XVII SUNDAY: Phil 4:6-9

THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY!

Paul is able to say important truths in just a few words easy to remember. What is surprising is that they are still relevant for us today, in spite of being written long ago. However, we should not be surprised that sometimes they go against the prevalent thinking in our society.

“There is no need to worry” – he tells us. Hearing these words, we may think: Only fools don’t worry, or those who are very rich and don’t need to count their money. Nowadays, the wealthy nations live in a constant fear of the way the markets may react, tumbling down and causing the loss of millions. We may ask: who are the markets? The markets are people buying and selling, and in this case they buy and sell money, or papers that stand for money. Those are frenetic, worried people, without a soul, constantly looking for a profit. They are never satisfied and they live in fear, in spite of all their wealth. They move their money around, always looking for the place that represents fewer risks for their investment. In their greed, they control the world and bring economic disaster to many countries.

In our capitalist society, people count for nothing, and profits are the supreme rule that decides the future of companies and countries.

Nowadays, with huge debts in many countries, anxiety grips the hearts of many. That’s why it is for us that Paul speaks: There is no need to worry. By saying this, he is simply repeating the words spoken by Jesus: “Do not let your heart be troubled” (Jn 14:1). In spite of the difficulties, we must be full of confidence in God. He is our father and he loves us. When we are in need, we should present our needs to him, and he will make a way where there is no way. This doesn’t mean that God is going to give us money or wealth, but he is preparing our hearts and minds to seize the opportunities that come our way. Because we don’t loose trust and confidence in him, we are not ready to go out of the way in order to get what we want, and we will be content with little.

It is time to get rid of the capitalist mentality that instils greed in our hearts, so that we are never satisfied with what we have. Paul advises us on the attitudes that help us to remain human: 

“Fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise.” (Phil 4:8)

If we don’t listen to Paul’s advice, then one day the words of Isaiah will be applied to us:

“He (God) expected justice, but found bloodshed; integrity, but only a cry of distress.” (Is 5:7).

BACK IN SOLWEZI

Finally I am back in Solwezi, in St. Kizito Pastoral Centre. I spent a few days in Lusaka. First, with the Tutes, who welcomed me in their home. With them, I went to the Sunday mass in the Parish of Mary Immaculate in Woodlands. It is a new parish, full o life. Here, in all parishes, the Eucharistic celebration is always a great feast, where people come together as one family rejoicing in the Lord. The singing was good and everybody participated. What a difference with the Sunday masses of my home parish in Portugal. There, it seems that people and priest have mass as a duty that they must perform. The singing is poor, the participation is almost zero and the atmosphere is dull and somber. In Portugal, the majority of the congregation is over forty years old. Here, there are plenty of children and plenty of young people. It is the whole community participating and giving thanks to God.

After spending two days with the Tutes, I spent three days in Lilanda Parish, with Frs. Joaquim, Piero and Anthony. Fr. Dario, my friend, who comes from a neighbouring diocese in Portugal, was also there, and I moved with him around town, to have an experience of the chaotic traffic of Lusaka, during the rush hour. Lilanda Parish is just in the middle of the compound, close to the people who struggle every day to survive. There, like in so many other places in Zambia, we can find a joyful people, who are able to celebrate life in the middle of hardships. In Europe, many people think that riches and wealth are essential to find joy and happiness, and they live worried about the future. Here, we find plenty of people who find joy and happiness with very little and with no riches at all. They find joy and happiness in each other, in a life lived in family and community, knowing that they are accepted and loved.

Back in Solwezi, I put my life at the service of people, knowing that in sharing with them I receive more than I give.

XVI SUNDAY: Phil 2:1-11

The political situation has changed in Zambia, and in fact big changes are expected. The second reading of the Sunday liturgy gives some insights into the type of attitudes that the new leaders should consider.

1. Be united… This does not mean that all have to repeat the words of the President, or that any initiative and individual differences and gifts must be excluded. It simple means that they are able to work together and that they never fight each other. They must cooperate and build together. 
2. With a common purpose and a common mind. The common purpose must be the service of Zambia and the development of the country done in fairness and justice. Selfishness must be excluded.
3. There must be no competition among you, no conceit. Put away pride; have only pride for Zambia. Don’t quarrel among yourselves and do no compete for influence and position. “So that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead.”
4. Always consider the others and respect them. Never despise or insult anybody. Instead, show respect and try to bring the best out of people’s abilities.
5. Finally have the same mind as Jesus Christ, which was one of service. You were chosen to serve. Never use your political power to get profit or to be feared. That will destroy your political basis. Remember that no leader is eternal, and that people in the end gets tired, and when they are tired they will do to you what they did to others. Let people see that you are at their service and that you put their interests and worries at heart.

BACK IN ZAMBIA

I never enjoyed long trips, mainly when I have to fly. The day before the journey, the appetite disappears and my stomach becomes upset. Anyway, the journey went well, with long walks in London, moving from one terminal to the other. We departed from terminal 5 in Heathrow airport. It is a huge new terminal. There is always a crowd of people moving in all directions. We are close together, walking or seating side by side, and yet we remain so far apart. The passenger next to me was a Zambian, who worked as a miner in Chingola and now lives in UK. We greeted each other and then we sat side by side. He spent part of the time reading the Talmud. I showed interest, and he asked me if I was a Jew. No! I am a Christian. He explained why he likes the Talmud: some of the things that are not explained in the Bible are found in the Talmud. We did not get closer than that. In the end, he went his way and I went mine, without knowing each other’s name.

Today’s world is like this: at any time, we bump into each other, and yet we remain complete strangers. Although living together, each one follows his own way. Individualism is ruling the world and becoming worse.

It is good to be back. And a new Zambia is in the making. At least, people are full of expectations. They have been betrayed so many times, that the same may happen again. Let us pray that the new leaders put themselves totally at the service of Zambia.

XVI SUNDAY: Ezekiel 18:25-28

PAST GLORIES WILL NOT SAVE US

For God, it does not matter what you were yesterday. For God, there is no yesterday. He looks at you today and he takes you for what he sees. If you were very good in the past, but you are no more, God will not see or remember that goodness that has gone. Today, he finds evil in you and he will judge you for that. If you have changed for good, God sees that good in you today.

Our past is part of our lives and it brought us where we are today. We come from there, but we are no more there; we have moved and we are somewhere else. The glories of the past are useless, if we don’t pursue them today. There are some people who spend their time thinking about the past. We must look forward not backward. Salvation is in front, in the coming future, and we have to move towards it. We should not live in the past. There is a Bemba proverb that says going back will eat you (ulubwelela numa lulalya). 

A NEW PRESIDENT FOR ZAMBIA

Finally the results are out, and our hearts may rest for  while. The victory is clear. Now we look to the future. What future id there for Zambia with Sata? I hope that he shows common sense, realism and fairness to all Zambians, not forgetting respect to all. We need discipline and hard work in the country, and that has to be done in accordance with the law. 

Sata has many good qualities that may help to put Zambia in the right track; but he has some other features of his character that make people suspicious and apprehensive about his leadership. As some pictures present him with a cross, I pray that he may learn from the cross, which implies humility, service and suffering for others' sake.

May God bless Zambia.

MAY GOD BLESS ZAMBIA

Tomorrow, it will be a great day for Zambia; a day in which the people of Zambia will hold the future in their own hands. There are many expectations and also many apprehensions. How are people going to vote? Is the election going to be free and fair? And how truthful is the counting of the votes going to be? Is it going to be like in the past, where in several places more vote were cast than the number of residents living in that place? We pray for truthfulness and fairness. No tricks done behind the back of the people.

Zambia needs change, a peaceful change, which comes from a deep desire of a better life for Zambia. I pray for Zambia and for the Zambian people. I pray that God may give them wisdom and courage. I pray for the winners and for the losers, because all of them are Zambians and all of them want the best for their beloved country. The losers must accept their defeat; and the winners must show respect for all those who did not vote for them. However, this will not be possible, if the ballot counting is not in an open and irreproachable way.

May God bless Zambia, so that Zambia may always enjoy peace.