LENT

A bird asked a bee, “you make very good honey but human beings steal it all, don’t you get discouraged? The bee smiled and said, “They may steal all my honey, but never my art of making honey that is in me”.

As we continue with the lent season, we remind ourselves that we may face many temptations but none should discourage us because none is greater than our faith in Jesus who is a celebrated warrior of all temptations.

We need to realize that we are all CEO’s of our own happiness, and if most of the times you are happy, then know you are a great CEO, vice versa is also true.

Like Jesus, let us accept to carry our crosses. The word of God in Hebrew 12 says that suffering helps control our ego and our bad habits. Lets us not ask God to make mountains smaller, but make climbing easy, and not for a lighter load, but a stronger back, and never lower our goals to the level of our abilities, instead raise our abilities to the height of our goals.

My dear people of God, what defines our Christianity, are our response to situations that require us to demonstrate love. They will know we are Christians by our love. At this point in time, let us refrain from statements or opinions that may erase our humanity. We are all equal before the eyes of the Lord.

The fact that Jesus emerged a victor after the temptation by the devil and also his resurrection from the dead, gives us hope of living. It is that hope that we always remember to set our alarms before we sleep even when we are not sure of being alive the next day. But if anyone thinks your alarm woke you up in the morning, try placing it next to a corpse and see if it will wake up to life.

Despite what we go through, let us remain focused to the ultimate goal by taking good care of ourselves, never to defile our bodies because it is the only place our soul can live in. I know everybody wants to go to heaven but not now, but when that time comes, we will all rejoice to see ourselves with fellow Christians, angels and saints and above all Jesus Christ the King of kings.

Charles Joseph – Liturgical Task Force

BELIEVING

Lent is a time when Christians and individuals remember the 40days Jesus spent in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry. This is the time of invitation to us to reflect on our relationship to a fundamental aspect of Christian faith and that of gospel. Satan was trying to convince Jesus to use his powers to harm people with the use of force and deception.

Jesus had to choose between God’s way and Satan’s way. In facing Satan’s temptation Jesus remained faithful and was strengthened in his awareness and resolve for the task that lay ahead of him. We too are in a similar period of 40days, by prayer, fasting and acts of charity. We have the privilege of coming to know and believing ever more deeply in the God that Jesus taught us about; a God who loves us so much that he will make any sacrifice to bring us back to himself. 

When we can believe in this way, we too will be strengthened in the face of temptation and emerge as more faithful, compassionate and loving Christians. Jesus entered the lonely desert and faced hunger, danger, temptation and he didn’t turn aside but affirmed the way of self giving love. We should stand to resist the false attraction of easy answers, magic fixes, abuse of power and the delusion that there is any way apart from justice in which God’s justice can be done.

When I hear Jesus inviting me to follow him, I shudder at all my weakness and my many shortcomings; the mountain of my sinfulness. However, as I listen to his call once again at the very core of my being I hear Jesus saying, “Take the cross”. When he sends the cross to me, he takes into account my strength, my generosity and my willingness to accept it. 

My cross may be simply striving to live the gospel message; it may be accepting sickness, old age, some form of handicap or bearing with another person who tries my patience. This is the time to turn our attention to the less privileged in the society and with Jesus, let me say, “The burden of love is light like a cloud”.

David Hayker -Liturgical Leader

FORGIVENESS

The greatest principle of the Christian life is the love for oneself and love for our neighbor. Jesus Christ modelled the love and forgiveness by accepting the cross to redeem the human kind with the higher power.

His words and deeds were so powerful that those who believed, received a new lease of life. Therefore we need to be kind and tender hearted to one another; a patient needs a doctor, a politician needs wananchi and equally important a house help is very important in running the household chores. That’s the life’s beauty of oneness that we ought to embrace with love. 

  

The society cannot be changed by one person alone. It is a collective responsibility and we are reminded that we are blessed to bless others who may be less fortunate. None amongst a crowd would have the courage to denounce the common believe of being a God’s child

Humility is a word most often forgotten, but when we go before the Lord we need to be humble. Forgive anything you may have against anyone, we are told first reconcile with your brother before offering your sacrifice, and the father in heaven will in turn forgive the wrongs you have done.

Christ did set a perfect example for us on forgiveness when he forgave the very people who crucified him. Amidst great pain while on the cross he said, forgive them father for they know not what they do.  Don’t let the spirit of unforgiveness rob your joy in Christ. 

During this Lenten season, make a sacrifice to do the right thing to yourself and to others. Be compassionate and kind and your father in heaven will always be by your side.

Elizabeth Obonyo-Interim Liturgical Leader

COMPASSION

It is through my prayer that God gradually reveals himself to me and the mystery of his plan for all reality in Christ. It is in prayer that I experience his invitations and challenges to me personally, my prayer would be empty and I don’t order my life to respond to him in all things.

Humanity is comprised of: the afflicted and the sound. So show mercy to the afflicted and praise God for well being. It is never the sinner that one should hate, but the sin. For the essence of humanity we need to look at others with compassion.

All people everywhere and throughout time suffer great tribulation at various points in their lives. At this very moment, hearts are breaking and lives are being shattered, women abused, children violated and people dying while their loved ones are crying. 

Also, at this very moment, other hearts are rejoicing, babies are being born, mothers are nurturing, smiles are given freely and charity is being distributed and lovers are uniting.

In my prayer life, I have come to realize that I am poor. I possess nothing, not even myself. I come before God as one who has been gifted by Him. I owe him everything. The deeper my faith becomes the more truly I become aware of my utter poverty and the more I am struck by God’s goodness to me.

This sense of thankfulness should be an attitude that abides in me and remains part of my constant awareness. I also need to ask myself, “Did I allow God to direct me in the events of this day? Did I experience his gifts of peace, love, patience and joy a new?

By Hayker-Liturgical Leader