FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Reflection from Luke 2, 1-20

According to this text, the message about the birth of Jesus is a message of great joy for all, because the Saviour was born for all. Let us rejoice because God loves us, he is in our midst and brings salvation to us! The salvation is work of God but it performs itself on earth with the cooperation of the human being. Let us take Mary and Joseph as example. In the simplicity of the event and the people involved, it is manifested the greatness of God. This reality confirms an African proverb which says, “simple people, performing simple things and in simple places are able to change the world”.  The great changes that our society needs should happen inside the human being. A new society will happen when each person realises the necessity of changing himself/herself more than to try changing others. “The world will change if we start changing our actions through our behaviour and our choices.” So, Christmas is time of changing behaviours and choices.

 

In Jesus, God became one of us, assuming our human condition and offering new proposal of life. For that it is not enough to acknowledge in Jesus the salvation of God; it is necessary to let ourselves be guided by his message of peace and love. The birth of Jesus transformed all human beings in a unique family, filling the hearts of joy, optimism and hope. In fact, God reveals himself as neighbour, poor and rejected, inviting to recognise the value of the small gestures and projects. Without doubt this option of God letting us embarrassed, inviting us to think and to act differently in everything. So, Christmas is time of changing our mentality.

Another aspect very important to our refection this night is about the shepherds, who were people usually despised in the society. The shepherds were watchful people who look after the animals around Bethlehem during the night. They were truly watchful, because in them were very alive the sense of God and his nearness. They were the first people to receive the great message of joy because their hearts were watchful. Only the watchful heart is able to believe in good news and to expect better reality in each new dawn. Only the watchful heart is able to have courage to start the journey in order to meet God in unexpected places: in the reality of a small child in a very poor place. So, Christmas is time to look differently in order to see beyond and to make the difference in the life of many people.

The Almighty God accepts the condition of a small child, in total dependence of the human care and love. The faith leads us to recognise this small child of Bethlehem in each child we meet in our daily journey. Each child requests our love. Let us think today also, in a special way, about that children who do not experience the love of their parents; about the street boys who do not have a place to live; about the children who are used as soldiers, transformed in instruments of violence, instead of being instruments of reconciliation and peace; about the children who are victims of sexual abuse; about the poor children who are forced to give their dreams up because of harsh economic conditions.  The Small child of Bethlehem is a renewed appeal so that we give the best of ourselves in order to end the tribulation of these children. May the light of Bethlehem touch our hearts, making them sensible to this reality.  So, Christmas is time of sensibility, developing attitudes of care and affection with the ones who are need. 

Although we live in a consumer society, which distracts our attention from the essential, we need to be watchful. Christmas is much more than consumption. It is feast of the revelation of the Mystery of the love of God that transforms the human heart, making sensible to the divine appeals. God loves us in gratuity and generosity, without any merit of our part. This experience should lead us to do the same thing He does. Like this, Christmas will be more than one period in the year. It will be Christmas always if we learn to love truly and to put more effort to up-building the fraternal and righteous society for the good of all. 

Have a Merry Christmas! 

Fr. Ndega

SIKUKUU YA KUZALIWA YA BWANA

Kutafakari kutoka Luke 2, 1-20;

Kulingana na andiko hili, ujumbe kuhusu kuzaliwa kwa Yesu ni ujumbe wa furaha kubwa kwa wote, kwa sababu Mwokozi alizaliwa kwa wote. tufurahi kwa sababu Mungu anatupenda, yeye ni wepo kati yetu na analeta wokovu kwetu. Wokovu ni kazi ya Mungu, lakini unatendeka duniani kwa ushirika wa binadamu. Basi tuchukue Mariamu na Yusufu kama mfano. Katika unyenyekevu wa tukio hilo na watu waliohusika, ni wazi ukuu wa Mungu. Hali halisi hii inathibitisha msemo wa Afrika ambao unasema, “watu wanyenyekevu, kufanya vitu rahisi na katika mahali rahisi ni uwezo wa kubadilisha dunia.” Mabadiliko makubwa ambayo jamii yetu inahitaji lazima kutokea ndani ya mwanadamu. Jamii mpya itatokea wakati kila mtu kutambua umuhimu wa kujibadilisha zaidi kuliko kujaribu kubadilisha wengine. “Dunia itabadilika kama sisi kuanza kubadilisha matendo yetu kupitia tabia yetu na uchaguzi yetu.” Kwa hiyo, Krismasi ni wakati wa kubadili tabia na uchaguzi. 

Katika Yesu, Mungu alikuwa mmoja wetu, kuchukua hali halisi yetu ya binadamu na kutoa pendekezo mpya ya maisha. Kwa hivyo haitoshi kukiri katika Yesu wokovu wa Mungu; ni muhimu turuhusu kuongozwa na ujumbe wake wa amani na upendo. Kuzaliwa kwa Yesu kuliwabadilisha binadamu wote katika familia kipekee, kujaza mioyo ya furaha na matumaini. Kwa kweli, Mungu anajidhihirisha kama jirani, maskini na anayekataliwa, kualika kutambua thamani ya ishara ndogo na miradi midogo. Bila shaka chaguo hili la Mungu inatuaibisha, kutualika kufikiri na kutenda kwa njia tofauti katika kila kitu. Hivyo, Krismasi ni wakati wa kubadili mawazo wetu.

Kipengele kingine kutafakari kwetu usiku huu ni kuhusu wachungaji, waliokuwa watu wa kawaida wadharauliwa katika jamii. Wachungaji walikuwa watu waangalifu ambao walichunga wanyama karibu na Bethlehem wakati wa usiku. Walikuwa kweli waangalifu, kwa sababu katika wao hisia ya Mungu na ukaribu wake ulikuwa hai sana. Wachungaji walikuwa watu wa kwanza kupokea ujumbe mkubwa wa furaha kwa sababu mioyo yao ilikuwa kukesha. “Moyo uangalizi” tu ni uwezo wa kuamini katika habari njema na kutarajia hali halisi bora katika kila alfajiri mpya. Moyo uangalizi tu ni uwezo wa kuwa na ujasiri wa kuanza safari ili kukutana na Mungu katika mahali pasipotarajiwa: katika hali halisi ya mtoto mdogo katika mahali maskini sana. Hivyo, Krismasi ni wakati wa kuangalia tofauti ili kuona zaidi na kufanya tofauti katika maisha ya watu wengi.

Mungu Mwenyezi anakubali hali ya mtoto mdogo, katika utegemezi jumla ya huduma na upendo wa binadamu. Imani inatuongoza kutambua mtoto huyu mdogo wa Bethlehem katika kila mtoto sisi hukutana katika safari yetu ya kila siku. Kila mtoto anaomba upendo wetu. Tufikiri leo, kwa njia maalum, kuhusu watoto hao ambao hawana uzoefu wa upendo wa wazazi wao; kuhusu pia watoto wa mitaani ambao hawana mahali pa kuishi; kuhusu watoto ambao wanatumika kama askari, wabadilishwa katika vyombo vya vurugu, badala ya kuwa vyombo ya maridhiano na amani; kuhusu watoto ambao ni waathirika wa unyanyasaji wa kijinsia, na kuhusu watoto maskini ambao ni kulazimishwa kana ndoto zao kwa sababu ya hali ya kiuchumi mbaya. Mtoto ndogo ya Bethlehem ni rufaa upya ili tuweze kutoa bora ya wenyewe ili kukomesha dhiki ya watoto hawa. Mwanga wa Bethlehem iguse mioyo yetu, kuifanya busara kwa hali halisi hii. Hivyo, Krismasi ni wakati wa utu, kuendeleza mitazamo ya huduma na upendo na wale ambao ni masikini.

Ingawa sisi huishi katika jamii ya matumizi, ambayo inaondoa mawazo yetu kutoka muhimu, tunahitaji kuwa waangalifu. Krismasi ni zaidi ya matumizi. Ni sikukuu ya dihirisho ya Fumbo la upendo wa Mungu unaogeuza moyo wa binadamu, na kufanya busara kwa rufaa ya Mungu. Mungu anatupenda kwa bure na ukarimu, bila astahili ya upande wetu. Uzoefu huu lazima kutuongoza kufanya vile vile anayofanya. Kama hii, Krismasi itakuwa zaidi kuliko ya wakati wa moja kwa mwaka. Itakuwa Krismasi daima kama sisi kujifunza kupenda kweli na kuweka juhudi zaidi kujenga jamii ya udugu na haki kwa wema wa wote.

Krismasi Njema!

Fr. Ndega

Mapitio: Rose Mong'are

CONVERSION AS CONDITION TO WELCOME THE ONE WHO IS TO COME

A reflection from Is 40, 1-5, 9-11; 2Pt 3, 8-14; Mk 1, 1-8

These texts invite us to prepare the way for the Lord through a journey of conversion, announcing with our life the good news of the salvation of God. For that we are invited to do intense experience of the Word of God in order to become his witnesses as it happened with the prophets, faithful messengers of God.

The prophet Isaiah speaks to the people who were suffering in the Babylon’s exile, announcing a new time, time of liberation. The situation in Babylon and the future liberation was considered a new exodus. The aim of the message of the prophet is to give comfort and hope for the people, motivating them to start the journey of conversion in order to prepare the way for the action of the Lord, welcoming his merciful love and experiencing a new life. In the second reading, the words of Peter are advice to the people to wait for the coming of the Lord very watchful, giving the best of themselves for the good of the community. According to Peter, God is patient and merciful. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed, but wait for the conversion of all in order to save them.

Both the prophetic message of Isaiah and the motivator words of Peter prepare the heart of the people for the action of the Lord. They don’t speak about their ideas, but what God has inspired them to speak. The fidelity to the Word of God lived in a radical way gave to them the sure that they speak the truth. The one who speaks in the name of the Lord, considers himself able to interpret the events, helping the people to walk in the sight of the Lord, remaining faithful to his plans. Just as happened with Isaiah and Peter, it is invitation to us to stay attentive in order to capture, to internalise and witness the appeals from the Word of God.

Mark is the unique evangelist who introduces his gospel using the expression Good news when he speaks about Jesus. In this text, He invites us to reflect concern John the Baptist, the greatest prophet, according to Jesus. John is presented as a model for all, because spent all his forces so that the salvation of God revealed in Jesus Christ should be welcomed by the people. In his message, John announces the God’s mercy: “convert to the Lord! God will forgive your sins”. So, John is the prophet of the conversion. Besides these words, John realised also some concrete gestures of welcome to the people, reviving their hope in the mercy of God. John lived in the loneliness of the desert, totally opened to God’s inspiration. In that place he learned from the Word of God, how to be witness of the good news of the salvation. The greatness of John was to recognise the greatness of the Lord, considering himself as mere voice who prepares the paths of the one who was to come.

The reason of the credibility of the message of John wasn’t only his words, but his simplicity, spirit of sacrifice and humility, expression of a life lived with intensity. For that the people felt attracted and accepted the proposal of conversion. It remains as challenges for all of us who are called to announce the good news of the salvation through the testimony of life more than with words. In order our testimony should be true as of John, it is necessary that the experience of the Word of God becomes life in us. The more intense is this experience the most effective will be the witness. Like this the conversion takes place, making us able to give to the Lord the welcome He deserves.

Fr. Ndega

UBADILIFU KAMA KIGEZO KUMKARIBISHA MTU HUYO ANAYEKUJA

Kutafakari kutoka Is 40, 1-5, 9-11; 2Pt 3, 8-14, Mk 1, 1-8

Mandiko haya yanatualika kuandaa njia kwa Bwana kupitia kwa safari ya ubadilifu, kutangaza na maisha yetu habari njema za wokovu wa Mungu. Kwa hivyo tunaalikwa kufanya uzoefu kwa bidii wa Neno la Mungu ili kuwa mashahidi wake kama ilivyotokea na manabii, wajumbe waaminifu wa Mungu.

Nabii Isaya anazungumza kwa watu waliokuwa wakiteseka uhamishoni wa Babeli, kutangaza wakati mpya, wakati wa ukombozi. Hali katika Babeli na ukombozi baadaye ilichukuliwa kutoka kupya. Lengo la ujumbe wa nabii ni kuwapa faraja na matumaini kwa watu, kuwahamasisha kuanza safari ya ubadilifu ili kuandaa njia kwa hatua ya Bwana, kukaribisha upendo wa huruma na kupitia maisha mapya. Katika somo la pili, maneno ya Petro ni ushauri kwa watu kusubiri kuja kwa Bwana kuwa macho, kutoa bora wenyewe kwa manufaa ya jumuiya. Kulingana na Petro, Mungu ni subira na huruma. Yeye hataki mtu yeyote kuharibiwa, lakini kusubiri kwa ubadilifu wa wote ili kuwaokoa.

Ujumbe wa nabii Isaya na maneno ya motisha ya Petro yanaandaa mioyo ya watu kwa hatua ya Bwana. Hawaongei kuhusu mawazo yao, lakini kile ambacho Mungu amewaongoza kusema. Uaminifu kwa Neno la Mungu linaloishiwa katika njia ya mzizi akawapa uhakika kwamba wanasema ukweli. Mtu yeyote ambaye anasema katika jina la Bwana, anafikiria mwenyewe na uwezo wa kutafsiri matukio, kusaidia watu kutembea mbele ya Bwana, kubaki waaminifu kwa mipango yake. Kama ilivyotokea kwa Isaya na Petro, ni mwaliko kwa sisi kukaa makini ili kukubali, kuweka ndani na kushuhudia rufaa kutoka kwa Neno la Mungu.

Marko ni mwinjilisti tu ambaye anaingiza injili yake kutumia maneno haya Habari njema wakati anaongea kuhusu Yesu. Katika andiko hili, anatualika kutafakari kuhusu Yohana Mbatizaji, nabii mkuu, kulingana na Yesu. Yohana anatolewa kama mfano kwa wote kwa sababu alitumia nguvu yake yote ili wokovu wa Mungu unadhihirishwa kwa Yesu Kristu lazima kukaribishwa na watu. Katika ujumbe wake, Yohana anatangaza huruma ya Mungu: “Badilisha kwa Bwana! Mungu atawasamehe dhambi zenu.” Hivyo, Yohana ni nabii wa Ubadilifu. Badala ya maneno haya, Yohana anafanya pia ishara halisi ya mwaliko kwa watu, kufufua matumaini yao katika huruma ya Mungu. Yohana aliishi katika upweke wa jangwa na alifunguliwa kabisa kwa msukumo wa Mungu. Katika mahali hapo alijifunza kutoka kwa Neno la Mungu, jinsi ya kushuhudia habari njema za wokovu. Ukuu wa Yohana ulikuwa kutambua ukuu wa Bwana, kuzingatia mwenyewe kama sauti tu ambaye huandaa njia ya aliyekuwa akuje.

Sababu ya uaminifu wa ujumbe wa Yohana ulikuwa si maneno yake tu, lakini unyenyekevu wake na roho ya sadaka, usemi wa maisha inayoishiwa kwa nguvu. Kwa hivyo watu walihisi kuvutiwa na walikubali pendekezo la ubadilifu. Ilibaki kama changamoto kwa sisi sote tunaoitwa kutangaza habari njema ya wokovu kupitia ya ushuhuda wa maisha zaidi kuliko kwa maneno. Ili ushuhuda wetu lazima kweli kama huo wa Yohana, ni muhimu kwamba uzoefu wa Neno la Mungu hukuwe uhai ndani yetu. Bidii zaidi ni uzoefu huu ufanisi zaidi utakuwa ushuhuda. Kama hii ubadilifu unatokea, kutuezesha kumwonyeshea Bwana makaribisho ambayo Anastahili.

Fr. Ndega

Mapitio: Rose Mong'are