Tuesday, June 18, 2013

12th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C), (23 June 2013).

1.    Readings: Zach 12: 10-11; Gal. 3: 26-29; Luke 9: 18-24.
·       The readings of today prompt us to ponder our relationship with Jesus.  We are invited to answer who Jesus is for each of us individually.  Once we recognize him, then we can follow him and love his deeds and emulate his ways.

·       Zachariah’s prophesy stimulates us not to inflict pain on just and innocent people only to satisfy our whims.  He introduces us to a just and innocent person who was persecuted. The executors of the crime came to their senses and then regretted and repented their action.  They manifested remorsefulness through a physical, symbolic action: ‘public weeping and mourning.’

·       In the letter to Galatians, Paul, gives a new image of those who have faith in Jesus. Through baptism, they put on a special dress by which they are identified as children of God. Their life is in common; as they are one in Christ, social classes should not exist. All are children of Abraham and heirs to the riches promised to him. They should never mistreat each other in any way whatsoever. Gal.3:28

·       The gospel links Jesus to ancient prophets known for their stand for truth and their defense of the Anawim (the poor) of Yahweh. The apostles are in touch with villagers and they know what impression Jesus is portraying in his visit: like John, he is calling on leaders for change of heart; like Isaiah, he calls on people to take responsibility and remove the yoke from others; like all prophets, he calls for the rich to think of the poor. Peter acknowledges Jesus and professes faith: “You are the Christ.” Jesus then teaches them the meaning and condition of true discipleship, self sacrifice, and the spirit of sharing (Lk 9:23).


2.    Yes Kenya Matters

·       The current situation in Kenya is marred by greed and insensitivity to the plight of youth, children, and the less privileged. Many Kenyans have been subjected to gross humiliation because of their status. 

·       It is persecution when leaders ignore the voice that asks them to lower their salaries so that the money can be used in other sectors.  It is persecution when people cannot afford medication and suffer in their homes awaiting only death to rescue them, while leaders pocket millions.  It is persecution when some people cannot afford decent living and turn to suicide, while others, using their position, have all their wants fulfilled. It is persecution when thousands of Kenyans butcher each other because they have been incited, while the inciters go free. Many Kenyans pray day in day out that death will come and end their suffering. 

·       Indeed, the stars of liberation, the defenders of rights and freedom, the promoters of brotherhood, peace, and solidarity are being ignored and pierced daily. 

·       We already see indications of the current parliamentarians’ seizing their chance to vet others, not on the grounds of merit, but according to tribe, relationships, competition and envy; always seeking a way to prove their power, to punish, to avenge, to intimidate, or to harass others.  Such persecution as this cries out for repentance.

·       Just as in the gospel, Kenyans want to answer the question of who Jesus is in a way that corresponds to their experiences and their needs.  They want a president, a governor, a senator, a woman rep, an MP, and county reps who because of their deeds could be identified as John the Baptist or the prophets. For the people of the Coast, Jesus is the one who comes to give a new nation; for the people in Laikipia, he is the army general who should enter all forests to cast out the enemy by destroying their weapons and forcing them to go to school; for those in Garissa, he is a detective who discovers and unveils bombs before they explode; for those Nairobi, he is an economic power who dishes out jobs and money to people.  For others, he is the one who makes the status quo remain.  Is Jesus a Messiah to respond to wants at the expense of others?  Indeed, that would be the exact opposite of the Messiah. Jesus comes to liberate and make life easy for all.

3.    Link with the Catholic Social Teaching:

·       Catholic social teaching proclaims the Christ who is Messiah and light of the nations.  He appears in order to shed light on people’s situations so that they can live well, in dignity, solidarity, peace, and love.

·       The Church calls on her members to use the modern dictates of globalization to promote living together and to reach out to needy nations or individuals “…so as to liberate the African peoples from sin and the structures of sin, in short the heavy yoke weighing them down” (Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, 32).
·       “If belonging to Jesus Christ makes us members of the same family, sharers of the same word of life and partakers of the same bread of life…then hatred, injustice and fratricidal wars should cease” (Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, 36).


* CSDC: Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Paulines Publication Africa

Outlines prepared by a Consolata team and edited by a team of RSCK-JPIC.

No comments:

Post a Comment