NEW YEAR: THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE

As we enter the New Year, in the company of Mary, the mother of the Lord, we are called to dedicate this day to prayer and reflection on peace. The Catholic Church celebrates this day as The World Day of Peace.

To work for peace

There is a Bemba proverb about peace, which stresses each one’s responsibility in the building of peace. It says: Mwikala apatalala, mwine apatalalika, meaning: To stay cool, make it cool; or To live in peace, make it peaceful. 

Peace goes together with the recognition of and the respect for each other’s dignity. All of us without exception are human beings, endowed with the same dignity, therefore with the same rights. There can be no peace, when some are seen as objects which can be trample upon or bought and sold as market commodities. Peace is impossible without justice and freedom. It is the duty of each one of us to work hard for the conditions of peace to be established among us. Whenever we ignore and despise the humanity of the others, we loose our humanity.

Not slaves, but brothers and sisters

For this year’s World Day of Peace, Pope Francis gives us the theme: 

NO LONGER SLAVES, 

BUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

We are called to become aware of the existence of slavery in these modern times, and then to work hard to overcome slavery so that everybody can live in freedom and peace as true human beings.

Situations of slavery

In his message, the Pope makes a summary of the situations of slavery in our world:

• “I think of the many men and women labourers, including minors, subjugated in different sectors, whether formally or informally, in domestic or agricultural workplaces, or in the manufacturing or mining industry; whether in countries where labour regulations fail to comply with international norms and minimum standards, or, equally illegally, in countries which lack legal protection for workers’ rights.
• I think also of the living conditions of many migrants who, in their dramatic odyssey, experience hunger, are deprived of freedom, robbed of their possessions, or undergo physical and sexual abuse. In a particular way, I think of those among them who, upon arriving at their destination after a gruelling journey marked by fear and insecurity, are detained in at times inhumane conditions. I think of those among them, who for different social, political and economic reasons, are forced to live clandestinely. My thoughts also turn to those who, in order to remain within the law, agree to disgraceful living and working conditions, especially in those cases where the laws of a nation create or permit a structural dependency of migrant workers on their employers, as, for example, when the legality of their residency is made dependent on their labour contract. Yes, I am thinking of “slave labour”.
• I think also of persons forced into prostitution, many of whom are minors, as well as male and female sex slaves. I think of women forced into marriage, those sold for arranged marriages and those bequeathed to relatives of their deceased husbands, without any right to give or withhold their consent.
• Nor can I fail to think of all those persons, minors and adults alike, who are made objects of trafficking for the sale of organs, for recruitment as soldiers, for begging, for illegal activities such as the production and sale of narcotics, or for disguised forms of cross-border adoption.
• Finally, I think of all those kidnapped and held captive by terrorist groups, subjected to their purposes as combatants, or, above all in the case of young girls and women, to be used as sex slaves. Many of these disappear, while others are sold several times over, tortured, mutilated or killed.” (Pope’s message for the day of peace)

As we pray for peace, let us commit ourselves to work for peace, remembering that: “Mwikala apatalala, mine aipatalalika”.

I wish all my readers a New Year

full of God’s blessings.

CLOTH YOURSELVES WITH LOVE

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY: Col 3:12-21

Importance of the family

In the first Sunday after Christmas, we celebrate the Holy Family, which is an opportunity to reflect on the family and look at our families to see what problems they face and how faithful they are or try to be to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The family plays a big role in the life of each individual, specially here in Africa. One feels at home, always welcome. In the family, the parents have a central place. Women with many children, when abandoned by their husbands, un back to their parents house. It is always their home, a place of refuge, where one can find peace and love.

By celebrating the feast of the Holy Family, the Church wants to stress the importance and the dignity of the family, in such a way that the Church calls the family as a small community of faith, the Domestic Church. The family is the first school of faith, in which the proclamation and the teaching of the faith is done. The parents give witness to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and preside the celebration of faith in prayer and through prayer.

Dysfunctional families

Nowadays, we find a lot of dysfunctional families, where there is no sharing of love, in such a way that one does not feel welcome and cared for. In so many families, the home is no more a place of peace and refuge; instead, there are daily quarrels and insults. 

In Zambia, in the traditional set up, everyone in the family knew his role, and nobody entered marriage without being instructed and without receiving the support of the wider family and community. In a certain way, the traditional importance of the instructions is still accepted, but in reality the culture people live in, influence by urban life and by the media, undermines the traditional teaching, leading many people to underrate or totally ignore it. 

Many people are guided by selfish motives. Moved by selfishness, I see everything centred on me, demanding that the other puts herself/ himself at my service to satisfy my needs, without caring about my her/ his needs. I want the other to sacrifice for me, but I am not ready to sacrifice for the family, that is the spouse, the children, and the wider community. This attitude is the source of endless problems in the family.

Support each other

One of the readings of the Liturgy of the Holy Family comes from Col 3:12-21. In this passage, Paul stresses attitudes that are very important for the family.

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.” (Col 3:12-21).

Love must reign supreme and express itself in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. This gives the strength to support one another and makes it possible to forgive. Family life and community life cannot exist without the ability to reconcile. If our hearts are full of hatred and the desire for revenge, then we are going to make many people unhappy and ourselves will live an unhappy life. To experience the peace of Christ in our hearts, we must renew everyday our capacity to love and we must re ready to reconcile, by asking for forgiveness and accepting forgiveness.

A DAY OF GREAT JOY: A SAVIOUR IS BORN FOR US

CHRISTMAS FEAST: Is 9:1-7

Isaiah and his powerful message

In Isaiah, we can find some of the most beautiful passages of the Bible. The prophet shows his greatness by the powerful message that he proclaims, and he is a true craftsman in the use of the word at the service of his message, which is the message of God to his people.

Isaiah was not afraid of denouncing the unfaithfulness   of the people to the covenant made with God, and he did not miss his words, but put his fingers straight in the wounds, in order to bring conversion and healing. While challenging the people to change their ways, he presented a message full of hope. God’s power, which is a power of love, will come out victorious; and that victory is a victory in favour of his people.

The light that disperses the darkness

The Messiah is presented as the light, which comes to disperse the darkness covering our world. Indeed, the forces of darkness try hard and use all means to impose themselves and transform the world into a dungeon where everybody is locked up and transformed into a slave that has lost all hope of freedom and life.

A world of violence

Everyday, the news put forward the harsh reality of hatred and violence, as if we are living under sheer madness. Human beings can be the wildest animal, with a thirst for blood that is never satisfied. People are ready to glorify that which is shameful and meaningless. It is enough to remember the events of this past month: the brutal and merciless killing of school children in Pakistan; the mother who stabbed to death all her 7 children, in Australia; the women treated as slaves and transformed into sexual objects to satisfy the brutality of the militants of the Islamic State; and the constant threat to the security of the whole world by radical groups, who claim to do it at the service of God, a merciless god, who commands violence to all those who are seen as enemies.

Abusing the name of God

A lot of the extreme violence around the world is connected with the followers of Islam. The Al Qaida, the Talaban, the Boko Aram and now the Islamic State, all claim to be faithful followers of the Quran, and to kill at the service of God. 

Violence can be found everywhere, and among the followers of any religion. Christians, for instance, cannot claim to be innocent, because like many others, they have their hands tainted with blood, during certain periods of the history of the Church. However, any Christian group cannot claim faithfulness to the Gospel, while promoting and exacting violence. 

Jesus Christ came as Prince of peace, was born poor among the poor, preached a message of reconciliation and love, and chose to be killed instead of killing. The same cannot be said about Muhammad. With a religion, he created an empire. When attacked, he took arms and crushed his enemies, becoming their ruler. In the Gospel, Jesus taught to love the enemies (Mt 5:44) and advised to turn the other cheek to the one has  struck us (Mt 5:39). In the Quran, according to Muhammad, God teaches: 

“And fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not commit aggression; God does not love the aggressors.” (2/ 190)

“And kill them wherever you overtake them, and expel them from where they had expelled you.” (2/1 191)

“Whoever commits aggression against you, retaliate against him in the same measure as he has committed against you.” (2/194).

The rule of justice and righteousness

Isaiah promises a time of rejoicing, because people will suffer no more oppression, and the instruments of torture will be disposed of for ever. It will be a time of peace, when weapons will be burnt, and soldiers will be needed no more.

“For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

 For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.” (Is 9:4-5)

All this will be brought about by a child born for us. Any child is a promise of life, renewing our hope in a better future. But this child born for us carries with him the destiny of humanity. He is the “Prince of Peace”, and under his authority “there shall be endless peace”,  because he will rule “with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore” (Is 9:7).

REJOICE: TO YOU A SAVIOUR IS BORN!

With hearts full of joy,
We join the whole creation,
singing all together
the song of heaven
first sung by the multitudes of angels in celebration of the new born king, who brings peace:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace
among those whom he favours” (Lk 2:14).

Merry Christmas 

to you, 

your family 

and your friends.

Fr. José

WELCOMING JESUS IN THE COMPANY OF MARY

IV SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Luke 1:26-38

As Christmas gets nearer, we are presented with the figure of Mary, a girl from Nazareth, who was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. The gospels say very little about Mary, and what they say about her is in relation with Jesus, who occupies the centre stage in everything that is written not only in the Gospels, but in the whole New Testament. We would like to know much more about Mary, and we would like to know even more about Jesus. However, the Gospels were not written to satisfy our curiosity, but to lead us to faith in Jesus Christ, so that in him we find life and salvation.

A woman of faith

Mary appears as a woman of faith, whose life gets its meaning from God’s presence and intervention in her life. She is a woman of faith, by her openness to God, allowing him to come into her life and to turn it upside down, since God’s ways are always different from our ways. She is a woman of faith, with a listening heart, prompting her to listen to God’s word. And she proves to be a woman of faith by her readiness to believe, accept and obey. She surrenders her life to God. 

While Eve defied God, Mary surrendered herself to God

Looking at Mary, it comes to our minds the figure of another woman, totally different in character, Eve. She was suspicious of God’s sincerety and intent, and decided to ignore God’s word and follow her own instincts. Eve’s attitude was one of disobedience and revolt, with the intent of taking God’s place. Mary follows a totally different path. It was not an easy path, because the path of faith is never easy. At the greeting of the Angel, Mary was disturbed and felt perplexed. Not knowing what to make of it, she expressed her reservations and inquired about the meaning of God’s plan. Hearing the Angel’s explanation, she answered back: I am a servant of the Lord! Let it be with me according to your word (Lk 1:38).

In her surrender to God’s will, Mary has the same basic attitude of Jesus Christ: May your will be done!

Mary was the first disciple. She welcomed Jesus in her life and put herself totally at his service. Whatever she is - her dignity and her role - she is because of Jesus Christ. Like Mary, let us open our hearts to Jesus, welcome him in our lives and commit ourselves to his service.

MAY GOD KEEP US SOUND AND BLAMELESS FOR THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

In this Sunday’s second reading, Paul points out what the attitude of a true Christian must be at all times, but specially during this Advent season.  Look at the seven points that he stresses:

1. “Rejoice always, 
2. pray without ceasing, 
3. give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 
4. Do not quench the Spirit. 
5. Do not despise the words of prophets, 
6. but test everything; 
7. hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.”

Rejoicing

Christmas is a joyful feast, in which the angels come to join us in singing to God, proclaiming his glory, which manifests itself in love. He so loved the world that he sent his only Son to bring life and salvation (Jn 3:16).

A Christian moves forward, always full of hope, knowing that he does not walk alone and that God is faithful to his promises. It is from the awareness of God’s faithful love that some people gets the strength and the courage to smile and to irradiate joy, while in deep suffering. By his joy, a Christian keeps the light of hope shining in this world covered in the darkness of despair.

Prayer and thanksgiving

The rejoicing is only possible through a deep experience of God, made in prayer. Paul advises us to live in an attitude of prayer, aware of being always in God’s presence, relating to him, in a relationship of love with him. And this prayer is done in thanksgiving, because all that we are and everything that we have is a gift of God’s love: the gift of life, of the world we live in, of the people who suround us. Many times, we behave as if we are the owners of our lives, of the world and of the people from whom we demand total service, but in fact we cannot lay claim on anything but our own shortcomings and failures. In an attitude of honesty, recognising the gifts received, we must “give thanks in all circunstances”. And most of all, we must give thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, who shared our human condition so that in him we become children of God.

Guided by the Spirit of God

We cannot be honest with ourselves, with the others and with God, if we do not pay attention to the Holy Spirit, who guides us from within. “Do not quench the Spirit”, because he illumines us and enables us to see and understand the reality around us and makes it possible for us to discern the will of God. Without a listening heart to the Spirit, we become blind, unable to see the dangers that surround us or the possibilities which are open to us. 

The Spirit speaks in varied ways and mainly he speaks through other people, those who interpret the signs that come in our times and who are ready to to give voice to the challenges that we face. It is a sound advice that Paul gives us: “Do not despise the words of the prophets”.

Test everything

There is always the danger of confusing the evil spirit with the Holy Spirit, being led astray by him and thus separating ourselves from God and from the others. To avoid such a danger, Paul instructs us to test everything, keeping what is good and rejecting what is evil.

Paul’s prayer for us

Finally, Paul prayed for the Thessalonians, and we may use his prayer ifor us and for others. May indeed God keep us “sound and blameless” for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.”

THE VOICE OF CONSOLATION

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Mark 1:1-8

As we prepare for Christmas, we are confronted with the figure of John the Baptist standing tall before us, challenging with his strange behaviour and calling us with his blunt and straightforward speaking. People of all walks of life felt attracted to him, impressed by his word and recognising in him a sincere and truthful man who touches their profound inner desires for justice, peace and righteousness. He never claimed to be what he was not, and he went always straight to the point, putting his finger on the wounds that needed healing.

His message was a message of repentance and of change to people who were in need of purification and in search of a new way of life. John the Baptist lived as he preached, always faithful to the mission entrusted to him. He was the voice crying in the desert, calling for a change of heart. He came to prepare the coming of the Lord, and his message transmits the urgency of this preparation. We must be ready, because he is coming, and must welcome him with pure hearts, totally turned to God.

John’s call to repentance was accompanied of a baptism of repentance. This bath in water given by John, was much more than the ritual purification ordered in the Law of Moses for situations of impurity. John’s baptism implied a return to God, which demanded the acceptance of sinfulness by the confession of sins and led to new attitudes towards the others and new moral behaviour, concerned with truth and righteousness.

John was well aware that he was preparing the way for someone else, who is much greater than he is. He is baptising in water, but the Messiah who comes after him, will baptise with the Holy Spirit. 

John is the voice, announced by the Prophet Isaiah - a voice to bring consolation, proclaiming that our God is here, with us, and he is ready to redeem us.

BE ON YOUR GUARD!

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Mk 13:33-37

A time full of expectancy

This Sunday, we begin the season of Advent, so called  because we look forward to the one who is coming. It is a time full of expectancy, filled with hope.

In the Gospel, Jesus puts forward attitudes that go with the Advent season and which are essential in our lives and for our salvation.

We must live in an attitude of waiting. We do not belong to the present, but to the future. If we are satisfied with what we are and with what we have, we will be left behind, fallen by the wayside or lost in the wilderness, tired and exhausted.

We are waiting for something - indeed for someone, who will bring fulfilment to our lives. We do not wait in vain. We know that God is faithful and he will not go back on his word. We are sure that God’s Promise will be fulfilled. In our waiting there is no despair, but hope. We live our lives in hope, looking towards the future. The hope that fills our hearts gives us the strength to go on walking and to keep on struggling, sure that in the end we will be given the victory.

Be alert and vigilant

While we are waiting, we must remain vigilant, that is we must be on the alert. Jesus stresses this admonition, repeating his warning: “Stay awake! Be on your guard” (Mk 13:33-36). We must be aware of what is happening around us, and we must be able and prepared to react. If we fall asleep, then we will be caught unaware and dispossessed of whatever we have. This attitude of alertness is very important in the various areas of life. Important in our spiritual life and in our relationships, as it is important as well in scientific research, in business and in politics.

This call to vigilance is very different from the vigilante groups that we find in some political forces. Vigilantes try to force others to keep in line with their leaders, the authority or the law. And in doing that, they are ready to use violence on anyone who is seen as going astray. Jesus’ call to alertness and vigilance is a call to a personal attitude of responsiveness to God’s intervention in our lives.

We must be ready and prepared, so that when the Lord comes, he finds us  ready and prepared wot welcome him.

CHRIST THE KING: Mt 25:31-46

Lord of lords

We end the liturgical year with the feast of Christ the King, in which we proclaim Jesus as the Lord of lords and the King of kings, following the profession of faith of the letter to the Philippians:

“Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

 and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father”. (Ph 2:9-11)

Jesus’ kingdom is not an earthly kingdom, even though it is all embracing, since all tribes and nations will bend their knees in recognition of his sovereignty. In fact, during his life here on earth, he refused the throne and the power that goes with it, and he went into hiding, when he heard that people wanted to make him their king. When Pilate presented him with the accusation that he was called Messiah and King, he answered: “My kingdom is not from this world”.  And explaining, he went on to say: “I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (Jn 18:36-37). Jesus is the king of all those who search for the truth, and the truth manifests itself in humility, kindness, peace and love. 

A king of peace

He came as king of peace, and his rule is completely different from that of the great and powerful kings of this world. They rule by force, oppression and violence. Jesus wants to be welcomed into our lives, uniting us to him with strings of love.

The charter of the Kingdom

Seated on the mountain, surrounded by his disciples, Jesus gave them the charter of his kingdom (Mt 5:1-12). In that charter, Jesus presents the guiding values, by which we must work for his kingdom to come and become a reality among us. His kingdom is a gift of God’s love and mercy, and we pray daily for its coming, with Jesus’ own words: “May your kingdom come!” (Mt 6:10). However, God wants our cooperation in the establishment of this kingdom, and our effort has to be guided by the charter of the Kingdom, the Beatitudes.

Last judgement

In the end, there will be reward or punishment, which will follow a final judgement, and in that judgement there will be only two possible outcomes: being given a place in God’s kingdom, or being permanently excluded from it.

This Sunday’s gospel presents the parable of the last judgement. From that judgement, there will be no appeal. It will be final and it will come at the end, but the outcome depends on what we do now. In the judgement, Christ will use only one rule and he will measure us against it. And this one rule will be applied to all, Christians or no Christians, believers or no believers. It is interesting that Jesus will not ask if we believed or not. And he will not ask if we were baptised or not, or if we were going to church or not. He will measure everybody against the rule of love, mercy and compassion. The ones found wanting, will be punished  by exclusion from his Kingdom. Confronted with so clear judgement, people will answer back that they do not remember to meet him or even to know him; but it does not matter. Whenever we are moved by compassion to do something in order to diminish and alleviate the pain  of the suffering ones, we are doing it to Jesus, and he will reward us for it. Whenever we are truly human, showing love and compassion, then we are welcoming God’s kingdom and living by its values. And Jesus will recognise us and give us a share in his Kingdom.

CALLED TO ACCOUNT FOR OUR ACTIONS

XXXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: Matthew 25:14-30

Look at life from different angles

The Scriptures and specially the Gospels help us (or even force us) to look at life from very different angles. Life is too complex to be described or defined in one sentence, and even less in one word. What we see depends on where we are standing, and it depends as well on our aspirations and desires or our concerns and sufferings. That’s why we may find world views that seem to be opposite or even to mutually exclude themselves.

The importance of faith for our salvation

The Holy Scriptures make it clear that we are saved by faith, meaning that we have no claims or rights over God. The life that we live is a gift that must be cherished with thanksgiving. And salvation as well is a gift bestowed on us by God’s mercy, which we must welcome and accept with confidence and total surrender to God. This may give us the idea that nothing else matters, but faith and that, if we believe with all our hearts, we are saved. However, other passages speak about attitudes, deeds and behaviour, which are essential to enter the Kingdom of God, telling us that we will be judged by our actions here on earth.

Called to account for what we did with what we were given

The parable of the talents, which is read in this Sunday’s liturgy brings it forth very plainly that we will be called to account for what we have done with what we were given. Each one of us has received a special gift that makes him special and different. And we can find different people with different abilities living in different situations that call for different actions. This difference of gifts and people brings about a great variety and richness, which always fills us with surprise. Indeed, our God is a God full of surprises, or as they say in Bemba, Shimwelenganya, that is a God full of imagination.

Initiative and creativity

We may find people who are jealous of the gifts received by others, instead of being thankful for their own gifts.  The parable of the talents makes it clear that we receive different gifts according to our different abilities. And God will not consider what we received, but the use we made of what we received. Initiative and creativity play an important role in what we may achieve, and each one on his own must do his best to excel. God looks at the effort and the struggle, not at the final result. There is a saying in Bemba that says: the trees fall to where they are bent. It is the sense of purpose and direction that is important. In the parable, the ones who worked hard and produced according to their ability were rewarded handsomely, while the lazy one was punished. We must add value to what we found or was given to us. If we only use and misuse what others left for us, we are good for nothing, and God will reject us, because we rejected ourselves.

The parable of the talents speaks about reward and punishment; and we will receive one or the other according to our actions.

WE ARE GOD’S TEMPLE

FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA - 1 Corinthians 3:9-11,16-17

The importance of the Temple

In the Old Testament, the Temple was highly revered, being the centre of all religious life, as it was seen as God’s dwelling among his people. The Psalms express very well the centrality of the Temple in the spiritual life of the people.

“One thing I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

to live in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the Lord,

and to inquire in his temple.” (Ps 27:4)

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,

and the place where your glory abides. (Ps 26:8)

To worship in spirit and truth

The early Christians had no temple and no churches. They celebrated the Eucharist in private houses (Act 2:v46) or in private spaces provided by people with bigger houses. Jesus had taught them that they should worship God “in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:24), and for such worship, temples and churches were of no importance. This was plainly confirmed with the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, which brought about the disappearance of the sacrifices and the priesthood of the Old Testament. The Christians had learnt with Jesus that wherever two or three are gathered in his name, he is there with them, making their coming together an act of worship to the Father.

Paul had stressed that we are “God’s building”, that is “God’s temple” (1 Co 3:9,16). And he emphasises the same idea again: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own.” (1 Co 6:19).

Peter expresses a similar idea, when he writes: “like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet 2:5).

The Lateran Basilica as the cathedral of Rome

However, as the communities grew, the need for public and larger meeting places was felt. And this became more and more so, when Christians were allowed to have a free expression of their faith. After Constantine granted the Christians freedom of worship, great numbers of people flocked to the Church and the  need for meeting places became urgent.

It was then that the Emperor Constantine gave the Lateran palace to the Pope. It was called basilica, meaning “royal palace”, and within it there was a big hall for big functions and big public audiences. The palace became the pope’s residence and the hall was transformed to become the cathedral of Rome, that is the church of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. It was called the Basilica of the Saviour, having been dedicated to Christ the Saviour. Later on, it was also dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

This basilica is commonly known as the Lateran Basilica. The name came from the Laterani family, a family of common people who reached high positions. In Nero’s time, one was accused of conspiracy against the emperor and the property was confiscated. The palace built on the Laterani’s land became into Constantine’s possession through his wife.

Being the cathedral of the Pope as Bishop of Rome and being as well the oldest in Rome, the Lateran Basilica is considered the mother and head of all churches. It was  sacked by the Vandals and nearly destroyed by an earthquake and twice burnt by fire, but it was always restored.

An assembly gathered in the name of Jesus Christ

Celebrating the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, we are celebrating the community who gathers in the name of Jesus Christ, receiving from him the living water that sustains us and takes us into the eternal life. This day reminds us that we are an Assembly (Ecclesia) of a multitude of peoples and nations united in Jesus Christ and with him worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth. And this is true of all our churches or assemblies, who have Christ as the Head and the High Priest that presides the celebration of God’s glory, singing the praises of his deeds of salvation. We are one body with Jesus Christ, and with him we offer ourselves in sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

ALL SOULS: Psalm 23

In Zambia, we are mourning President Michael Chilufya Sata. His body arrived from London this Saturday morning. It happens that, at the beginning of November, the Catholic Church celebrates two feasts that always move together: the feast of All Saints and the feast of All Souls. In them, we look back to the people who have gone before us and who have shown us the way. We reflect not only on death in general but on our dead, the ones we were connected with, who influenced our lives and became role models that we strive to imitate. We remember them and we celebrate them, because their way of life helps us to find meaning to our lives and our deaths.

It is interesting that faced with the death of their President, the Zambian people keep this time of mourning in an attitude of sorrow and of celebration as well. They celebrate the life of someone who by his persistence and endurance in the struggle for his political ideals became an example for so many others, so that they may have the courage to go ahead with their daily battles, never accepting defeat, until they reach their goals.

In the Catholic Church, we celebrate these two feasts with two basic attitudes: one of rejoicing and thanksgiving and the other of humbleness and trust in God’s mercy and compassion. Indeed, the feast of All Souls is a recognition of our sinfulness and a profession of faith that salvation is a gift. We are saved by grace, that’s is by God’s mercy and compassion. We may try hard to answer God’s call and to be his faithful servants, but we always fall far short of the fulness that only God can give. In the feast of All Souls, we entrust our departed brothers and sisters to God’s care and God’s mercy.

By celebrating the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, we proclaim that we form one community with all those who have preceded us. We are the body of Christ, and in Christ we live the communion of saints. Being one with them, we sing God’s praises and put ourselves in his arms that embrace us with love. As we remember all those who went before us, we may pray (or sing) the Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

 he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

for his name’s sake.

 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff—

they comfort me. (Ps 23:1-4)

TRUE PEACE DEMANDS JUSTICE

XXX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: Ex 22:20-26

This past Friday, we celebrated 50 years of the independence of Zambia, in which people have enjoyed peace. As we rejoice in the independence of Zambia, we are given in the first reading of this Sunday’s liturgy some basic rules, which must guide the nations, which want to live in peace.

The book of Exodus tells the story of liberation and of the journey to freedom of the people of Israel. While telling the story of the struggle for freedom, the book sets out some basic rules, which must be accepted like a charter or a constitution, making sure that all policies and laws remain faithful to it. 

This Sunday’s passage - Exodus 22:20-26 - deals with three basic issues:

1. the status of the foreigner or minorities
2. the care due to the orphan and the widow
3. the lending or borrowing of money.

The rights of minorities

According to Exodus, the foreigner must be treated like the citizens of the country. The Israelites are reminded that once they live in foreign land, being oppressed and enslaved. Remembering that suffering, they must treat all residents in the country as free people. The rights of minorities must be respected, and vulnerable groups must be protected. 

Nowadays, in many countries, we can see minorities being harassed and oppressed. These days, in Syria and Iraq, Christians, Curds and other minorities have to flee for their lives, being reduced to refugees in their own country, without a home where to rest and without food to give them strength and keep them alive. The foreigner who lives in our midst, is always a challenge to our exclusivism and fundamentalism. He forces us to see alternatives to our ways of thinking and living.

The orphan and the widow

In many traditional societies and in the modern ones as well, the orphans and the widows live at the mercy and goodwill of relatives and neighbours. In the Zambian traditional society, the orphans would find a home among the relatives, being brought up as their own children; the widows would be provided for with a second marriage within the family of the deceased spouse. However, as the traditional society and values collapse, we can find many orphans abandoned to themselves, struggling to survive. The State must protect and defend the rights of the orphan and of the widow. 

And Exodus leaves a strong warning: Do not abuse them, because if they cry out to me, I will listen to them “and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans” (Ex 22:24).

Interest on a loan

Finally, the passage deals with lending and borrowing, forbidding interest on loans to the poor. And anything taken in pledge as a guarantee of payment must be given back, because the poor may have nothing else which he relies upon to survive.

For our capitalist society, this rule sounds like a joke. Banks get their huge profits from lending, and in the compounds of our towns, people lend money at exorbitant rates.

For a nation to live in peace, its laws must be based on justice and righteousness. This reading may help us to look back at our journey as a nation. The freedom that we enjoy must be measured by the attention we give to the weak and the vulnerable. Do we have laws that protect the orphan and the widow? Are the poor defended from the rapacity of the rich? Or do we allow them to become the trampling stones upon which the rich climb?

Let us commit ourselves to work for justice and peace.

ZAMBIA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

It is with joy that Zambia celebrates 50 years of independence. At fifty, Zambia is still a very young nation, looking to the future much more than to the past. It is a nation being built, moving forward, full of expectations and hope. Zambia is a young nation filled with a young population, which struggles for a better future.

FIFTY YEARS OF PEACE

Celebrating her independence, Zambia is celebrating fifty years of peace. In spite of the great diversity of tribes, languages and customs, Zambians have learnt living together, in such a way that one can fill at home in any part of the country. Anywhere in Zambia, one can find a great number of mixed marriages, with the children born out of them filling at home both in their father and mother’s tribes. We find regional tensions, which are normal in any country, and we can find groups complaining of being left out in the development programmes, but the tradition of tribal cousinship allows people of different tribes to laugh at each other without taking offence, thus bringing out the strengths and weaknesses of each tribal group. Indeed, the slogan started by Kenneth Kaunda, the first President, of “One Zambia, one Nation” has proven to be true, with every citizen, no matter the tribe to which he/ she belongs, feeling proud of being Zambian.

UNDER SOCIALISM/ HUMANISM

The Zambia of today is very different from the one born 50 years ago. Following the trend of many other African countries, Zambia became a One Party State, guided by a socialist ideology. A lot of infrastructures were put in place, with free health and education. UNIP, under the guidance of Kenneth Kaunda, tried to build an egalitarian society, where the basic needs were taken care of. The rich were few, and even the children of the poor could go the university, once they proved themselves in the completion of their secondary education. However, the State was in control of everything and everybody, treating the citizens as minors, who are always in need of a tutor to guide them and tell them what to do. Dynamism, creativity and initiative were stifled by a system that thought for the people, creating an attitude of dependence, relying on the State, instead of feeling responsible for one’s own life and future.

A NEW ERA WITH THE MULTIPARTY SYSTEM

With the end of Kaunda era and the introduction of a multi-party system, Zambia has undergone a huge transformation: from socialism to capitalism, opening the gates to private initiative and creativity. There has been an explosion of dynamism and creativity, which has led people into new ventures, taking responsibility for their own livelihood. The fruits of this transformation can be seen everywhere, with new mines, new enterprises, new initiatives and a construction boom, transforming the face of towns and cities.

However, this transformation has not been an easy and painless one. Many people find it hard to survive, with a growing number living in the edges of poverty, while a new class of rich and very rich has been formed, many times trampling on the poor and exploiting them. And one gets the impression that the levels of education and of health care for the majority of the people have suffered, while the rich get the best private schools and private clinics. But nobody would like to go back to the old system, loosing the freedom of speech and the ability to pursue one’s own initiative and try one’s own luck.

GIVING THANKS TO GOD

As we celebrate 50 years of independence, we must give thanks to God for these years of peace, recognising the achievements of our Nation and giving praise to the political wisdom of the leaders that knew how to bring people together and lead them to live in harmony.

At the same time, all Zambians must commit themselves to the service of the country, caring for the welfare of the nation. Zambia needs to invest more in the infrastructures that will facilitate the creation of wealth. The rural areas need much more attention and more concerted efforts of development, so that farmers may see their work appreciated and rewarded. The State must invest much more in education at all levels in all provinces. The wealth of the country must be distributed fairly to all provinces. Not forgetting that Zambia needs to become less dependant on the multinationals and foreign capital, making it possible for Zambian companies to excel. The  future belongs to the youth, as the Bemba proverb says: Imiti ikula, e mpanga. Indeed, the growing trees are the forest. We must create opportunities for the youth and give them a voice. Our youth needs to grow, being given the opportunity to show initiative ad responsibility.

As we give thanks for 50 years of independence, let us ask for God’s blessings. May God bless Zambia, and pour his Spirit upon the Zambian people, so that they may always work for peace.

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF SURPRISES

XXIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: Is 45:1,4-6; Mt 22:15-21

The Scriptures are full of surprises, with the unexpected taking the central stage and leaving us bewildered. Our God is indeed a God of surprises, or as they refer to him in Bemba, Shimwelenganya, that is the One full of imagination, always designing new things. 

God’s heart is open to all

Who could imagine that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, was part of God’s plan, having been called  by God himself who entrusted to him a mission towards his people. Indeed, God’s ways are different from our human ways. For the people of Israel, Cyrus was a foreigner, who knew nothing about Yahweh, but God chose him, as he had chosen Moses long time before, to be the liberator of his people. 

The Jewish people ran the risk of extinction, going the same way that the Kingdom of the North had gone before, being lost in the melting pot of countries, tribes, languages and cultures. That had been the policy of the Assyrians and the Babylonians, who uprooted nations and moved them to distant provinces of their empire, so that they would not revolt, but disappear, losing their identity. The Persians had a completely different attitude towards the vanquished nations, allowing them to live in their ancestral lands and keep their cultural identity. And so the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, to rebuild the Temple and to keep their religion and their traditions.

With Isaiah, we must recognise that God is not a narrow minded chauvinist god. His heart is universal, and the lordship of his love embraces all. Nobody can have exclusive claims on God. He is the God of all, and all play a role in the fulfilment of his plans, even when they do not know him.

All political power is human and cannot claim divine rights

“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mt 22:21). This is one of the most famous sentences of Jesus, which we hear repeated whenever people speak about the Church and the State. Jesus makes it plainly clear that we cannot give to the political ruler - be he chief, king, president or prime minister - the respect and the obedience that belong to God alone. 

In most ancient cultures, the role of the king was associated with the divine, in such a way that the ruler was surrounded  by an aura of sacredness, because he was seen as being in touch with the gods and being their representative here on earth. This conferred on the king absolute power, demanding from people total obedience, and punishing the slightest disrespect as a crime and an offence to God himself. In the past, in Bemba, people referred to the Chief as “Mwine nkuni na menshi”, meaning that he is the owner of the firewood and of the water. Everything belongs to him, even the food that someone eats and the water that he drinks. He had power of life and death over his people.

Jesus makes it clear that political rulers are not divine, since they are not gods, but human beings. They are not sacred and they cannot demand a sacred reverence. Their word is not God’s word, and their laws are not God’s laws, but simply human laws. Although many of them claim absolute power and demand absolute obedience, they become oppressors, claiming rights that they do not have. They cannot be worshiped and praised as gods, because they are mortal human beings like everybody else.

Any leader, whoever he may be, is just a human being that should put his life at the service of the people and he should never give himself the power to take away the basic rights and freedoms that are the preserve of every human being.

ALL ARE INVITED TO THE FEAST OF SALVATION

XXVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: Mt 22:1-14

Matthew presents a sequence of events, which leads to the three parables we have been reading in these Sundays. Jesus entered Jerusalem, went to the the Temple and expelled all those who were selling and buying in the Temple. That action puzzled many people and enraged the religious leaders. The following day, coming from Bethany, where he spent the night, Jesus went back to Jerusalem, and seeing a fig tree, which had nothing on it but leaves, he cursed it, because it had no fruits. The fruitless tree was a symbol of the fruitless people that did not produce fruits of righteousness and refused to change their ways and believe in the Good News of salvation.

When he arrived in Jerusalem and entered the Temple again, the elders and the chief priests addressed him, questioning his actions: What authority do you have to come in here and disrupt the normal running of the Temple? Who has given you such authority? Jesus did not answer about his authority, but questioned them instead about John’s baptism. Afraid of the people, who held them in poor consideration, they answer that they did not know if John’s baptism came from heaven or was of human origin (Mt 21:27).

Jesus took this opportunity to denounce and indict the leaders for their refusal to believe and for their lack of deeds of obedience and faithfulness, by telling three parables: a) the father with two sons (Mt 21:18-32), b) the wicked tenants (Mt 21:33-46), c) the guests who refused to attend the wedding of the king’s son.

All three parables present the refusal of the leaders to obey, to recognise God’s rights and to ignore and despise God’s invitation to share in his work and in his joy. This refusal went so far as killing the messengers and the son himself. While they exclude themselves from participating in the feast of salvation, others take their place, even the ones that are called at the last moment.

These parables leave it very clear that we cannot take God for granted. Our salvation depends on our actions of faithfulness to God’s call; and no one should think that his salvation is guaranteed no matter what. In fact, the parables of the wicked tenants and of the disdainful guests speak openly of judgement and punishment.

Isaiah had already presented salvation as a great feast organised and prepared by God for his people. Jesus speaks of that feast as a wedding feast, the wedding of the king’s son. The invited guests refused to take part in the feast, finding all kinds of excuses to absent themselves from the wedding. Their attitude was an attitude of defiance and revolt, considering the king’s invitation as insignificant. 

The king easily found a way out, by inviting everybody to the wedding. Nobody was excluded, but the ones that excluded themselves; and great numbers of people answered the call, in such a way that “the wedding hall was filled with guests” (Mt 22:10). Hearing this, it sounds very easy and effortless to enter God’s kingdom and seat at his table, as if God does everything for us and we have just to seat and enjoy ourselves. However, the parable leaves a warning: one guest was not properly dressed; he dared to go in without considering the decorum needed in the king’s presence, and he was punished for that, being thrown out of the feast. God’s call must be answered with the respect due to God.

At baptism, we were dressed in white and told to keep that vestment pure for the kingdom of heaven. Paul wrote that we should “put on the armour of light”, that is “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro 13:12,14).

WHEN WE REFUSE TO RECOGNISE GOD’S RIGHTS ON OUR LIVES…

XXVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: Mt 21:33-43

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the parable of the vineyard and of the tenants who tried to take over the vineyard and make it their own property.

The parable interprets the history of salvation, giving a brief summary of it in a few sharp strokes. A landowner decided to plant a vineyard, providing it with everything needed to get a good production. In the first reading, Isaiah tells us that God is the landowner, who showed great love for his vineyard (Is 5:1-7). This vineyard is the people of Israel, whom God chose and loved, entrusting them with the mission of being God’s people among the nations. However, it seems that God’s trust in them was misplaced, because they were unfaithful, despising God’s love and ignoring his ways and commands, in such a way that God “expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry - (Is 5:7).

Telling this parable about the vineyard, Jesus built on the words of Isaiah and pinpointed the great areas of unfaithfulness of the people, forcing the leaders to see themselves represented, denounced and condemned in the parable.

The tenants took over the vineyard and made it their own property, and they did so by not paying their rentals or giving the owner his share in the produce. Their refusal of the owner’s rights led them to become criminals and murderers, beating and killing their fellow servants sent by the owner. And the story repeated itself time and again. Finally, he sent his son to them, expecting that they would welcome and respect him. However, they had become bold and fearless enough to carry their murderous attitude up to the end, by killing the son and taking over the vineyard.

In this parable, Jesus speaks of the relationship of God with his people, thus speaking at the same time of his own mission and of his own incoming death.

Many times, we hear people proclaiming that the Father sent his Son to death, and we may get the idea that Jesus’ killers cannot be blamed, because they were carrying out God’s plan for our salvation. It is true that Jesus died for us and because of us, but the Father sent him to be respected, listened to and obeyed. The Father’s heart may have trembled with fear, sensing that they would not respect his Son and that they would be ready to commit the ultimate crime and kill him; but he sent his Son so that he might bring them to their senses, leading them to obedience and surrender. Jesus, the Son, was not killed by the Father, but by people who refused to recognise and accept him as the Son, deciding instead to take his place and his rights.

The leaders understood the parable as being directed against them, and instead of changing their attitude, they wanted to arrest Jesus.

God has shown his love for us, but time and again we have the same attitude of the tenants, refusing God’s rights on our lives. Like the tenants we want to take over and to became the owners, excluding God from our hearts, our minds and the plans we have for our lives. Jesus warns that God may transfer the vineyard to others “who will give him the produce at the harvest time” (Mt 21:41).

The stone, which was rejected - Jesus Christ - has become the cornerstone, on which life and salvation can be found and our lives can be built into the house of God.

FAITH IS OBEDIENCE AND SURRENDER TO GOD

XXVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: Mt 21:28-32

This Sunday’s first reading and the Gospel make it very clear that we cannot take God for granted.

Since Luther’s time, many people have misunderstood Paul when he says that we are “justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law” (Ro 3:28). Paul’s statement led many to proclaim that it is enough to say: “I believe”, or as some say nowadays “I accept Jesus as my personal saviour”, in order to be saved. The proclamation that we are saved by faith means that we are “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Ro 3:24). We have no claims on God, no matter how good we are. Salvation is not a right, which I demand to be respected, but a gift of God’s love and mercy, which must be received with thanksgiving.

Faith is first of all a total surrender to God with complete trust in his love. We throw ourselves in his arms, knowing that he holds us tight and will carry us into the joy of his Kingdom. This total surrender implies a new vision and a new way of life, which is shown through our attitudes and our actions. Faith without deeds is a lie, and it does not exist, being no more than empty and useless talk. In the end, we will be judged by our deeds. However, we never acquire rights over God, and faith implies always total dependence on God. 

In the parable of the two sons, one of them said yes to the father’s request, but as soon as he left his father’s presence, he ignored it completely. Many of us are very quick at saying “Yes, Lord!”, but without making the slightest effort to carry out his will. The other son was not happy with the father’s demands, and refused them straight away. However, as he was leaving his father’s presence, he examined himself and decided to do what he had been asked to do. This is the one who carried out his father’s will. Faith, which does not go beyond words, is meaningless. The Lord wants obedience. Whenever we pray “Our Father”, we say: “Your will be done!”. To shout: “Lord! Lord!” does not take us anywhere.

“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name? ’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” (Mt 7:22-23)