Misfire

Tomorrow's reading of the Twenty Third Sunday of the Ordinary Time, cycle B, highlights the issue of God's priorities in our lives. When we read all readings, in particular the Apostle Jacob's letter and Mark Evangelist Gospel, in the light of agendas and priorities of our own prayer, we will have to admit in honesty that God's priorities and ours differ quite significantly. Simply, we misfire badly in prayer. Most of us focus on earthly goods and possessions, instant solution for our needs and problems. But the Liturgy of the Word of tomorrow's Sunday tells us loud and clear that on the top of the list of God's priorities is faith which is the ultimate treasure we should go after.

Naaman's Skin

"But his (Naaman's) servants came up and reasoned with him.
"My father," they said,
"if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary,
would you not have done it?
All the more now, since he said to you,
'Wash and be clean,' should you do as he said."
So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times
at the word of the man of God.
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean". (2 Kgs 5:13-14)...

No Need

The Gospel of the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) narrates one of the miracles of Jesus of multiplying bread and fish in the wilderness. The disciples wanted to send the crowd away to look after their food. But "Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.""(Mt 14)...

Sense of Belonging

Yes, the sense of belonging is what I felt intensely during the night vigil before Divine Mercy Sunday this year, which - by the Will of God and the Church - has become united with the beatification of the Holy Father who  was instrumental in bringing attention and devotion of the Church and the world to Divine Mercy message. John Paul II beatified Sister Faustina Kowalska, then canonized her and made officially the Second Sunday of Easter time - Solemnity of Divine Mercy, thus fulfilling the will of the Lord Himself which He revealed to Sister Faustina on numerous occasions when He was appearing the her, as described by herself in the Diary...

Miracle

Today we have witnessed a miracle. In the morning, before we set off to Musoma for shopping with sisters, I called a manager of Tanesco in Musoma, reminding him of our conversation and my request to connect the convent with the power line. I paid in full last week, but the manager told me that normally it takes time for them to react as the demand is growing and their manpower not capable of responding to demands as fast as they wished...

The Holy Grail

Continuing reflection on the miracle cup of herbal concoction allegedly curing serious illnesses, administered by a retired Lutheran pastor in Loliondo area in Tanzania. Traffic jam of vehicle heading to that remote village has become so long and congestion so obnoxious that authorities consider taking serious action to ease the situation. For me this phenomenon is a sign of people's desperation and desire to get instant solution to their problems. It means also a failure of their faith in God and somehow, I believe, in their spiritual welfare, taking care only of their bodily maladies.... People send me text messages suggesting - in good faith and concern - to go there and drink that miracle cup in order to get cured of my illnesses...

Miracle Cup

If you are a citizen or a resident in Tanzania, I am sure you will have known this story since long! A story of a miracle man, Ambilikile Mwasapile, a retired pastor of Lutheran Church in Tanzania, who claims to have visions or dreams of God who told him to heal people using a local herb called 'mugariga'. Living in a remote village off the road from Mto wa Mbu to Loliondo, he has become famous all over the country through this miracle concoction which - administered by him and him only - after drinking only one small cup of some 100 ml of this herbal mixture a person is cured immediately of any serious diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure etc. The cup costs only 500 Tanzanian shillings which is about 35 US cents...

Eyes Wide Open

 What a pleasant, radiant, peaceful and rewarding day off it is...In a day like this, we must have our eyes wide open, lest we miss tiny miracles and surprises God has placed for our amazement, wonder, awe and inspiration.

How wonderful are unassuming leaves taking early bath in a morning dew... How gorgeous are little flowers waking up from a night slumber and stretching out to the morning sun... I call upon St. Francis of Assisi, the Saint Patron of my ordination class to praise with me the One who made all His creatures...

Saint Francis’ Canticle of All Creatures

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

Heavenly Father,
You gave Your servant Francis
great love for each of Your creatures.
Teach us to see Your design in all of creation.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

All creatures great and small.....the Lord God made them all!