Reflection on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Reflection on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Gospel. Jn. 6: 51-58

 “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot possess eternal life within yourselves. For us Christians, when we read this passage we will immediately imagine that Jesus is talking about the Eucharistic celebration. But at the time of Jesus, there was no Eucharistic celebration. That’s why the Jews argued with each other. What does Jesus really mean when he says these words? In order to understand the words of Jesus Christ, it is important to know about the ancient sacrifice. In the ancient times, animals were sacrificed to God. An animal was not burnt fully but partially although the whole animal was offered to the god. Some meat was given to the priests and some were given to the worshippers to make a feast among themselves. At that feast, they believed that the god himself was present as a guest. Moreover, they believed that God himself had entered into the meat. Therefore, when the worshipper eats the meat, he was literally eating the god. When people rose from such a feast they went out as they believed that they are filled with God. By doing this they believed god shared their sorrows, grief, joy, and happiness of his people. We may think of it as idolatrous worship, but it was the custom of ancient people. In some parts of India people still sacrifice animals for god. They believe that God is their guest.  

Now, what does Jesus mean when he talked about eating his flesh and drinking his blood? The flesh of Jesus is his complete humanity. John insisted that we must grasp and never let go of the full humanity of Jesus, that he was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. What does this mean? Jesus, as we have seen, again and again, was the mind of God become a person. This means that in Jesus we see God taking human life, human problems, battling with our human temptations, working out our human relationships. Therefore it is as if Jesus said: "Feed your heart, feed your mind, feed your soul on the thought of my humanity. When you are discouraged and in despair, when you are disgusted with life and living--remember I took that life of yours and these struggles of yours on me." Jesus knows our struggles, He understands our problems because he himself faced them in His life. To eat Christ's body is to feed on the thought of his life until our own life is strengthened and cleansed.

Jesus said we must drink his blood. In Jewish thought, the blood stands for life. It is easy to understand why. As the blood flows from a wound, life goes away; and to the Jew, the blood belonged to God. That is why to this day a true Jew will never eat any meat which has not been completely drained of blood. "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood" (Gen.9:4). "Only you shall not eat its blood" (Deut.15:23). When Jesus says "You must drink my blood--you must take my life into the very center of your being--and that life of mine is the life which belongs to God." When Jesus said we must drink his blood he meant that we must take his life into the very core of our hearts. We must go to him; and then we will have a real life." When he told us to eat his flesh and drink his blood, he was telling us to feed our hearts and souls and minds on his humanity, and to revitalize our lives with his life until we are refilled with the life of God. If we want life we must come into contact with the love and the life of Jesus Christ.

What can we learn from today’s feast? The Eucharist, (the Body and Blood of Christ), teaches us the importance of community. The Eucharistic celebration brings us all the Catholic Christians together. However, we cannot be in communion with the Lord without being in communion with one another. When we avoid the Eucharistic celebration, we avoid the community aspect in our life. Every Eucharist ends with a Sending on Mission. ‘Go in peace to love and serve the Lord’.  We have to carry the message of the Eucharist into the world. Just as Jesus has become our Food, giving himself completely to us, so too we must give ourselves for the sake of the world.  We are challenged to live the love we have experienced. We must become sources of nourishment for the world as Christ has become a source of nourishment for us.
A man came to a priest and wanted to make fun of his faith, so he asked, “How can bread and wine turn into the Body and Blood of Christ?” The priest answered, “No problem. You yourself change food into your body and blood, so why can’t Christ do the same?” But the objector did not give up. He asked, “But how can the entire Christ be in such a small host?” “In the same way that the vast landscape before you can fit into your little eye. ” But he still persisted, “How can the same Christ be present in all your churches at the same time?” The priest then took a mirror and let the man look into it. Then let the mirror fall to the ground and broke it and said to the skeptic, “There is only one of you and yet you can find your face reflected in each piece of that broken mirror at the same time.”

Tafakari. Sherehe ya Utatu Mtakatifu

Somo la Kwanza. Kut. 34: 4b-6, 8-9

Somo la Pili. 2 kor. 13:11-14

Injili. Yn 3: 16-18

Je, tunaelewa nini kuhusu utatu Mtakatifu wa Mungu? Zamani za kale katika kijiji kimoja nchini Nigeria mzungu mmishionari alifika na kwanza kufundisha wenyeji kuhusu Ukristu. Kwanza alitaka kuanza kufundisha kuhusu utatu Mtakatifu. Alianza kwa kusema ya kwamba kuna Mungu mmoja tu. Halafu akafundisha kuwa kuna mwana wa Mungu na jina lake ni Yesu. Mzee mmoja akamuliza mmishionari, ulituambia ya kwamba kuna Mungu mmoja tu, na sasa unaongea kuhusu mwana wake. Hii inamaanisha Mungu ana mke basi. Watu wakamuunga mkono mzee yule. Mmishionari akajibu, sijasema kuwa Mungu ana mke. Makalio yako ndiyo yamesema kuwa Mungu alikuwa na Mwana, kwa hiyo kama alikuwa na mwana ni lazima alikuwa na mkee pia. Akasema huyo mzee. Mmishionari akampuuza mzee yule na kuendelea na mafundisho yake kuhusu utatu Mtakatifu. Mwishowe yule mzee akamuona mmishionari kuwa ni mwendawazimu. Alimpuuzia yule mmishionari na kuamua kwenda kunywa pombe ya mnazi. Deturi ya kikristo inamwonesha Mungu katika utatu; Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu. Utatu huu ni Mgumu sana kuelezea kwa wakristo.

Katika mafundisho ya katekisimu tunaulizwa kila mara, Mungu ana nafsi ngapi? Huwa tunajibu kwamba, kuna Mungu Babu, Mungu Mwana na Mungu Roho Mtakatifu. Na katekista akituuliza, Je? Kuna Mungu watatu? Tunajibu-La, kuna nafsi tatu katika Munug Mmoja. Tunaporudi jibu namna hii tunapandishwa viwango na kuwa waumini wa kanisa. Ni sawa na kusema moja kuongeza moja, na kuongeza moja ni sawa na moja. Fundisho la Kiroho siyo somo la hesabu. Tunapaswa kujiuuliza mafundisho kuhusu utatu Mtakatifu yanatuambia nini juu ya uhusiano wetu na Mungu? Tunaelewa nii juu ya uhusiano huu? Kuna maandiko mengi na ishara katika agano jipya ambayo yanaongea juu ya Utatu Mtakatifu. Maandiko haya na kanuni hizi zilitumiwa na mababu zetu wa Imani katika desturi Fulani. Lakini kuna maswali ya kutafakari katika mazingira yetu ya kiafrika. Kama mtanzania, ninelewa nini juu ya Utatu Mtakatifu wa Mungu? Kuna chochote katika misingi ya kiafrika kinachoweza kutuonehsa na kutufundisha kuhusu Utatu Mtakatifu wa Mungu. Kuna viashiria mbalimbali vinavyoweza kutudhihirishia utatu Mtakatifu wa Mungu. Pia ni Muhimu kutambua hizo ishara. La shivyo tutabakia kama huyo mzee wa Nigeria hatuwezi kuuelewa Utatu Mtakatifu wa Mungu.

Katika vijiji vyetu, ninauhakika umewahi kumwona mwanamke aliyebeba chungu kichwani mwake na mtoto amefungwa mgongoni akielekea nyumbani kutayarisha chakula kwa familia yake na labda ni mjamzito. Taswira hii ya mama wa kiafrika inatupatia njia ya kuelewa kuhusu Utatu Mtakatifu. Picha ya mama anayebeba maji, mtoto mgongoni n mwingine tumboni inatupatia picha ya Mungu anayejengwa sehemu nyingi, nafsi nyingi, uhalisia mwingi, na ubora mwingi kwa wakati umoja akiwa Mungu Mmoja. Mungu wetu kama mama wa kiafrika  anaunganisha  sehemu nyingi mungu wetu ni Mungu Mama, Mungu Baba, Mungu mwana, binti, kaka, dada na wakati huo huo ni Mungu yule yule. Hii ndiyo njia rahisi mojawapo tunayoweza kuitumia kueleza juu ya Mungu wa Utatu katika desturi za kiafrika.

Utatu Mtakatifu ni kama ishara kwetu tumekombolewa na Mungu kupitia Yesu Kristo, mwana wake wa pekee kwetu kwa kufa na kufufuka kwake. Tunakumbushwa kwamba tunaokolewa na Mungu kupitia kwa Yesu Kristu katika nguvu za Roho Mtkatifu. Kwetu sisi wa Kristu Utatu Mtakatifu ni njia yetu ya pekee kumweleza Mungu na kile alichotufanyia na anachoendelea kutufanya katika maisha yetu. Mungu anafunuliwa kwetu kwa njia ya Kristu na ndani ya Kristu. Tunajua Mungu kama Baba, Mwana na Roho kwa sababu Yesu alikuja kutuokoa kwa msaada wa Roho Mtakatifu na anatuonyesha njia ya kuelekea kwa Mungu.

Hivyo katika sikukuu ya leo tunajifunza nini? Tunakumbushwa kuomba ishara ya msalaba tukiwa na maana na heshima kubw. Inaunganisha fumbo la utatu Mtakatifu na ishara ya ukombozi wetu kwa kuteswa kwa Yesu, kifo na ufufuko wa Yesu. Tufanye ishara ya msalaba kwa heshima na hadhi kuu na kwa myo wa sala ya kweli. Tunahitaji kuona utatu kama mfano mwema kwa familia zetu za Kikristu. Tumeumbwa kwa upendo tuwe jumuia ya watu wenye upendo, kama vile Baba, Mwana na Roho wameungana katika upendo. Umoja na furaha katika uhusiano wa Baba, Mwana, na Roho ndiyo mfano mwema kwetu katika uhusiano wa familia za wakristu. Familia zetu zinakuwa za Kikristu tunapoishi katika uhusiano wa upendo na Mungu na watu wengine.

Tunaalikwa tuwe bora kama Mungu wa Utatu Mtakatifu katika uhusiano wetu wote. Jamii  za kisasa wanafuata mtindo wa mimi ni mimi, wa kibinafsi. Lakini mafundisho ya Utatu Mtakatifu uatupatia hamasa ya kuiga mtindo wa umoja, “Mimi na Mungu na Jirani.” Nitakuwa mkristo iwapo ninafuata upendo wa Mungu kwa watu wote. Kama wana wa Mungu tunaalikwa kujenga maisha ya upendo katika familia zetu, kanisa, jumuiya na nchi. Kama Mungu mwana tunaalikwa kuwa wapatanishi, kutengeneza Amani. Kama Mungu, katika Roho Mtakatifu ni jukumu letu kujifunua na kufundisha kweli ili kuondoa giza la kiroho. Utatu Mtakatifu atuletee upendo, Amani na umoja katika Roho zetu, familia, kanisa na katika nchi yetu ya Tanzania.

Reflection on the Most Holy Trinity.

Reflection on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

First reading. Exo. 34; 4b-6, 8-9

Second reading. 2cor.13: 11-13

Gospel. John 3: 16-18

(Partially extracted from the Book "Theology brewed in African Pot")

What do we understand by Trinity? A long time ago in one of the remote villages in Nigeria, a white missionary arrived and began to teach about Christianity to the villagers. First, he wanted to teach them about The Holy Trinity, he began by saying that there is only one God. Then he taught them that there is the Son of God and His name is Jesus. One old man asked the missionary, you told us that there is only one God, and now you talk about his Son. That means God must have a wife then. The people agreed with him. The missionary said, I did not say God had a wife. Your buttocks said he had a son said the old man and he must have a wife and all of them must have buttocks. Now the missionary ignored him and went on talk about the Holy Trinity. At the end, the old man was fully convinced that the missionary was mad. He ignored the missionary and went to drink palm wine. Christianity traditionally represents the nature of God as Father, Son, and Spirit. And it is hard enough to explain it to Christians.

During the catechetical instruction, we are always asked how many persons are there in one God. And we are supposed to answer there are three persons in one God; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And If the Catechist asks us, Are there three Gods? We would say “No, there are three persons in one God.” As long as we repeated this we will be promoted to be a full member of the Catholic Church. It is like saying 1+1+1=1. The doctrine of the Triune God is not a numerical puzzle. The question regarding the doctrine of Trinity should confront us with, is not, How come 1+1+1=1, instead we should ask; what does Trinity tell us about God’s relationship with us? How do we understand this relationship? 

There are many texts and short formulas in the New Testament that speak of the Holy Trinity.  These texts and formulas were used by our ancestors in faith in a particular culture. But there is a question that remains to be asked in the context of African theology. As a Tanzanian how do I understand the idea of the Triune God.? Is there anything in our African background that gives us a unique insight into the three persons in one God? There are many symbols that can define the Trinity. And it is important to look for those symbols, otherwise like that old man in Nigeria, we won’t understand Trinity. In our villages, I am sure, you might have seen a woman who might be carrying a pot on her head, with a baby strapped to her back, trying to make it home on time to prepare dinner for the whole family, and she might even be carrying another baby in her womb. This kind of image of an African woman offers us a unique way of understanding the reality called Trinity. The image of a woman carrying water, a baby at her back, and in her womb, can allow us to form the idea of a God who combines many sides, many personalities, many realities, and many qualities at the same time and as the one and the same God. Our God like the African woman combines many sides. Our God is God-mother, God-Father, God-son, -daughter, brother, sister at the same time, and as the one and the same God. This is one of the simplest ways we can explain about Trinity in our African context.

Trinity reminds us that we are saved by God, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. For us Christians, Trinity is our unique way of speaking about God and what God has done and continues to do in our lives. God is revealed to us through and in Christ.

Now, from today’s feast what can we learn? For us Christians, this feast can be a reminder to pray the Sign of the Cross with greater meaning and respectfulness. It combines both the mystery of the Trinity and the mystery of our salvation through Jesus' suffering, death, and rising to life. Let us resolve to make this sign with greater dignity and reverence and in a spirit of real prayer.

We need to see the Trinity as the model for our Christian families: We are created in love to be a community of loving persons, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in Love.  We belong to the Family of the Triune God.  The love, unity, and joy in the relationship among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit should be the supreme model of our relationships within our Christian families.  Our families become truly Christian when we live in a relationship of love with God and with others.  

We are called to become more like the Triune God through all our relationships. Modern society follows the so-called “I-and-I” principle of individualism.  But the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity challenges us to adopt an "I-and-God-and-neighbour" principle: “I am a Christian insofar as I live in a relationship of love with God and other people.”  Like God the Father, we are called upon to build up life and love in our family, our Church, our community, and our nation.  Like God the Son, we are called upon to reconcile, to be peacemakers. Like God the Holy Spirit, it is our task to uncover and teach truth and to dispel ignorance. May Triune God bring love, peace, and unity into our hearts, families, church, and in our country Tanzania.

Joke of the day

At confirmation, the Archbishop asked the children for a definition of the Holy Trinity. A girl answered very softly – “The Holy Trinity is three persons in one God.” The Archbishop, who was rather old and almost deaf, replied – “I didn’t understand what you said.” And the young theologian standing in front of him replied: “Well, Your Excellency, you are not supposed to. The Trinity is a mystery. Nobody understands it.)”

Tafakari. Sherehe ya Pentekoste

SOMO LA KWANZA: Mdo 2 :1-11

SOMO LA PILI:  1 Kor. 12 : 3-7, 12-13

INJILI ; Jn. 20 :19-23

Ndugu zangu katika Yesu Kristu leo tutafakari historia ya sikukuu ya Pentekosti, umuhimu wa Roho Mtakatifu katika maisha ya Mitume na hatimaye kile tunachoweza kujifunza kutokana na sikukuu ya leo. Kwa Wakristo Pentekosti ni ishara ya kukamilika kwa msimu wa pasaka na malengo yake.  Ni siku ya kuzaliwa kwa Kanisa. Lakini ni muhimu kujua kwamba neno Pentekosti linamaanisha "hamsini au ya hamsini." Pentekosti hapo awali ilikuwa sikukuu ya mavuno kwa Wayahudi. Wayahudi walikuwa wakisherehekea sikukuu ya mavuno baada ya siku ya hamsini ya sikukuu ya Pasaka. Wakati Mungu alipowaachilia Waisraeli kutoka utumwani na kuwaongoza kuingia katika Ardhi ya Ahadi, Bwana aliwabariki kwa ardhi nzuri na baadaye kila mwaka wakati wa mavuno yao ya kwanza, Waisraeli walipaswa kuwa ya sikukuu na kumshukuru Bwana. Walipaswa kukumbuka jinsi Mungu alivyowatoa katika utumwa huko Misiri na kuwaleta katika Nchi ya Ahadi, ambako wangefurahiya fadhila kama hiyo. Pili, baadaye wakati wa sikukuu hii pia walikumbuka agano la Mungu alilofanya na Waisraeli, "Mimi ni Mungu wako, na ninyi ni watu wangu." Ilikuwa tu sherehe ya Kiyahudi. Sasa ikawaje iwe sikukuu ya Kikristo? Kuna sababu mbili. 1. Kwa sababu baada ya majuma saba ya ufufuo wa Yesu, Roho Mtakatifu alimwagwa juu ya wale wafuasi wa Yesu ambao walikuwa wamekusanyika pamoja huko Yerusalemu na watu wengi wakawa Wakristo. Hayakuwa mavuno ya ngano tena bali mavuno ya watu ambao wakawa Wakristo. 2. Baada ya miaka kadhaa ya  ufufuo wa Yesu, Wakristo wa kwanza walipokumbuka asili yao walichagua sikukuu hii kuashiria kuzaliwa kwa agano jipya la Mungu na watu wake.
Je! Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa na umuhimu gani katika maisha ya Mitume na kwa Kanisa? Kabla ya Yesu kupaa mbinguni, anawatuma wanafunzi wake kuwa mashuhuda wake huko Yerusalemu, Yudea, Samaria hadi miisho ya ulimwengu. Lakini mara tu Yesu alipoaacha walikaa kwenye vyumba vyao vya juu na kujificha. Waliogopa Wayahudi. Walijua kuwa watu hawawapendi, walijua kuwa mafundisho yao yalikuwa tofauti na ujumbe wa Wayahudi, na walitamani kujificha wenyewe vitandani ili wasionekane kwa wanajamii waliowachukia. Lakini nguvu ya Roho Mtakatifu iliwapa ujasiri wa kutoa maisha yao kwa Yesu kuwa washuhuda wake na kueneza habari njema ya upendo wa Mungu kwa wanadamu wote. Wakati hofu ya maisha ilipoipooza Imani yao kiasi cha kukata tamaa, Roho Mtakatifu aliwaamsha na kuwapa nguvu ya kutoka nje walikojificha na kuwafanya wa tofaauti. Roho Mtakatifu aliwakumbusha kama wana utume. Dhamira yao ilikuwa kuvunja kuta za chuki, mgawanyiko, na ubinafsi. Hili liliwezekana kwa kuptia msaada wa Roho Mtakatifu.
Sasa ni nini maana ya sikukuu ya Pentekosti katika maisha yetu? Siku ya Pentekosti imewekwa kwa ujasiri na wingi. Ni wakati wa kufurahi, wakati wa kukumbuka na wakati wa kufurahi katika yale ambayo Bwana  amefanya maishani mwetu. Katika nyakati za giza, tunapokuwa na wasiwasi juu ya maisha yetu ya baadaye, na mustakabali wa watoto wetu, wakati nguvu za uovu zinaonekana kuongezeka kuliko wema, wakati tunapokuwa katika hatua ya kukata tamaa maishani, wakati maisha yetu yanapoonekana kuwa ya zamani na yamechoka na kuchokea , Pentekosti inaibuka katika maisha yetu tena na inatukumbusha, kwamba sisi ni sehemu ya mavuno ya matunda yaliyopandwa na Kristo na yaliyowezekana kwa dhabihu yake. Na hiyo, inabadilisha kila kitu!
Hapo kale, palikuwa na mvulana aliyeitwa Olu ambaye alikuwa na kuku mweupe aliyempenda sana. Walikuwa marafiki wakubwa walioishi pamoja na wala hawakuweza kutenganishwa. Siku moja, kuku yule alitoweka, Olu alilia sana. Halafu baada ya wiki tatu, kuku mweupe alirudi akiwa na vifaranga saba weupe na wazuri. Olu alikuwa tena na furaha kubwa isiyo na kifani. Mama kuku aliwatunza vifaranga wale kwa uangalifu mkubwa. Siku moja, mwishoni mwa kiangazi, vijana Fulani walichoma moto kuzunguka eneo la kichaka kilichokuwa nje ya kijiji. Madhumuni yao yalikuwa kuwakimbiza wanyama wadogo kama vile sungura na swala waliokuwa wamejificha humo. Hapo yale mapanga yakawashambulia wanyama hao. Wakati wa mawindo kukamilika na moto kufifia, Olu na marafiki zake walitembea juu ya majivu yaliyokuwa bado yanafuka moshi. Olu aligundua rundo la manyoyo na kuhisi harufu ya nyama iliyoungua. Lilionekana kama masalia ya ndege ambaye hakuweza kukimbia moto. Halafu Olu aligundua kwa huzuni. Alikuwa yule kipenzi chake, kuku mweupe, ambaye alikuwa ameungua na kuwa mkaa mweusi. Lakini ghafla akasikia sauti ya vifaranga. Mama Kuku alikuwa amewafunika kwa mwili wake na walikuwa hai na wazima kabisa. Mama kuku aliyatoa maisha yake kwa ajili ya watoto wake. Alikufa ili vifaranga wapate kuishi.

Pentekosti inatukumbusha kwamba wakati tu tunapofikiria kuwa hakuna tumaini katika maisha, wakati tunahisi kwamba hakuna dhamani ya maisha, kwa Roho Mtakatifu tunapata kutimizwa na kukamilika. Pentekosti sio msimu tu au sikukuu tu ya kila mwaka. Sio jambo au tukio ambalo tunakumbuka tu. Ni mwanzo wetu, ni lango la kuingilia, wakati wetu wa sasa. Roho Mtakatifu anaendelea kufanya kazi ndani yetu kutubadilisha na kutuhimiza, ili kazi kubwa ya wokovu ya Mungu iweze kuonyeshwa kwetu na kukamilishwa. Kwa Kuhamasishwa na tendo la Roho Mtakatifu, tunapokea ujasiri wa kuinua mioyo yetu kwa tumaini, na Roho hutujaza, kutufanya tuwe wapya. Kwa hivyo popote tulipo leo, katika hali yoyote tupitayo, tujue ya kuwa Roho yuko pamoja nasi. Kwa Kuhamasishwa na tendo la Roho Mtakatifu, tunapokea ujasiri wa kuinua mioyo yetu kwa tumaini, na kujazwa roho na kutufanya tuwe wapya.

Reflection on the Feast of Pentecost Sunday.

First reading. Acts. 2: 1-11
Second reading. 1Corinthians 12: 3b-7.12-13
Gospel. John 20. 19-23

My dear brothers and sisters today we will reflect on the historical background for the feast of Pentecost, the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Apostles, and finally what we can learn from today’s feast.  For Christians Pentecost marks the end and the goal of the Easter season. It is the birthday of the Church. But it is important to know that the word Pentecost means “Fiftieth or fifty.” Pentecost was originally a Jewish festival for harvest. The Jewish people were celebrating the harvest feast after the fiftieth day of Passover feast. When God freed the Israelites from slavery and led them into the Promised Land, the Lord blessed them with a bountiful land, and thereafter every year when the first crop would come, the Israelites were to have a festival and give thanks to the Lord. They were to remember how God had brought them out of their bondage in Egypt and brought them up into the Promised Land, where they could enjoy such bounty. Secondly, later on during this feast they also remembered the covenant God made with the Israelites, “I am your God, and you are my people.” It was purely a Jewish festival. Now how did it become a Christian feast? There are two reasons. 1. Because it was seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those followers of Jesus who had gathered together in Jerusalem and many people became Christians. It was no longer the harvest of wheat but the harvest of people who became Christians. Secondly, it was several years after the resurrection of Jesus, the early Christians reflected on their origins and chose this feast to mark the birth of God’s new covenant with God’s people.

What was the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Apostles and for the Church? Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He commissions His disciples to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the world. But as soon as Jesus leaves them they retire to their upper rooms and hide themselves. They were afraid of the Jews. They knew that the people did not like them, they knew that their teaching was different from the message of the Jews, and they just felt like wrapping themselves up in bed and not having to get up and face the hostile society. But it was the power of the Holy Spirit that made them to sacrifice their lives for Jesus to be His witnesses and to share the Good News of God’s love for all humankind. When the fear of life troubled their faith into silent submission to despair, the Holy Spirit warmed them up and empowered them to go out to the Society and make a difference. The Holy Spirit reminded them that they have a mission. Their mission was to break the walls of hatred, division, and selfishness.  This was possible only through the working of the Holy Spirit.

Now, what is the significance of the feast of Pentecost in our life? Pentecost day is marked with confidence and abundance. It is a time of rejoicing, a time to remember and a time to rejoice in what the Lord had done in our lives. In dark times, when we are anxious about our future, and the future of our children, when the forces of evil seem more prevalent than the good when we are at the point of giving up in life when our lives seem old and tired, Pentecost invades our lives once again and reminds us, that we are part of the harvest of fruits sown by Christ and made possible by His sacrifice. And that changes everything!  Pentecost reminds us that just when we think that there is no hope in life when we feel that there is no meaning in life, with the Holy Spirit, we will find fulfillment and completion. Pentecost is not just a season or annual feast for us. It is not simply a fact or event that we commemorate. It is our beginning, our entry point, our ever-present moment. The Holy Spirit continues to work in us to transform and inspire us, so that God’s great work of salvation can be shown forth in us and brought to its completion. Inspired by the Holy Spirit’s action, we receive the courage to lift our hearts in hope, and the Spirit fills us, making us new.  So wherever we are today, whatever situation in which we find ourselves, let us know that the Spirit is with us. Inspired by the Holy Spirit’s action, we receive the courage to lift our hearts in hope, and the Spirit fills us, making us new.

Joke of the day. 

After years of his wife's pleading, this rich good ole boy finally goes with her to her little local Church on Sunday morning. He was so moved by the preacher's sermon that on the way out he stopped to shake his hand. He said, "Reverend, that was the best @%&x sermon I ever did hear!" The Preacher replied, "Oh!! Why, thank you sir, but please, I'd appreciate it if you didn't use profanity in the Lord's house." The man said, "I'm sorry Reverend, but I can't help myself, it was such a @#&x good sermon!" The Reverend said, "Sir, PLEASE, I cannot have you behaving this way in Church!" The man said, "Okay Reverend, but I just wanted you to know that I thought it was so @%&x good, I put $5000 in that their collection plate." And the Reverend said, "No @#&x?"

Tafakari; Sherehe ya Kupaa Bwana

Sherehe ya Kupaa Bwana

Mt 28: 16-20

Sote tuna tabia ya kushikilia tunachokifahamu na kukiamini. Tunaweza hata kupinga mabadiliko ambyo yanaweza kuhatarisha maslahi yetu. Tunajiamini katika kuchagua au kutekeleza tunachokijua vizuri. Kwa mafano, mtu hawezi kujiamini kutumia barabara ambayo hajawahi kutumia kwend mahali anapokwenda hata ikiwa barabara anayoifahamu ni ndefu na yakuchosha. Hata hivyo maandiko, yanatuhamazisha kupambana na woga wa mabadiliko na vitu vipya ili tugundue kusudi la Mungu na upendo wake kwetu. Tukijua tutavuka mipaka tuliyojiwekea kama Abraham na Sara, Ruthu na naomi, Marimu na Yosefu na wanafunzi wa Yesu ambao walithubutu kushika maono kubwa ambayo Mungu alikuw nayo kwa ajili yao. Wote walishi maisha mapya ambayo awali hawakufahamu. Sikukuu ya kupaa kwa Yesu tunayosherekea inatupa hamasa ya kuwa na ujasiri wa kuacha mazoea na kukubali hali mpya baadaye.

Wanafuni walitaka kumkariri Yesu wa kwama kabla hajafa na kufufuka, walisita kumruhusu aende zake. Lakini walipata changamoto ya kuanza uanafuni uliokuwa umeanzishwa na Yesu. Utengano wa Yesu na wanafunzi wake unaleta nmna mpya ya uwepo wake na hatimaye kuanza maisha mapya. Kupaa kwa Yesu hakukuwa kutoweka kwa Yesu. Badala yake ni mwanzo na namna upya ya uwepo wake. Yesu hakutawaliwa tena na sharia za mahali wala wakati. Kwa kupaa, anauwezo wa kuwa na wanafunzi wake wakati wote, mahali popote. Wakati wa huduma yake ya kidunia angeweza kuw sehemu moja kwa wakati mmoja. Ikiwa angekuwa huko Yerusalemu asingekuwako kapernaumu; ikiwa angekuwa huko kapernaumu asingekuwako Yerusalemu. Lakini sasa kwa kuwa ameunganishwa na Mungu, yuko popote alipo Mungu; na hiyo ni kila mahali.

Kuondoka kimwili kwa Yesu kunafungua sura mpya katika maisha yao na maisha ya Kanisa. Sikukuu ya kupaa ni kusherehekea mstakabali wa kanisa wake. Je! Tuanweza kujifunza nini kutokana na sikukuu ya leo?

1. Sherehe ya leo inatualika kuiishi Imani yetu na kujitoa kwa ajili ya Bwana. Kama Yesu alitegemea wanafunzi wake katika utume wake, kwa sasa anatutegemea sisi. Utume wa Yesu haukuwa kwa wachache tu, lakini kwa waumini wote. Sisi sote tumepewa jukuma la kwenda kutangaza Inili ya uhai na upendo, tumaini na Amani, kwa ushuhuda wa maisha yetu. Tunahitaji kuwa watangazaji na waenezaji wa injili; wote waliobatizwa, bila kujali nafasi zao kanisani, ni mawakala wa uiinjilisaji.

2. Sherehe ya leo inatupa uhakikisho kuwa Yesu angali yupo, yupo hata wakati wa uchungu na huzuni tunaopitia. Kwa kupaa kwake, Kristo hajatuacha lakini amewezeshe Roho Mtakatifu kuingia katika maisha yetu. Kwa njia hii inawezekana kwa kila mmoja wetu kubadilishwa na nguvu ya Roho Mtakatifu kuwa wakala au chombo cah Kristo.

3. Yesu alitufundisha masoma ya Imani, Matumaini, msamaha, rehema, ukombozi na upendo. Hatuwezi kuweka masomo haya kwenye shelufu na kuyapuuza. Yanasimama mbele yetu katika utu wa Yesu. Ingawa hayupo tena katika ulimwenguni wa mwili, lakini anaishi katika neno lake. Lazima tufanye neno lake kuwa halisi katika maisha yetu na katika maisha yaw engine. Ukristo ulikusudiwa kuwa Imani ambayo wafuasu wa Yesu wangesaidia na kuwajali wengine, kama vile Yesu alivyokuwa anafanya, na kwa kufanya hivyo watamjali Yesu ndani yao. 

Nawatakia Jumapili njema. 

Reflection on the Feast of The Ascension of the Lord

Feast of The Ascension of the Lord

Mt. 28: 16-20

We all have a tendency to hold on to that which is familiar and comfortable. We may even tend to resist changes that may make us feel vulnerable. We are comfortable in choosing or doing what we know well. For example, a person may not be comfortable to use unfamiliar roads to reach his destination even if the familiar road is long and tiring. Scriptures, however, challenge us to overcome our fear of the unknown and to discover the God of life and love beyond the familiar pattern and known boundaries like Abraham and Sara, Ruth and Naomi, Mary and Joseph and the disciples of Jesus who dared to follow the big dream God had for them. They all ventured into an unknown future. The Ascension that we celebrate today is also about the courage to let go of the familiar and to embrace a new future.

 The disciples wanted to hold on to the earthly Jesus, they were reluctant to let him go.  But they were challenged to take responsibility for their discipleship which is to work for the new future inaugurated by Jesus. The separation of Jesus from his disciples brings about a new way of His presence and ultimately a new way of life for them. The Ascension is not about the disappearance of Jesus. Rather it is about a new way of being present. Jesus is no longer bound by the law of space and time. By ascending, he is actually able to be with the disciples at all times, at all places. During his earthly ministry he could only be in one place at a time. If he was in Jerusalem he was not in Capernaum; if he was in Capernaum he was not in Jerusalem. But now that He is united with God, he is present wherever God is present; and that is everywhere.

The physical departure of Jesus opened a new chapter in their lives and the life of the Church. The feast of the Ascension is the Church’s celebration of her future. What can we learn from today’s feast? Today’s feast invites us to live out our faith and commitment to the Lord.  As Jesus depended on His disciples for the mission, He depends on us now. The mission of Jesus is not only for a few but for all believers. We are all being commissioned to go forth and proclaim the Gospel of life and love, of hope and peace, by the witness of our lives. We need to be proclaimers and evangelizers:  All the baptized, whatever their position in the church are agents of evangelization.

Today’s feast gives us the assurance that Jesus is still present, present even in the pain and sorrow we undergo. By His Ascension, Christ has not deserted us but has made it possible for the Holy Spirit to enter our lives. In this way it is possible for each of us to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit into agents or instruments of Christ.

Jesus taught us lessons of Faith, Hope, forgiveness, mercy, Redemption and Love.  We cannot put these lessons on a shelf and ignore them.  They stand before us in the person of Jesus.  Although no longer visibly present in the world, He is present in his words. We must make his words real in our lives and in the lives of others. Christianity was meant to be a Faith in which Jesus’ followers would help and care for others, just as Jesus had done, and in so doing, would care for Jesus in them.  

Joke of the day

A woman in a confessional said, “Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have committed the sin of vanity. Twice a day I look in the mirror and tell myself how beautiful I am.” The priest took a look at her and said, “My dear, that isn’t a sin. It’s simply a mistake.”

Have a blessed Sunday.