V EASTER SUNDAY - Acts 14:21-27
We can learn a lot from the beginnings of the Church. That’s why the reading of the Acts of the Apostles is so important for us. In this Sunday’s first reading, we hear that Paul and Barnabas ended their first missionary journey. Going back, they passed through the communities that they had evangelised, encouraging them and warning them about tribulations and sufferings, the hardships that go together with a Christian life. People need to be continuously encouraged to “persevere in the faith” (Act 14:22). At the same time, they appointed leaders to the communities. We should not forget that leaders play a key role in the life of the community. Throughout my pastoral experience in Chililabombwe and in Solwezi, I have seen small christian communities and centres fall and rise according to the leaders that they have. The communities need leaders who live according to the faith that they believe in, who are ready to serve the people and who are committed to the ministry entrusted to them. The leaders must be knowledgeable in matters of faith, so that they can give guidance an encouragement to all.
To pay attention to the formation of leaders has been always one of my pastoral priorities during the years that I have stayed in Zambia. Whenever people asked for formation, I was always ready to spend time reading and writing, that is preparing material that might be helpful for the strengthening of the communities and of the Christian life. And I always felt disappointed when the leaders did not feel the need for formation. The life in the Parish, in the Centres and in the Small Christian Communities cannot be improved without good formation of the leaders.
Finally, as they arrived in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas assembled the community and reported on the mission that had been entrusted to them. This reporting back is very important, giving the sense that the Christian mission is the responsibility of all and all must be involved in it. Nowadays, we forget a lot of this reporting back. However, when we ignore the community, the community will ignore us as well. This reporting creates bonds of love between all, making us realise that we are one body, the body of Christ.
Nowadays, there is a lot of discussion going on about religion and violence, with some claiming that religion brings about violence, as it tries to impose itself on others. And people speak of Islam and the terrible violence going on in the name of Islam. Is Islam a religion of peace? And then the same question is asked about Christianity. If we read the Bible, we find a lot of violence, and a lot of it done in the name of God and presented as being ordered by God. About the Bible, we need to understand that for the Christians the Bible is not the word of God in the same way as the Koran is the word of God for the Muslims. For them, the Koran is the exact word of God as he pronounced it and as it is written in heaven. For us, in the Bible, we find the mystery of Incarnation - that is the mystery of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became a human being. In the Bible, the word of God is mediated through human words and so in the Bible we find God’s challenges mixed with the human behaviour. The Bible forces us to confront ourselves with everything that is human - even envy, jealousy, hatred, violence and injustice. And in all that God is challenging us to allow ourselves to be transformed and become more and more like him. The Bible presents us the journey of humanity throughout history, a journey that will lead us to divinity, in spite of all the twists of human history.
Jesus was not violent and he did not preach violence. In fact, he proclaimed that we must forgive our enemies to be true children of God. To all of us he gives a new commandment:
I give you a new commandment:
love one another;
just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples. (Jn 13:34-35)
Jesus Christ is the model and the measure of our love: “As I have loved you.” This the Christian daily struggle: to be like Christ and to love like him.
As I am preparing to leave Zambia, I remember and cherish the care and love that I have found in so many people, who have treated me as one of their own. I pray to the Lord, full of love and mercy, that he may always fill you with all his blessings.
Ndi panshi, ndetotela. Kabili ndelomba kuli Lesa ukuti amufumfumwine amapalo, amusunge umutende.
Mbenakulomba kwi Lesa wa ngovu yonse, namba emupushele ne kwimulama mutende.
No comments:
Post a Comment