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.