Sermon for 17th Sunday in Ordinary time, Year A.

Sermon for 17th Sunday Ordinary time, year A.

Gospel. Mt. 13: 44-52

In the Gospel of today, we are presented with three parables. The first two parables use the images of hidden treasure and a pearl of great price. These two parables are addressed to individuals who with joy sell everything else to possess something precious. The first and second parables are saying that to know God and to live according to the Gospel are the most precious things in life. Both the parables demand renunciation, risk, and commitment. Let us reflect on the background of these two parables one by one.

The parable of the treasure: At the time of Jesus Christ, the treasure buried in the field legally belongs to the owner of the field, and therefore the person who finds it sells everything and purchases the land in order to become its owner. In this parable, the one who finds the treasure does not tell the owner of his discovery but purchases the land to make it legal. At the time of Jesus Christ, people did not have the facilities of banks and they always faced the danger of foreign invasion so they buried their gold and precious treasures in the ground. Because of war or some other unforeseen calamity, they had to leave the place suddenly and not be able to take their belongings with them. They might not return or they might die. So it was always for someone else to find their treasure and find ways and means to take possession of it. In this parable, the man comes across the treasure and he is aware that it does not belong to him. He sells everything he has in order to get ownership of the field and of the buried treasure. Thus the parable tells us of a person who sells everything he has to obtain an object of great value. This shows how valuable and precious the kingdom of heaven is. The idea obviously is that when one really discovers Jesus and his vision of life everything else becomes secondary.

The parable of the pearl: In the ancient world the pears were special, and had a great value for their beauty. A man looks for fine pearls and when finds it, he sells everything else he has in order to acquire it. There is a slight difference between the two parables. In the first parable, the man was not actually looking for the treasure. Perhaps he found it while digging the ground or ploughing the field, and the treasure was found accidentally, but the pearl in the second parable the pearl was found after a long search. The man knows that the pearl must exist somewhere and he uses all his energies to find it. Once he discovers this pearl, he does not hesitate to use the necessary means to acquire it.

What can we learn from these two parables? Jesus compared the kingdom of God to the hidden treasure. What is the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is God’s reign among us here and now to rescue sinners and to restore creation. This definitely happens in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And we enter his kingdom when we do his will in our life and the will of God is that we love one another as God loves us. Today’s Gospel invites us to ask ourselves an important question, what do we value the most in our life? What is the thing that we treasure most, that we would never give up? What do we love the most? What do we sacrifice ourselves for?

And if our answer is money, or power to control others, or status to look good in front others, then we haven’t looked deep enough into our own heart. Because money, status, and power do not give us real happiness. They are needed to a certain level, but there is no guarantee that we would find real happiness. Some others are locked into regrets over the past, or focused too much on the future. Our treasure is found only in God. When we have a place for God in our life, we have everything we need for our life. A person can work relentlessly for many hours for his future and the future of his family, but may fail to live the present moment and he or she would never discover the treasure. we’re surrounded with joy, with happiness, with love of the kingdom of God in our midst but most people, “have no idea.” Most of the time we look for a treasure in the wrong place.

Whenever we do the will of God in our day to day life, whenever we trust in God completely, whenever we fight against injustice, discrimination, and selfishness, whenever we serve others faithfully we are doing the will of God, and by doing the will of God we have found the treasure. Jesus is not saying that we must go out and sell everything we own. He is saying that NOTHING is compared to the new life that God wants to give us. If we belong to the kingdom, we have the greatest treasure! This treasure is freely given by God, and to everyone who trusts in Him. During this mass let us ask ourselves what do we value the most in our life? If we have God we have everything.

Story of the day:

One day a man saw his neighbor down on his hands and knees searching for something. “what are you looking for, he asked? I lost my key, he replied. So both men kept looking and looking for the lost key until finally, the neighbor asked, Have you any idea where you could have lost it? Oh, yes, in the house. They why are you looking for it out here? Because there is more light here, he said.

Tafakari; Jumapili ya 16 ya Kawaida, Mwaka A

Tafakari: Jumapili ya 16 ya Kawaida, Mwaka A

Mt. 13: 24-43

Nilipokuwa mdogo, mara nyingi mama yangu aliniambia kuwa, kama nitafanya kazi kwa ustadi, kwa bidi na ni kawa mwema kwa kila mtu; kila nikitakacho maishani mwangu kitafanikiwa. Ninaamini hivyo ndivyo wengi wetu tunaamini. Watumwa kwenye mfano wa leo hawana tofauti na sisi. Katika injili ya leo, watumwa walijua kwamba walipanda mbegu nzuri kwenye mashamba yao. Lakini walishangaa walipoona magugu shambani. Walitaka kujua nini kilitokea na ni nani aliyepanda magugu shambani. Bwana akasema, “adui ndiye kupanda.” Hasemi Zaidi. Yeye hajamtaja adui. Hakuwaamuru wafanyakazi wake kumtafuta, na kumwadhibu adui. Watumwa walimwuliza bwana, magugu haya yametoka wapi? Je! Tuyafanyeje? “Je! Tuyang’oe haya magugu? Bwana akajibu, hapana, kwa maana mnapong’oa magugu mnaweza kuyang’oa pamoja na ngano.

Je! Kwa nini mmiliki wa shamba aliwazuia kuyang’oa magugu? Tunaweza kufikiria sababu mbili. Kwanza, bwana alijua kwamba ngano itapona licha ya uwepo wa magugu. Magugu yanaweza kuvuruga ngano hiyo kwa muda tu lakini hayataharibu kabisa nganoau kuva shamba. Pili, alijua jinsi ilivyo ngumu kutofautisha kati ya ngano na magugu. Vilionekana kufanana. Vina rangi sawa, ukubwa sawa na majani yanaonekana kufanana nay a ngano. Mtu anaweza kuvichanganya. Ni wakati wa mavuno tu unapoweza kuvitafautisha kwa matunda yake. Nikiwaagiza ingekuwa inawezekana kuyatofautisha vizuri magugu na ngano, Bwana asingewazuia. Lakini aliwazuia kwa sababu moja, msije mkakusanya magugu, na kuzing’oa ngano pamoja nayo.”

Yesu alitumia hadithi ii ya magugu na ngano kwa watu. Ukweli, kulingana na Yesu, ni kwamba maisha yetu na ulimwengu wetu ni uwanja ambao mtu mzuri na mbaya wanaishi, maisha na kifo vinakaa, shangwe na huzuni viko pamoja, kile tunachotaka na kile ambcho hatutaki hukua na kuishi pamoja. Ngano na magugu hukaa pamoja katika ulimwengu wetu na katika maisha ya kila mmoja wetu. Yesu anataka waovu wasiondolewe akitumaini siku moja watatubu na kuwa ngano. Yesu anataka kutoonyesha kuwa njia za Mugnu si njia zetu. Anatuambia, “ndio jinsi Mungu anavyowavumilia watenda dhambi.”

Kumbuka, “mwizi mwenye hekima ambaye alisulibiwa pamoja na Yesu? Je, anaweza kufananishiwa na ngano au magugu? Labda tungekuwa tumekisia kwamba yeye alikuwa gugu kubwa, gugu baya na tungekuwa tumekosea. Saa ya mwisho akawa ngano. Je! Tungemfikiria kama angekuwa gugu wakati alipopata utawala? Wanafunzi ambao Yesu anaongea nao mfano huu ni pamoja na Yuda ambaye baadae alimsaliti, Petro, ambaye baadaye alimkana, Tomasi, ambaye baadae alimtilia wasiwasi na Yakobo na Yohane, ambao wanathamini mambo yao kaibinafsi. Mwishowe, ni Yuda pekee aliyepotea , akituonyesha kwamba “magugu” mengi yanaweza kuwa mavuno mazuri mwishoni.

Je! Tunaweza kujifunza nini katika kwa Injili ya leo? Kila mmoja wetu ni mchanganyiko wa ngano na magugu. Yesu anaonyesha kupendezwa Zaidi na ukuzaji kuliko kuondoa. Yuko tayari kungojea na kuwa na kuvumilia. Ikiwa sisi ni wafuasi wake sis pia tuyavumilie magugu yaliyotuzunguka katika maisha yetu. Tunahitaji kufanya mazoezi ya kuvumiliana sisi kwa sisi. Imani yetu katika Yesu Kristo inatufundisha kuwa kila kitu kinachotokea katika maisha yetu, iwe; furaha, Baraka, machungu na huzuni vinatokea kwa sababu. Kwa hivyo kama wafuasi wa Yesu Kristo lazima tuwe na uvumilivu.

Miaka mingi iliyopita, kulikuwa Mfalme moja. Mfalme alikuwa na mtumwa wa kiume ambaye, katika kila hali alimtia moyo mfalme akisema, “Mfalme wangu, usikate tamaa, na uwe na subira kwa sababu kila kinachotokea katika maisha yetu, kinatokea kwa sababu.” Siku moja walienda kuwinda, wakati wanawinda mnyama pori, akamshambulia mfalme, mtumwa huyo aliweza kumuua mnyama huyo lakini mfalme huyo alipoteza kidole kimoja. Basi mfalme akasema; kama Mungu angekuwa mwema, nisingeshambuliwa na kupoteza kidole hata kimoja. Mtumwa akajibu, “kila kinachotokea katika maisha yetu kinatokea kwa sababu, kuwa mvumilivu, Mfalme hakufurahiswa na jibu la mtumwa wake hivyo akamkamata mtumwa wake. Alipokuwa akienda gerezani, alimwambia mfalme tena, kila tu kinatokea kwa kusudi, Mungu ni mwema na mzuri. Siku nyingine, mfalme alienda kuwinda tena akiwa peke yake, siku hiyo alitekwa na watu wanaotoa watu kafara. Hao watoa kafara walipokuwa madhabahuni, waligundua kwamba mfalme hakuwa na kidole kimoja walimwachia kwa sababu walimwona “ana kasoro” kutolewa kwa miungu. Aliporudi kwake ikuli, aliamuru kuachiliwa kwa mtumwa wake akasema; rafiki yangu, Mungu amekuwa mzuri sana kwangu. Karibu niuawe lakini kwa kukosa kidole kimoja, nimeponyoka kuuawa. Lakini nina swali; ikikwa Mungu ni mwema, ikiwa kila kitu kinatokea kwa kusudi, kwa nini anliniruhusu nikuweke gerezani? Mtumwa wake akajibu; Mfalme wangu, kama nisingekuwa gerezani, ningeenda pamoja nawe, na ningekuwe nimeuawa na kutolewa kafara, kwa sababu nini vidole vyote. Kila wakati Mungi ni mwema, yeye huwa hana makossa, chochote kinachotokea katika maisha yetu, hufanyika kwa kusudi. Mungi ni mwaminifu sike zote, na tunahitaji tu kumtegemea.

Injili ya leo inatufundisha kuwa mtu wa pekee aliye na haki ya kuhukumu ni Mungu. Ni Mungu pekee anayeweza kutambua mema na mabaya; ni Mungu pekee anayeweza kuona maisha ya mtu. Ni Mungu pekee anayeweza kuhukumu ikiwa mtu ni gugu au ngano. Badala ya kuhukumu wengine, kila mtu ajibidiishe kung’oa magugu madogo madogo yaliyo katika mioyo na nafsi yake mwenyewe. Injili ya leo inatualika tujue kuwa Mungu anatutarajia sisi. Mungu anataka tuanglie mambo yanayoendelea katika maisha yetu. Wacha tufanye kazi pamoja naye ili kuto “magugu” katika utu wetu. Ndipo tuanze kuwasaidia tunaowadhania ni “waovu” kama Kristo alivyofanya. Je! Kwa nini hakumtoa Yuda aliyemsaliti, au Petro, ambaye alimakan? Yesu aliona “magugu” maishani mwao, lakini pia akaona ngano. Alikua kuwa kwa kuwatia moyo ngano ingechipuka. Na mara nyingi ilifanya, “Hata mtu mwaminifu Zaidi akiiba kitu maishani mwake, hii haimaanishi kuwa watu wote ni wezi.”

Reflection on the 16th Sunday in ordinary time. Year A

Reflection on the 16th Sunday in ordinary time, Year A

When I was growing up my mother would often tell me that if I do good, work hard, and be nice to everyone, whatever I wish in my life, it would happen. I believe that’s what most of us believe. The slaves in today’s parable are not different from us. In today’s Gospel, the slaves knew that the master sowed good seeds in his field. But they are so surprised when they discover the weeds in the field. They want to know what happened and who is responsible. The master says “an enemy has done this.” He does not say more. He does not name the enemy. He does not instruct his workers to find and punish the enemy. The slaves ask the master, but what about those weeds? What do we do about them? “Don’t you want us to pull up the weeds? The master responds, No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.”

Why then did the farm owner restrain them from pulling out the weeds? We can think of two reasons. First, the master knew that the wheat would survive in spite of the presence of the weeds. The weeds might inconvenience the wheat temporarily but they would not choke them to death or take over the farm. Secondly, he knew how difficult it is to distinguish between the wheat and the weeds. They look so much alike. They are the same color, the same size and the leaves look similar to wheat. One can be easily mistaken for the other. Only at harvest time could they be distinguished by their fruits. If we set out to pull out the weeds, we might be pulling up the good wheat with the weeds. If it were possible to distinguish with accuracy the weeds from the wheat the master would not have prevented them. But he prevented them for this one reason, “lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them” (Matthew 13:29).

Jesus applies this story of weeds and wheat to people.  The reality, according to Jesus, is that our lives and our world are a field in which good and evil, life and death, joys and sorrows, that which we want and that which we don’t want to grow and live side by side. The wheat and the weeds stand together in our world and in each of our lives. Jesus wants the wicked to live a full life in the hope they will repent and become wheat.  He wants to show us that God’s ways are radically different from ours. He’s telling us, “That’s how patient God is with sinners.”

Remember the ‘good thief’ who was crucified with Jesus?  Was he a weed or was he wheat?  We probably would have guessed that he was a big, bad weed and we would have been wrong.  At the last hour, he became wheat.  Did you know that Adolph Hitler had been an altar boy?  Would we have thought of him as a weed when he was serving mass? The disciples to whom Jesus addresses this parable include Judas who will betray Jesus, Peter, who will deny him, Thomas, who will doubt him and James and John, who cherish personal ambitions. In the end, only Judas is (apparently) lost, showing us that many “weeds” can become high yielding wheat.

What can we learn from today’s Gospel? Each one of us is a combination of wheat and weeds.    Jesus shows more interest in growth than extermination. He is willing to wait and to be patient. If we are his followers we too will wait and be patient amongst the weeds of our life. We need to practice patience with ourselves. Our faith in Jesus Christ teaches us that everything that happens in our life be it, joy, happiness, sorrow, and sadness happens for a reason. So as the followers of Jesus Christ, we must practice patience.

A King had a male servant who, in all circumstances always said to him; My king, do not be discouraged, and be patient because whatever happens in our life, happens for a reason. One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the servant managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his king from losing a finger. So the king said; if God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger. The servant replied, 'whatever happens in our life happens for a reason, be patient’. The king was not happy with the response so he arrested his servant. As he was going to the prison, he told the king again, everything happens for a reason, God is Good & Perfect. Another day, the king left alone for another hunt and was captured by some people who use human beings for sacrifice. On the altar, the people found out that the king didn't have one finger in place, he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the gods. On his return to the palace, he ordered the release of his servant and said; My friend, God was really good to me. I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger, I was let go. But I have a question; If God is so good, if everything happens for a reason, why did He allow me to put you in prison? His servant replied; My king, if I had not been put in prison, I would have gone with you, and I would have been killed and sacrificed, because I have no missing finger. Everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong, whatever happens in our life, happens for a reason. God is always faithful, and we just need to trust in Him.

Today’s Gospel teaches us that the only person with the right to judge is God. It is God alone who can discern the good and the bad; it is God alone who can see the life of a person. It is God alone who can judge whether a person is a weed or wheat. Rather than judging others, let us recognize the little weeds in our own soul and weed them out as quickly as we can.

Today’s Gospel invites us to know what God expects from us. God wants us to take a good look into the field of our own lives to see what is growing there. Let us work with Him to pull out the “weeds” in our own personalities.  Then we need to start treating the so-called “evil ones” as Christ did. Why did he not weed out Judas who betrayed him, or Peter, who denied him? Jesus saw the “weeds” in their lives, but he saw also saw the wheat. He knew that with encouragement the wheat could prevail. And often it did. “Even the most honest man has stolen something in his life, but this doesn’t mean that all people are thieves.” (Dostoyevsky)

Reflection on the 15th Sunday in ordinary time. Year A

Reflection on the Parable of the Sower

Mt. 13: 1-23

If I ask you who is the sower in today’s Gospel what would you say? some of us would say, God and some others would say Jesus. Those are the usual answers and they are not wrong. God is always sowing God’s life in ours. It’s true that God and Jesus are sowers of seed. But there can be other answers too. Is it possible that you and I be sowers of seed? When we hear or read this parable we judge ourselves or others as one of the four types of ground: the path, the rocky ground, the thorny bush, or good soil. But have we ever thought of ourselves as the sower in today’s parable?

All our lives we are sowing seeds, and often we don’t even know it. The seeds we sow reflect what is going on within us and who we are. We can only sow seeds that were first sown and cultivated within us. Jesus sows in us “word of the Kingdom” that word is love, peace, hope, joy, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, beauty, wisdom, encouragement, perseverance, courage, healing, reconciliation, and gentleness. Those are the seeds Jesus has sown within us, seeds that we are to cultivate within ourselves and sow in our relationships and the world. The four types of ground described in today’s parable are descriptive of our lives and the lives of others. No one is just one kind of ground. All four types of grounds are aspects of ourselves.

Sometimes, we sow the seeds of God’s love, care, and joy in our life that is fully occupied with worldly concerns. Our hearts and minds are closed with prejudice, laziness, and pride. Nothing will ever grow. Have you ever lived life on the path? Sometimes life can feel pretty rocky. Fear, envy, anger, or hard-heartedness can fill the soil of our lives. We can be so angry, or we can be so fearful or we can be so jealous that new life cannot take root. There’s no depth. We live at the surface. This is telling us something that our land needs to be cleared. There is work to be done. Let us ask ourselves what rocks fill the soil of my life?

Other times the thorns of guilt, shame, or regret fill the soil of our lives. New life cannot root. Our life becomes limited by the past. We are so much worried about the past that we don’t allow new life to take root in us. We need to remove the weed thorns of guilt, shame, and regret.  And then there are those times when our life is fertile, open, receptive, rich in nutrients, flourishing, and fruitful. The seeds within us yield “in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

We need to be careful that we do not make a conclusion or judgment about the ground in which we sow, whether in our own lives or in the lives of others. Jesus does not intend to condemn the four grounds. All four types of ground need attention and care whether clearing the land, weeding, watering, or fertilizing. The condition of the soil does not, however, stop the sower. The sower sows with reckless and indiscriminate generosity. The sower sows here, there, and everywhere without regard to where the seed might land or the quality or type of ground on which it falls. The sower sows not because of who or what the ground is but because of who the sower is. Where and with whom do we sow? In what ways have we withheld seed because we deemed the ground unworthy? What would it take for us to be as generous as the sower in today’s gospel?

The sower does not worry about the harvest or how much it will yield. That he or she sows anywhere and everywhere tells us that. He or she simply sows. This isn’t the way of our culture. It’s not what most of us have been taught or come to believe. We want a return on our investment. We want to make good use of our time and effort. We strive for efficiency and success. We don’t want to waste resources or spend ourselves on a hopeless cause. We measure productivity, keep score, and seek to maximize profits. That’s not how the sower into today’s parable lives. Again, the sower sows not because of an expected harvest but because of who the sower is. How would your life be different if you stopped measuring and keeping score? What would change if you trusted the seeding of this present moment more than you worried about the future yield?

What has God sown in your life? Are you tending and cultivating new growth? Where and what are you sowing? What does the land of your life need? “Let anyone with ears listen,” Jesus says. What do you hear in all this? What in today’s gospel makes your life more meaningful, lets you live a more sacred life, frees you to be your better, truer, and more authentic sower-self?

Story of the day.

There is a story about a young man and an old preacher. The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher. Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?" The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply - something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him." This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice... the gentle whisper. Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. Then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.

Reflection on the 14th Sunday, Ordinary time, Year A.

Reflection  "For my yoke is easy and burden is light"

Mt. 11: 25-30

In today’s Gospel, Jesus praises God for the revelation that has been hidden from the wise and learned but revealed it all to the simple people. The wise and learned are probably the Scribes and Pharisees who were acclaimed to be experts in the law and its application.  The disciples of Jesus were not famous. They were just simple ordinary people whom Jesus had chosen as his followers. Jesus does not condemn the intelligent people, rather he condemns the intellectual pride. Jesus is connecting faith with simplicity and humility, openness, and trust. He tells us that revelation is given to those humble and simple persons who are willing to open themselves to God and listen to him.

 What does Jesus mean by “Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden light? Let us first reflect on the burden Jesus is talking about. At the time of Jesus, the people were so much burdened with so many laws. Many people were shepherds, tax-collectors, and had simple jobs. The people who were not following the rules and laws of Judaism were considered to be bad Jews. For instance, shepherds cannot always ritually wash before meals. A big problem was that for a person to know all of the laws he or she had to know how to read and interpret the laws. But many were illiterate. So for many people, the laws of Judaism were a burden. And the people who kept the law watched over others for any small mistake. Jesus gives hope to those people who were discriminated against, and He brings back the people closer to God. The commandments of Jesus were not like the laws of the Jewish people, they were so simple that they brought people closer to God. The laws of Jewish people were a burden that they separated people from God. The commandment of Jesus is light that it brought the people in union with God.

What does Jesus mean when He says take my yoke upon you? Jesus certainly knew all about yokes. As a carpenter, he would have been asked from time to time to make wooden yokes for farmers so that they could have their oxen to pull a plough together. The yoke is the wooden crossbeam that joined the two animals at the neck. Since animals are different sizes it was common to have a yoke cut to measure for the animals pulling it. Otherwise, it would not fit the animal correctly and cause discomfort. As a carpenter, Jesus must have cut many such yokes. Among the Jews, the yoke was put on the necks of two cattle so that together they could pull the plough as one. It always takes a pair to work a yoke. When Jesus asks us to take the yoke, you might as well ask who is our yoke-mate. Our yoke-mate is none other than Jesus himself. The yoke, in fact, belongs to him and he only invites you to team up with him. The yoke of Christ is not just a yoke from Christ but also a yoke with him. To take the yoke of Christ is to associate and identify ourselves with him: our destiny with his destiny, our vision with his vision, and our mission with his mission. It is to know that we are not pulling the yoke alone and by our power but together with Christ and by the strength that comes from him. It is to know that Jesus is not just a teacher who gives you homework but also a friend who helps you do it.

What can we learn from today’s Gospel? Jesus gives us a beautiful message of comfort, peace, and rest. Jesus is our comforter. He invites us to come to him and we will certainly find peace. These days, people forget Jesus Christ and look for comfort in other people. But Jesus Christ is our comforter. We are not overburdened by the Jewish laws, we are burdened by many other things: business, concerns about jobs, marriage, money, health, worry, bitterness, guilt, illness, disappointments, unemployment, difficult relationships, addictions, etc. Today we have the message from Jesus to come to him and receive the rest he alone can give. In coming to the person of Jesus we discover that we are fully liberated.  By following Jesus, we will find peace, rest, and refreshment. We should never forget that we are yoked with Christ. To this end, it helps to start each day with a prayer like this: “Lord, help me to remember that there is no problem I am going to face today that you and I together cannot handle.” This is how the yoke becomes easy and the burden light.

Joke of the day;

A clergyman walking down a country lane and sees a young boy struggling to load hay back onto a cart after it had fallen off. "You look hot, my son," said the cleric. "why don't you rest a moment, and I'll give you a hand." "No thanks," said the young boy. "My father wouldn't like it." "Don't be silly," the minister said. "Everyone is entitled to a break. Come and have a drink of water." Again the young boy protested that his father would be upset. Losing his patience, the clergyman said, "Your father must be a real slave driver. Tell me where I can find him and I'll give him a piece of my mind!" "Well," replied the boy, "he's under the load of hay."

Jumapili ya 12 ya kawaida

Injili. Mt. 10:26-33

Injili ya leo ni mwendelezo wa maagizo ambayo Yesu aliwapatia mitume kumi na wawili alipokuwa anawatuma kwenda kutangaza Habari Njema za Ufalme wa Mungu. Maadili ya Ufalme wa Mungu ni tofauti na maadili ya ulimwengu; kwa hivyo watu hawapendi ujumbe wa wanachukia mitume. Kwa hivyo ilikuwa kawaida kwa mitume kuogopa wakati Yesu anawatuma kwenda kueneza injili kwa ulimwengu wenye uhasama. Labda, Yesu alikuwa amegundua kwamba wanafunzi wake wangeacha utume wao ili kuokoa maisha yao dhidi ya watu waliowachukia. Ndiyo maana Yesu aliwaambia wasiogope. Katika Injili ya leo Yesu anatoa sababu tatu kwa nini mitume wake, hawapaswi kuogopa kama asemavyo, 1.Mungu hakubali uovu kushinda wema, 2. Ni Mungu tu anayeweza kuua roho na mwili, 3. Mungu ni mwenye huruma na rehema. Wacha tautafakari yaya, moja baada ya jingine.

Yesu Kristo anabaini aina mbili za uoga ambao mitume walikuwa nao: kuogopa mashtaka ya uwongo na kutuhumiwa, na hofu ya kifo. Yesu mwenyewe alishtumiwa kwa uwongo mara nyingi na watu wake mwenyewe na viongozi wa kirumi, walileta mashahidi wa uwongo dhidi yake, ilia ache utume wake, ili kumtenganisha na watu. Lakini Yesu hakuwahi kuogopa viongozi, badala yake aliutangaza Ufalme wa Mungu duniani. Kwa kuwa Yesu mwenyewe alikuwa amepata mashtaka ya uwongo na kukataliwa na watu, alijua kuwa hata wanafunzi wake watapitia hali hiyohiyo. Kwa hivyo Yesu aliwahimiza wanafunzi wake wasiogope mashtaka ya uwongo wala kutuhumiwa. Na anawahakikishia kuwa Mungu atafichua mipango mibaya na vitendo vya watawala kwa kusema; "Hakuna kitu kilichofichwa ambacho hakitafichaliwa" Kwamba “Mungu hatakubali uovu kushinda ni ahadi ya suya ya 26. Yesu anawahakikishia wanafunzi wake uhakika na uthibitisho wa Mungu.

Pili, wanafunzi pia waliogopa kifo. Sote tunaogopa kifo. Tishio la kifo linaweza kuwa lina nguvu Zaidi ya hofu ya kushitakiwa. Kwa kutangaza neno la Mungu, inawezekana kwamba wanafunzi waliuawa. Tumeshuhudia katika utamaduni wetu wa KiKatoliki kwamba, karibu mitume wote waliuawa. Wengine wao walisulubiwa msalabani, kama Peter na Andrea, na wengine kama Yakobo, Paul, na Bartholomeo waliuawa kikatili. Serikali katika nchi nyingi hutumia hofu ya kifo dhidi ya Wakristo. Yesu anakiri kwamba wanadamu wana nguvu ya kuua, lakini anabainisha kuwa wana nguvu tu ya kuua mwili, sio roho. Ni Mungu pekee anayeweza kuua roho na mwili. Kwa hivyo, Mungu pekee ndiye tunayepaswa kumwogopa.

Sababu ya tatu kwa nini wanafunzi hawapaswi kuogopa ni upendo na huruma ya Mungu. Sisi ni muhimu sana kwa Mungu kuliko shomoro. Mungu anajua kila kitu tunachopitia. Yesu hkuahidi maisha rahisi kwa wafuasi wake. Yeye aliwaeleza wazi changamoto na mapambano ambayo wangekutana yao lakini aliwahakikishia kuwa Mungu hujali Shomoro ambazo zinauzwa, kwa hiyo anawajali Zaidi wanafunzi wake kuliko shomoro. Mngu anatujua, anatujali ndiyo maana anafahamu hata idadi ya nywele zilizopo vichwani mwetu.

Je! Tunaweza kujifunza nini katika Injili ya leo? Usomaji wa maandiko ya leo unatutaka tusiogope, unatualika kuwa mitume wa Kristo, kuwa thabiti katika Imani yetu na kuwa wafuasi wa Yesu na washiriki wa Kanisa bila woga. Maisha yetu na witi wetu ni tofauti na wito wa wanafunzi wa kwanza. Hofu zetu znatofautiana na Wakristo wa kwanza. Kuna mambo mengi ambayo tunaogopa. Wakati mwingine tunaogopa kwamba tutafanya uamuzi mbaya. Wakati mwingine, tunaogopa kama wengine watakavyotufikiria tukimtangaza Yesu. Tunaogopa kwa kuwa hatujui hatima ya watoto wetu baadaye. Tunaogopa pia uzee. Wakati mwingine tuanaogopa pia kitakachotokea ikiwa tutaugua. Mzizi wa hofo hizi ni woga wa kupoteza na kukosea. Kila hofu tuliyonayo imewekewa msingi kwa kujua kuwa tuna kitu au mtu wa kupoteza. Ninaweza kupoteza kazi yangu, familia, nyumba, pesa, afya na hata maisha yenyewe. Kukataliwa na kupoteza ni msingi wa hofu yetu. Lakini tunasahau jambo moja; Magumu, shida na matitizo yanayotukabili, Mungu wetu anayajua kuliko sisi tunavyoyajua. Baba yetu wa mbinguni anajua kabisa kile kinachotokea. Tukishajua tu ya kwamba Mungu yuko upande wetu na maisha yetu yamo mikononi mwa Mungu atupendaye, tunaweza kuishinda hofu. Wakati mwingine hofu ikituvamia tunapaswa kukumbuka kuwa tunaye Yesu, kuwa waaminifu kwa Yesu tukimtumainia Yesu katika maisha yetu, yeye ana nguvu kuliko uoga na hofu zituzongazo. Nikukumbushe kuwa Mungu anatujali- sisi ni watoto wake wapendwa, na anamjali kila mmoja wetu. “Usiogope; wewe ni wa thamani Zaidi kuliko shomoro wengi.” Mstari wa mwisho wa zaburi 27 unaelezea kwa muhtasari: “Mtumaini Bwana. Kuwa na Imani; usikate tamaa. Mtumaini Bwana.”

Siku moja padre moja alikuwa maekaza kuhubiri kwa bidi sana katika mkutano, kwamba sisi sote ni watoto wa Mungu, na hawakupaswa kuogopa wakati hali mbaya inapofika. Watu walufurahiswa sana nah ii na wote walishangilia wakisema amen. Ghafla gaidi akaingia kanisana na bunduki. Na akaelekezea bunduko kwenye mkutano akisema, “ Ni nani mtoto wa Mungu hapa? Nataka nimpeleke mbinguni? Mkutano ulikaa kimya. Kisha akafyatua bunduki na kupiga paa, mkutano ukapiga kelele, “Ni Padre, Yeye ndiye anasema kila wakati kuwa yeye ni mtoto wa Mungu! Padre akajibu ni njama ya aina gani hii? Kila mtu hapa anajua kuwa mimi ni mtoto wa Charles Githinji.

Reflection. 12th Sunday in Ordinary time

Reflection on 12th Sunday in ordinary time.

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 10-13

Second Reading: Romans. 5: 12-15

Gospel. Matthew 10:26-33

Today’s gospel is a continuation of the instructions that Jesus gave to the twelve apostles as he sent them out to go and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The values of the Kingdom are different from the values of the world so people reject the message and hate the messengers. So it was natural for the apostles to fear as Jesus sends them out to evangelize a hostile world. Probably, Jesus would have realized that the disciples would abandon their mission in order to save lives. So Jesus tells them not to be afraid. In today’s Gospel Jesus gives three reasons why his apostles, should not be frightened as he says, 1. God will not permit evil to win, 2. Only God can destroy both the soul and the body, 3. God is compassionate and merciful. Let us reflect on them one by one.

Jesus Christ identifies two kinds of fear the apostles had: fear of false accusation and conviction, and fear of death. Jesus himself was falsely accused many times by his own people and the Roman authorities, they brought false witnesses against him to stop his mission, to separate him from the people. But Jesus never feared the authorities, rather he focused on the Kingdom of God on earth. Since Jesus Himself had experienced false accusation and rejection from the people, he knew that even his disciples will undergo the same experience. So Jesus encourages his disciples not to be afraid of false accusation and conviction. And He assures them that God will expose the evil plans and deeds of the authorities by saying; “nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered.” That God will not permit evil to win is the promise of v. 26. Jesus assures His disciples the assurance of God’s providence.

Secondly, the disciples also feared death. We all fear death. The threat of death may be the most powerful form of fear. By proclaiming the word of God, it was possible for the disciples to be killed. We have witnessed in our Catholic tradition that almost all the apostles were killed. Some of them were crucified on the cross, like Peter and Andrew, and others like James, Paul, and Bartholomew were brutally killed. The governments in many countries use fear of death against Christians. Jesus admits that humans have the power to kill, but notes that they have power only to kill the body, not the soul. God alone can destroy both soul and body. God alone, therefore, is the one we should fear.

The third reason why the disciples should not be afraid is God’s compassionate love. We are more important to God than sparrows. God knows everything that we go through. Jesus does not promise an easy life for his followers. He puts forward the challenges and struggles to the disciples but assures them that God cares for the sparrows that are sold, and God knows even the hairs on our heads better than we do.

What can we learn from today’s Gospel? The scripture readings of today call us to not to be afraid, and they invite us to give witness to Christ, to be firm in our faith, and to be the followers of Jesus and the members of the Church without fear. Our life and vocation are different from the early disciples. Our fears differ from the early Christians. There are many things we are afraid of. Sometimes we are afraid that we will make a wrong decision. At other times, we are afraid of what others will think when we speak up for Jesus. We are afraid of what will be the future of our children. We are also afraid of growing old. Sometimes we are also afraid of what will happen if we become sick. At the root of these fears is the fear of loss. Every fear we have is grounded in the knowledge that we have something or someone to lose. I can lose my job, family, house, money, health, and even life itself. Rejection and loss are the basis of our fears. But we forget one thing: whatever trouble or crisis affects us, we know that God understands it better than we ourselves do. Our Heavenly Father knows exactly what is happening. Only when we know that God is on our side and our life is in the hands of a loving God, we can overcome fear. The next time fear grips our life we need to remember that being faithful to Christ wherever we meet him in this life is much more important than our fear of rejection and loss. Let us remind ourselves that God cares – we are each a dear child of His, and He cares for each of us. “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” The last verse of Psalm 27 sums it up nicely: “Trust in the Lord. Have Faith; do not despair. Trust in the Lord.”

One day a pastor was preaching with so much passion to the congregation that they were all children of God, and they were not to be afraid when difficult situations come. People were so much taken by this and all they all shouted amen. Suddenly a terrorist entered the Church with a gun. And pointed the gun at the congregation saying, “Who is a child of God here? Let me send him or her to heaven? The congregation remained silent. He then shot the roof and the congregation shouted, “It’s the pastor! He always says that he is a child of God! Pastor replied what kind of conspiracy is this? Everyone here know that I am the son of Charles Githinji.