CLOTHED IN COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE

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

On the Sunday after Christmas, we celebrate the Holy Family, that is Jesus’ family, taking the opportunity to reflect upon the family. The nuclear family is the most basic unit of society and is constituted by a couple (a man and a woman) and their children. The members of this nuclear family are connected to the other members of the enlarged family. Then families are interconnected and relate to each other to nurture life and to protect and enhance the community and then the society at large.

When we speak about Jesus’ family, we speak about himself and his parents. And the Church presents this Holy Family as a role model for our families. We may look at Jesus himself and at his parents. The gospels give very little information about this family and a lot of what we say about them is a fruit of idealisation. However, somethings are made clear in the gospels. Joseph assumed his role as guardian of the family and proved to be a responsible man. He accepted Mary and they went together to Bethlehem for the census. They were expecting Jesus’ birth, and Mary was ready to care for the child taking with her the basic things (“swaddling clothes” - Lk 2:7). Warned of danger, Joseph got up in the middle of the night and took Mary and the child to Egypt. Once returned, after Herod’s death, they settled in Nazareth and led a simple life like most of the other people. As a carpenter, Joseph managed to have enough to keep the family. Then, following Jewish tradition, at the age of twelve, Jesus was considered adult enough to participate in the religious ceremonies and even to stand and read in the synagogue. So he went in pilgrimage to Jerusalem together with the parents and with many other people. He felt so overwhelmed by the splendour of the Temple that he forgot everything else, causing a lot of worries to his parents. In that episode, Jesus appears like a young man who became aware of himself and wants to find his own way. Joseph kept silent, as a servant who does not question the whims of his lord. Mary was the one who had the courage to confront Jesus, asking: Why have you done this to us? “Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress” (Lk 2:48). 

Of all the years that Jesus spent in Nazareth, we have but a summary presented in just a few words: “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.” (Lk 2:51).

In the second reading, Paul advises us to put our hearts on a set of essential attitudes to live in the family and in the community. Aware that we are God’s beloved, his “chosen race”, we must “be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience”. Since we are forgiven, we must be able to forgive. And over all these, we must “put on love”; love will lead us to perfection. It is through love, that we show to be true children of God, who is love. We must be thankful, giving praise and glory to God through Jesus Christ and coping everything in His name. These same attitudes must present within the family between the couple (husband and wife) and between parents and children.

Let us pray for our families. May each family keep burning strong the fire of love, moved by the Spirit to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ.

A GREAT LIGHT HAS SHONE ON THOSE WHO LIVE IN DARKNESS

 

May the Child Jesus fill you with blessings and grant you peace.

Yesu Mwana engamufumfumwina amapalo no kumuletela icibote. 

Kabili engamusanikila ne cengelo cakwe, pakuti tulemwimbila amalumbo.

I AM THE SERVANT OF THE LORD

IV SUNDAY OF ADVENT-Luke 1:26-38

The fourth Sunday of Advent invites us to look at Mary of Nazareth, chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was a humble girl from a forgotten town (village!) in Galilee. We know nothing about her family and her upbringing. She was a Jewish girl among many others who led humble lives. Thus, it is not surprising that Mary was bewildered at the angel’s greeting. She asked herself what all that might mean and she could not find the sense of it. The angel called upon Mary to rejoice because she is “highly favoured”. And she is favoured, because “the Lord is with you.” Whatever the problems we may face or the mission we may accept, we may be sure that we are not alone. That’s why, in the liturgy, we repeat so many times that greeting, presenting it as a deep wish of our hearts: “The Lord be with you”. Noticing that “she was deeply disturbed”, the angel reassured her with these simple words: “Do not be afraid”. Throughout the Bible, those words are repeated time and again and, in the New Testament, Jesus will use them whenever his disciples feel disturbed and hopeless. Today, we are the ones who hear these words: “Do not be afraid!”, because “the Lord is with you”. We are not alone. The Lord never abandons us to our fate. He brings peace to our hearts and fills us with hope. We may look forward to the salvation which is coming. 

God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah. And Mary accepted God’s will and put herself at the service of the Lord. By her humility and obedience, she became a role model to all of us. “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.” This is the only way to prepare ourselves to welcome Christ in our lives. We are the servants of the Lord, and we are ready to obey his word and to accept his will in our lives.

With thanksgiving and praise, we may sing the psalm:

“I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;

  through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.

Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,

  that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.” (Ps 89)

A VOICE CRYING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS

 

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT - John 1:6-8,19-28

John, called the Baptist, is a central figure of the Advent season. He came with a mission: to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. According to the gospel of John, the Baptist came to be a witness to speak for the light. Christ was the light and John the Baptist appeared as a witness called to speak of that light for people to recognise it and have their lives lightened up by it.

Like others before him, in protest against the corruption visible in Jerusalem, John went into the wilderness, living there in very harsh conditions. He survived on very little, having locusts and honey as his food. People recognised him as a man of God and crowds started flocking to him. And many, touched by his words, were baptised as a sign of repentance. Some became his disciples. The religious leaders in Jerusalem became worried about the impact of John’s ministry and decided to send a commission to inquire about his activities and his personality. As soon as they arrived, they asked a straight question to John: Who are you? By the ensuing questions - are you Elijah and are you a prophet? - they tried to put a tag on John, classifying him to be able to deal with him. John gave a straightforward answer, leaving no doubt about his mission. He is not the Messiah, he is not Elijah and he is not a prophet. And he presented himself simply as “a voice that cries in the wilderness”. As a voice, he calls out to people with a warning and with a message. The message is very clear: “Make a straight way for the Lord.” And this is exactly the same message he is addressing to us today. We must prepare the way for the Lord. How can we do that? By recognising our sin, repenting and turning back to the Lord.

John proved to be honest and truthful in his answers. He had no false pretentious and he did not attempt to deceive people in any way. With humility, he accepted his role in the plan of salvation. He was at the service of the Messiah, who was far greater than him. In fact, “I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.”

CONSOLE MY PEOPLE, CONSOLE THEM

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11

The season of Advent is always a time of promise and full of hope. We look forward with yearning, because the Lord is coming to establish his Kingdom of peace. The time is coming when the Lord will allow his people to find rest. Even though, he comes with power “his arm subduing all things to him”,

“He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,

gathering lambs in his arms,

holding them against his breast

and leading to their rest the mother ewes.” (Is 40:11).

We are in dear need of this shepherd - the good shepherd - who brings consolation to his people. Throughout history, humanity has gone from crises to crises; time and again, we face danger, destruction and damnation. Most of the times, we bring it upon ourselves because we deviate from the straight path to follow our crooked ways. It is as if we live in so deep darkness that we lose all hope. So many times we behave as if God has abandoned us to ourselves. We lost direction and don’t know anymore where to go. This pandemic has brought to the front our fragility and our mortality. And our pride has been shattered to pieces. That’s why more than ever we need a voice of consolation. The message must be proclaimed with a loud and joyful voice: “Here is your God.” He comes to console his people. He is Emanuel - God with us.

The Lord is coming and we must prepare ourselves to welcome him. The voice of John cries out in the wilderness and calls on all those who long for the Messiah: “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.” Let us pull down the hills and mountains of our pride, our glory and our power and fill the ravines of our jealousy, envy and hatred to have a straight path for the Lord.

With the psalm we pray:

“Mercy and faithfulness have met;

  justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

  and justice look down from heaven.” (Ps 85)

GOD IS OUR FATHER AND OUR REDEEMER

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8

We begin this first Sunday of Advent with Isaiah addressing God as “our Father” and “our Redeemer”. We call him Father because we are the work of his hands. He is like the potter and we are the clay, which he moulds. For us Christians, God is our Father, not only because he created us but also because he adopted us in Jesus Christ. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us that God called us and has joined us to his beloved Son, Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus, the Son, that we become God’s children. However, we have gone astray and turned our backs on God. Isaiah describes the tragic situation we live in with strong words: “We have all withered like leaves and our sins blew us away like the wind. No one invoked your name or roused himself to catch hold of you.” Faced with disaster, we plead with God to intervene and redeem us. Being our Father, he is our Redeemer, for the sake of his glory, which manifests itself in love and mercy.

As we begin the Advent season, we are called to become aware of the distressful situation we live in. We are unclean people, who need that their sins are washed away. Then, we must recognise God’s love and mercy in an attitude of thanksgiving. Paul tells the Corinthians that he gives thanks to God “for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ”. (1 Co 1:4). We must do the same. And the graces we have received are so many! Together with thanksgiving, we must pray earnestly that God may“keep you (us) steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

The Gospel calls on us to be on the alert and to remain vigilant. When the Lord comes, we must be ready to welcome him.

“Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.” (Ps 84:8)

LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

XXXIV SUNDAY: CHRIST THE KING - Matthew 25:31-46

In this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we celebrate Christ the King. Human language is the only means we may use to speak of divine matters. And there is always the danger of transmitting the wrong meaning. Indeed, while here on earth, Jesus refused the title of king and went into hiding when people tried to make him a king. To Pilate, Jesus made it clear that his kingdom is not of this world. His kingdom subjects are those who are in search of the truth. Jesus refused to be king in the manner of human kings, like Herodes or the Roman emperors. He came to set us free, not to overwhelm us with his power, treating us like slaves.

The second reading, taken from 1 Corinthians, gives the meaning of Jesus' kingship. He will dissipate darkness and destroy all the enemies, which spread hatred and bring death. Christ will bring everything to fulfilment so that the glory of God becomes present in everything. "And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subject in his turn to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all." (1 Co 15:28).

The gospel, taken from Matthew 25, presents the third parable of that chapter. All three parables - the virgins, the talents and the last judgement - have a common theme: we will be called to account. Not all find the door open to enter the Kingdom of God. There is the possibility of being excluded. The parable of the virgins puts the stress on the preparation needed to welcome the bridegroom, that is the Christ. All must have enough oil - the oil of faith, hope and love - to keep their lamps burning. The parable of the talents puts the stress on our contribution. God takes the initiative and entrusts his gifts to us, which we must put to good use. In the last parable, Jesus presents the rule by which we will be judged. All those who acted as the good Samaritan (Lk 10:25ff) will enter into the kingdom to share in Christ’s glory. The ones who didn’t do so will be excluded. Jesus will not ask if we were Christians or not. That does not matter. The true Christians are those who acted with compassion, mercy and love towards their fellow human beings, even if they did not know Jesus Christ. We will be judged by the commandment of love. Since God is love, then only love matters.