Category: Reflections

By Fr. Peterson Mwangi IMC

Click here for Sunday’s readings

THEME: THE HEALING POWER OF JESUS

We will base our today’s reflection on the healing of the leper mentioned in today’s Gospel. Leprosy was a skin condition in the time of Jesus and also in the Old Testament as we see in the first reading; this sickness was thought to be contagious hence those who suffered from it were considered to be social outcasts who could not mingle freely with other people; in a more familiar term, they were isolated for as long as they were sick just as we are doing to Covid 19 patients today.

Continue reading “Reflection on the Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year B” →

By Fr. Peterson Mwangi IMC

Click here for Sunday’s readings

THEME: JESUS AND THE SUFFERING HUMANITY

It is very difficult to understand why we must suffer so much in this world and sometimes we can easily doubt the power and the presence of God in our lives due to the circumstances we find ourselves in; as we speak, there are many families all over the world whose family members have died due to Covid 19 pandemic, children have been left orphans, others are still suffering in hospitals, others have lost jobs and have no idea where their next meal will come from. Even Job in today’s first reading confirms with his own experience how hard it is for a man to survive in this world, he feels lonely and probably with little or no reason to wish for a another day or night. We end up with many questions like; Is God aware of all our sufferings? Does He care at all? Has He forsaken us? Is there any need to put our trust in Him or seek His help and guidance? The answers to these questions and many other questions in our minds and hearts can be found in today’s Gospel where Jesus is the main protagonist. Continue reading “FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B” →

By Thokozani Mkhonta

Click here for Sunday’s readings

It is evident that false prophets were common in ancient Israel. They coexisted alongside God’s authentic prophets. The dilemma of an ordinary Israelite trying to discern God’s message from among a host of contrasting prophetic voices all purporting to be God’s genuine representatives and servants was difficult to escape. The promise of a future prophet raised by God from amongst the people to guide the people with clarity of God’s word as indicated in First Reading is significant. It indicates God’s desire not to allow his people to live through life without proper guidance. The unfortunate and undesirable eventuality of an innocent seeker of God’s word being led astray by a false prophet posing as God’s sincere servant could only be avoided by God through the raising of a prophet whom God will put His words in his mouth, and who shall speak to the people all that God commands him.

Continue reading “Reflection for Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time” →

by Thokozani Mkhonta

Click here for Sunday’s readings

One of the realities of life which is widely considered by many as unfortunate is the fact of not knowing one’s future. It is widely felt that as humans we are disadvantaged by the fact that we cannot entirely hold our future in our own hands. Failure is one of the most shattering experiences of life. We struggle to understand why must life be such that we must learn through failure that some things were not meant for us.

Yet, it remains an incontestable fact of life that what we do today significantly affects our future. We shape our future through our present actions. We are certain that God has put part of our future in our own on hands. This is a lesson we cannot afford to neglect. It is sad to realize the opportunities we failed to utilize in the past coming back to haunt us in the present. Much of the emotional burden we carry lies in the fact of knowing that some of the distressing experiences of our lives are a result of our own actions.

Continue reading “Reflection for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B” →

by Thokozani Mkhonta (Seminarian)

Click here for Sunday’s readings

Today, the Gospel presents to us the earliest of encounters between Jesus and his first disciples. It recounts that Jesus was passing by when John the Baptizer declared to his disciples that the one who was passing by is the Lamb of God. Upon hearing this, John’s disciples immediately left and followed Jesus. One outstanding realization in this encounter is that it is John the Baptizer who declares Jesus’ identity to his disciples who appear to be clueless of such. As they walk after Jesus, Jesus turns and asks them what are they looking for. They express to Jesus that they want to see where he lives. Jesus invites them to come and see. It is striking to realize that the role played by John the Baptizer in this scene facilitated the first interaction between Jesus and his first disciples. It appears that the disciples might have remained oblivious to the presence of the Lamb of God amongst them should John the Baptizer have not enlightened them.

Continue reading “Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time” →

by Thokozani Mkhonta

Click here for Sunday’s readings

It is reckoned that our needs and desires go a long way in defining who we are. Our actions are largely motivated and informed by the things we desire to possess and persons we aspire to become. The scarcity of means to fulfil our needs is thus a major dilemma of life. Often, individuals have to put up with uncomfortable conditions and tolerate difficult people for the sake of gaining a livelihood. It is saddening to recognize the plight of those who lack the means to satisfy even basic needs.

It is as though the ones with much fortune and wealth are the happiest in life. Yet, it is evident that people tend to always seek and need more of what they already possess. This evidences the fact that we often deprive ourselves happiness by failing to appreciate and celebrate what we already have. If we fail to properly regulate our aspirations and ambitions, they will always rob us the opportunity to celebrate the present moment by stimulating an unsuitable longing for that which is yet beyond our possession.

Continue reading “Reflection for the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord” →

by Thokozani Mkhonta

Click here for Sunday’s readings

Pain is a sad certainty of life. It is difficult to discern the meaning of life in the midst of pain. It is for that reason that our attention is often drawn to God when we go through pain since he is the ultimate being who has reasons for all things.

Those who look up to God are often in a better position to cope with pain. God assures those who put their faith in him that all pain is temporary, and that those who persevere shall be delivered. This can be typified in the situation of the people of Israel. In the midst of political oppression and exploitation, they waited with hope for the Messiah who was to deliver them from the hands of their oppressors. Israel knew that he served a God who honours his promises. Thus, the Israelites knew that all their suffering was going to end someday. It is difficult to imagine the situation of gentiles who might have been going through a similar situation as Israel: not being able to deliver yourself from pain whilst also without hope of anyone who might deliver you.

Continue reading “Reflection for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord” →