grandparents and the elderly, we are called to show compassion and kindness to them as they are part of the society that is often marginalized and suffer want.

Secondly, if you share what you have in love and kindness, it is God who acts. From the food that was well estimated by human standards to be insufficient for all, God feeds many people against the odds. God multiplies our blessings every time we share with others.

These readings are therefore a call to all of us always to be moved and act for the sake of the plight of those in problems. We all need to embrace mercy and compassion as the drivers of our Christian living. These will make us instruments of God as we serve others.

The second reading tells us that we all are one family of God. As such no one among us deserves to be in any need of something since we have all we need for our lives. What we lack of love and compassion for each other.

Let us all be providers for each other’s needs.

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