Reflection for 16th January 2023 ;1st Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10, Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

 

“The New from the Old”

In today’s readings, we listen to the story of our salvation, which began from the prophets and fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Lord. The first reading from the letter to Hebrews reminded us the priesthood of Jesus. The priesthood of Jesus, which was traced from the Old Testament. Jesus came to fulfil high priest in which God Himself gave Him the power to be glorified. The glorification of Him, was for the purpose of our salvation.

In the Gospel of today according to Mark, we hear Jesus Christ discussing with Pharisees who asked Him about fasting. The one question would be, what makes the Pharisees ask Jesus about fasting? Pharisees were people who were Law observers and Law keepers. Hence, for them, any person who do not keep the Law would be treated as a pagan. In their mind they were thinking that Jesus is a pagan, that is a person who does not believe in God. To the surprise, Jesus Christ did not go against fasting, as a law which is known by the Pharisees, but He replied that, the wedding guests cannot fast if the bridegroom is with them, as the time will come for them to fast. I am sure the Pharisees did not understand the reply from Jesus, as they were already not understanding His nature. Jesus explains His mission in the context of new wine and old wine. The old wine being the law which was revealed to Prophets in Old Testament, and then new wine being the revelation which was to be fulfilled by Him, to fulfill the journey of our salvation. The new wine came to fulfill not to be under the old wine, which was just a preparation of our salvation. It is of very important to us as Christians to change our life, and follow Jesus Christ who is the fulfilment of our salvation. Sometimes, we fall into temptation of following other laws which do not lead us to salvation. The greatest law which we have to carry every day, is the law of Love, which Jesus came to show us. Jesus Christ was not against the law, but how we observe the laws may lead us into forgetting the greatest law which bind all laws into one. Jesus finished by saying, “the new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” We are the new skins, today we are challenged to live as new people in following Christ.

 

Joseph Chingarande

I Year Theology

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Reflection for 13th January 2023

 First Reading: 4:5-11

Gospel 2:1-12

Faith is the bloodstream and heart of the sincere prayer.   The First reading and gospel are centered on faith, as we have heard in the gospel of (Mark 2:1-12), when Jesus went back to his home in Capernaum, many people gathered and filled the house so that there was no space at the door and preached the word to them.  They brought a paralytic man carried by four men unable to enter the house, because of their strong faith that Jesus can heal the man. They opened the roof, and they carried him down. When Jesus saw their faith, he told the man child your sins are forgiven. It was their strong faith that made the man healed. Dear friends, this verse invites us to check on our faith, are we able to persevere in all problems we encounter in our lives? Are we able to put trust in God in all turf moments we go through?

The four men had to find the way of taking the paralytic man to Jesus and they found all ways possible to reach Jesus.  Sometimes we do not get what we pray for, many sick people say that they are not healed from their diseases though they pray to God.   It is not that we do not pray but we lack persistence and faith in prayers. If are persistent in prayer and we have faith and trust in God, He can hear our prayers and gives us what we need. Dear brother let us inculcate the virtue of faith, it is through faith and trust in God we shall get what we pray for.  As the four men took the initiative take the paralytic man to Jesus it is our role to pray for those who have lost trust and faith in God.  

Kiyemba Frank

I Year Theology

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Reflection for 11th January 2023

1st Reading: Heb 2:14-18

Gospel: Mk 1:29-39

In the readings of today, there are two themes that resound boldly: the call and the Mission of the Apostles. The scene presented to us today of the Healing of Simon’s mother in-Law is very close to the call narrative of the first four disciples, Peter, and his fellow fishermen, by the sea of Galilee. The disciples realized the grace God had granted them of being his followers. The miraculous catching of fish recorded in the Gospel according to Luke (5:1:11) was an eye-opener to the fishermen of the person of Jesus before them. This made them remember quickly the need they had at home and saw the answer in Jesus. They knew deep within them that this God-man can help them with their mother who was not feeling well so ‘they immediately told him about her (sickness) (Mark 1:30)

 He entered the house and ‘held’ Simon's mother-in-law by hand and she was delivered from her pain.  The cure of Simon's mother-in-law opened opportunities for others to be cured as well. The evangelist clearly puts it, “and she began to serve them”

 When we are saved when we receive graces from God how are we being responsible with them? God’s gifts are not for us only to benefit but for the whole creation, all humanity. It is enough for you and me to benefit from the gift you or I received from God. The gifts of God are for the transformation of the world.

 If St. Claret, after receiving his Apostolic missionary vocation, would have decided to keep it closed, to only work with and among his own kinsmen, within his diocese, you and I would certainly have not been here. He received the call and responded by generously sharing it with all humanity thus he says, “my spirit is for the whole world.”

 God has a personal call, gift, and charism he gave each one of us. Like the healing of Simon's mother-in-law from her fever, you and I have moments in life where we encountered the Lord and He liberated us so that we go and help others, we continue with the work of creation entrusted to us by God.

His call to this missionary life suffices for it to shine.

How far are you in making this gift fruitful?

 

 

Xavier Tinaye Moyo

I Year Theology

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Reflection for 10th January 2023

1st Reading: HEB 2:5-12

GOSPEL :MARK 1:21-28

The first reading from Hebrews, gives us an opportunity to reflect on God’s mercy and grace in our lives. God made Christ lower than the angels so that we can attain eternal salvation. In fact, all things are subjected to Christ, but we are not able to see his presence in our lives. The one who is crowned with glory and honor suffered death so that you and I can be saved. Indeed, the mercy of God and grace overcome the power of death. We acknowledge that Christ has received power to overcome any kind of Death. It is by God’s mercy and graces we are now united with Christ who is our elder brother; Therefore, we are not ashamed to be called the brothers of Christ. In line with the first reading, let us introspect ourselves by reflecting the following questions: Are we real brothers of Christ? Are we co-operating with God’s grace to overcome death which is the effect of our sins? Let us ask God’s mercy and grace to be upon us so that we can be united with Christ by accepting his sufferings and death. The Gospel according to Mark; Gives the theme on Jesus’ Power and His holy name. Whatever Jesus spoke and teach reflected his holiness. Thus, even the unclean spirits are able to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is holy one of God. What brings many questions to people, it is his teachings. Unlike Scribes Jesus teaches with authority and Power. The power to command unclean spirits to be silent and come out signifies that Jesu was true God and holy one. Let us Pray for the virtue of Holiness so that our teaching and Preaching may reflect our daily life.

LUCAS VEDASTUS

I Year Theology

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REFLECTION OF MONDAY 9th JANUARY 2023

 

First Reading: Heb 1:1-6  

Gospel: Mk 1:14-20

Today marks the beginning of Ordinary time in the Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic Church. Constituting of 33-34 Sundays, Ordinary time is divided into two sections. The seasons mainly concern Christ's preaching and ministry. The term 'Ordinary' comes from Latin 'Ordinalis' meaning numbered, signifying a numbered or ordered list of Sundays that anchor our daily lives in the Catholic Church. The color 'Green' symbolizes hope, anticipation and life. As we are reminded on this Monday in the Laudato Si, or in the words of His Holiness while addressing the Congress, the ‘Green Encyclical,’ reminds us to keep our environment Green, hopeful and helpful for the ecosystem.

The introduction of the extraordinary literary beauty in the Letter to the Hebrews, announces God's intervention in the world and in human history, the 'Kairos.' God's best is saved for last; His spoken words through His son to us. What does Christ reveal to us today? With great authority, Jesus declares the coming of a new era. With the same authority he summons people to follow him.

 We are Sons of the immaculate heart of the blessed Virgin Mary. Called to follow Christ in imitating Him in working, suffering and striving constantly for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. In our formation, following Christ as set forth in the Gospel is our supreme rule (CC4). This makes our formation for mission always lived in a spirit of communion. Christ calls his first disciples and as the GPF (General Plan of Formation) 19 entails, we are followers of Jesus in the style of the Apostles, called to evangelize through the ministry of the word.

This ordinary time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ, a time when Green should not only end on the altar but lived in our daily activities.

Njathumba Joel Murimi

II Year Theology

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Reflection for Friday 06 January 2023: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

 Kenny Rogers, an American musician once said, “if you want to see the wonders of age, follow the evening star”. I’m sure his statement must have been inspired by the story of the star which we just heard in the Gospel. Today we celebrate the revelation of God in his Son, Jesus Christ, the Epiphany or Theophany in some traditions. About the self-revelation of God, the prophet Isaiah testified, Matthew gave witness to it and Paul confessed about it. In his vision, Isaiah sees kings walking by the shining radiance of Israel, and Matthew records three kings following a star. The prophet again sees the wealth of the nations being brought to Israel, and behold Matthew reports of the Magi coming forth with gifts, including gold, to which the quantity is not known, but who dare travels thousands of miles in search of a king only to give a few grams, certainly it must have been a few kilos. However, this is just evidence of God’s fidelity, that God is faithful to His promise, what He promises he delivers.

What is key to this celebration is God's interest to live among human beings and revealing himself to them. Not only to Israel, but to the whole human race, as Paul testifies that ‘the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel’ (Eph 3:6). We are likely to fall into the temptation of thinking that the Gentiles were a special group of pagans. The term is inclusive of us. We ourselves are a part fulfilment of this prophecy. It is among the Israelites that God chose to reveal himself, and it is through their history that we have become partakers of this mystery. The Church of today is what it is through the fulfilment of this prophecy in part; and the Church of the future will be what it shall become through its fulfilment in completeness.  So, God’s self-revelation is God’s own invitation to humanity, that we may know him, love him, serve him, and in the end become one with him, as the Catechism teaches (CCC 358). This we can only achieve by an untiring and constant strive for holiness, by a personal transformative project subtended by pull factors not push factors. Spiritual matters are highly personal. What we need is God’s grace in seeing and following his star, and his wisdom to interpret the signs of time. At some point the star will not be visible and we may end up in the care and hospitality of Herod, but what is important is to remember that our destination lies not in Herod but in the new born King. The avenue to the true King is only marked by his star. As our Father Founder St. Anthony Mary Claret would say in his autobiography, “Jesus and Mary are my only support and guide, the models I propose to follow and imitate (Aut 642). Inspired by this statement, probably today we can say Jesus is the only star that leads to God, that needs to be followed and imitated. Reflecting on Kenny Rogers’ earlier statement I would say, “if you want to see the wonders of God, follow his star.’”

George Chidyamatondo

II Year Theology

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Reflection for 3rd January 2023: 1st Reading; 1Jn 2:29-3:6, Gospel: Jn 1:29-34

 

As we continue celebrating the nativity of our Lord, we are invited to reflect upon our status before God in the course of time and the essence for the redemptive act of Jesus.  

 The Church according to her tradition teaches that, originally man was blessed with three gifts, that is to say: holiness, integrity and immortality. God also bestowed on man special kind of knowledge and freedom from suffering. Humans were also endowed with supernatural gifts of communion with God as God’s children through His sanctifying grace. And this is exactly what John confirms in his fist letter as we have heard in the first reading.

 However, still in this particular text John also mentions some precautions about sin and as we all know, sin is one of the important doctrines of Christianity. It explains the broken situation where humans find themselves, the need of redemption by Jesus Christ, how Jesus is the universal saviour and the role of the Church and the sacraments in the life of Christians. We are born in a world where sin and evil are inescapable realities. Even though by our own efforts we may be able to do some good acts, it is evident that we cannot on our own sustain them, except through the redemptive sacrifice of Christ, who is the source of all man’s goodness.

 St. Paul in his letters especially (Rom 5:12-21) bridges the gap between the Old and the New creation when he comparatively relates about Adam the first parent of humans and Christ the head of the new humanity. Through Adam came sin and death, while Jesus brought uprightness and eternal life. St. Augustine on the same point affirms what is written in the Sacred Scriptures that; Christ is the saviour of all including infants. That is why in the Church there is the tradition baptism of both adults and infant. However, infants have no personal sins yet they are baptized for the forgiveness of sins.

 Christ is active in the world from the beginning of creation, unifying, integrating and ultimately drawing all into the presence of the Father. However, blinded by sin, we often fail to recognize His activity in our daily life. Hence the need for a herald in the person of John the Baptist to point out for us the Messiah and our saviour Jesus Christ, as he testifies “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sin of the world."

 

Gerald Lubwama

II Year Theology

 

 

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