BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Am pleased to have been part of St. Benedict Small Christian Community of St. Monicah Sec 58- Nakuru Diocese this afternoon. Your audience was one in a kind of the sheep that truly understand where the Master is and what he needs.

Dear friends of St. Benedict; I would wish we reflect on the 5th sense ( sense of Sin). We are guided by Luke 18:18  "...master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?..." This question is a motivating factor for our daily life and Christian faith. It's what makes us remain united in the Church and what brings the Church vital in our time. Every time, we ask ourselves when we pray, Lord; what shall I do to inherit eternal life? It's kind of a question whose response will need our deep examination of conscience.

Dear friends, our God hates sin...truly speaking he hates sin, but has room for sinners. God's face is merciful and his heart is Sacred. We ought to live a Holistic life in our various call ( Galatians 5:16-21). Holiness is a process that needs perseverance and patience...we can only attain holiness when we realize the preeence of God with us in the most Holy Eucharist. The presence of the Eucharist in the Church, is the presence of God with us. 

When we think of Holiness and making ourselves clean for the Kingdom of God, we come to our understanding of the pains of sin. Sin seperates is from God, Church, Society and the self. Haven't you ever realized that when one sins there's that good feeling whereas after the act the conscience pains? Though all are sinners and deprived of God's glory, we ought to seek this glory when it diminishes ( Romans 3:23).

Similarly, an exemplar of holiness is our Mother, the Mother of the Church, Blessed Virgin Mary. She's an icon in the Church whose presence was confirmed by the old prophets ( Isaiah 7:14; 9:6). Prophet Isaiah spoke of the Virgin who shall conceive and bear a son whose name shall be Emmanuel. Secondly, the simplicity of Morhee of our Savior was confirmed by God the Father through Angel Gabriel as in Luke 1:26-28. Thirdly, her supremacy in the world was confirmed by the Holy Spirit as in Luke 1:41-42 and lastly by Jesus Christ on the Cross who handed the Church to his Mother ( Blessed Virgin Mary) and the disciple who represented the followers of the Lord under her maternal care as in John 19:25-27.

Dear people of God. This reflection is affirmed in the Gospel of Matthew 12:31-32.  Christ give exhortation that the sin against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. These sins against the Holy Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:16-21 include that which the Holy Spirit has affirmed. For instance, the Holy Spirit affirmed that role of Blessed Virgin Mary , therefore, whoever goes against the teachings of the Spirit of God is an anti-God. If what God the Father has affirmed and the Holy Spirit too, who is man to put asunder? 

When reading 1 John 4:1-4, we fully understand that those who don't give witness and testimony to the flesh/humanity of our Lord are not lead by the Spirit of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ received flesh /humanity from his Mother. We cannot talk of the flesh of Christ without his own Mother who's the Mother of the Church. 

Lastly, my friends; the book of Revelation when read in the light of tee Gospel, brings us a clear understanding of what we ought to do to the pilgrim Church. Our text is from Revelation 12:1-5b. For us to understand fully the content in this Chapter, we ought to read Rev 1:1, here the author says that the content therein is the revelation from Christ. Therefore, what one reads is what the Son of God has made manifest to his Church. Revelation Chap 12 mentions of a woman crowned and over her crown are 12 stars. This without much appraisal we know is the Queenship sold the woman in bracket. Thus, tue mention of 12 Stars affirms her to be a queen of Israel. Secondly, there are other visions of a dragon standing before this woman who's in pangs pains of giving birth already to eat the child immediately he's born. The author attests that this dragon has 10 horns and 7 heads. 

When reading any biblical text of Old Testament brethren, it should be interpreted in the light of the New Testament and when reading New Teatament text, it should be interpreted as prefigured in the Old Testament. Here, the 10 horns symbolize the power of destruction of the Decalogue which were the strength of the Church in the early times. Whereas 7 heads is a sumbolism of 7 Churches which were the light of Chirtian faith in the early times ( Rev 2:1-3:22). There's mention of the 7 Churches; Ephesus,, Smyrna, Perfamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodecea ). This dragon is concerned on taking over these Churches. For it to rule over he must eleiminate this Son born of a Woman as aforementioned. 

The author asserts that the woman gave  birth to a son who ruled the earth and was taken to the right hand of the Father in heaven. In the light of the Gospels, the only Son born of a woman as king/ruler was Christ. And the woman mentioned as the mother of the Chirld is Blessed Virgin Mary. The dragon as seen in the light of the Gospels interpretation is King Herod, thus the inclusion of the author using the masculine connotation of the dragon and not a snake as could suppose. This then is a clarity of the position of Blessed Virgin Mary in Christian life is as important as the presence of the Eucharist. She remains our intercessor and the pillar of Christians .

Thanks all members of St. Benedict Small Christian Community of St. Monicah Sec 58- Nakuru Diocese .

Samuel Nyonje Muhanji wishes you fruitful and grace filled weekday ahead.

For Questions/Clarification 

Contact: 0708607911

nyonjes146@gmail.com

C. Y.A ( Catholic Young Adults): The Pillar of the Church

I am pleased to be part of this noble group for young Catholic adults of St. Monicah Sec 58 today. You though in small number, are important in the present and future Church and your presence is always an appraisal to the Lord.

Dear friends in the Lord; your sense of belonging is a vocation of its own kind; and just like any other call, there's Greta need for prior,intermediate and remote preparation. This preparation is granted by non other than the assembly of Christ ( faithful of Christ who have been our guardians to our maturity). 

Today I invite you all to have a rest with the Lord, carry nothing with you except your conscience and your spiritual armor for this rest. 

Today; there are many questions in the role of the Young Catholic Adults in the Church and society. However, we can't grasp it's inner meaning without a pressing factor to this call. I exhort you all to be driven by the anxiety of this man "...Master, what shall I do to inherit the kingdom of Heaven..." ( Luke 18:18).This should always be our urge for service and presence in the Church. Maybe we may ask ourselves; Master, what shall I do to help your earthly/pilgrim Church ?  Do you really feel you've any role to assist the Church as an individual,Most especially in this parish and our diocese?

Some special consideration should be given to the catechesis of young adults. Young adults are persons in their late teens, twenties, and thirties who represent diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, educational, vocational, social, political, and spiritual backgrounds. They are college and university students, workers, and professionals; they are persons in military service; they are single, married, divorced, or widowed; they are with or without children; they are newcomers in search of a better life.

Young adults have many gifts to offer the Church: their faith, their hope, their desire to serve, their spiritual hunger, their vitality, their optimism and idealism, their talents and skills. The world also looks with hope to young adults to bring about a better future. Many young adults have vast reservoirs of goodness, generosity, and enthusiasm. They earnestly search for meaning in their lives; they value solidarity with the rest of humanity and seek to commit themselves to the cause of social justice. On the other hand, many young adults have been captivated by the consumerism and materialism of the society in which they grew up and have become apathetic and cynical. Young adulthood is sometimes a world of boredom, disillusionment, and indifference to the Church.

 I take you dear friends as “the first victims of the spiritual and cultural crisis gripping the world.” Nevertheless, Pope John Paul II confidently exhorted the young people of the world, “do not be afraid to go out on the street and into public places like the first apostles, who preached Christ and the good news of salvation in the squares of the cities, towns and villages. This is no time to be ashamed of the Gospel. It is the time to preach it from the rooftops.”Am sure whenever a scandle hits the Church, you're the most affected persons. Whenever there are theological questions of doubt, you're the most affected persons. Therefore, you all need to live your Catholic faith in the light of the Godpel and its prefiguration in the Old Testament.

 

The inspiration for catechesis for young adults is Christ's proposal to the young man: "Come, follow me" ( Matthew 4:19). Many young adults welcome Christ's invitation. They are looking for opportunities to grow in the knowledge of their faith and in their ability to make good moral decisions. They need a non-threatening place where they can freely express their questions, doubts, and even disagreements with the Church and where the teachings of the Church can be clearly articulated and related to their experience. A series of evening or weekend sessions, special one-time presentations, days of recollection, retreats, discussion groups, Scripture study groups, mentoring relationships, hands-on social justice programs, and mission education projects can all be attractive means for involving busy young adults. But dioceses and parishes are challenged to develop new and creative ways to provide significant points of contact for young adults with the Church.

 Ordinarily, in the period of early adulthood, young adults make some of the most important decisions in their lives about their Christian vocation, their career, and their choice of spouse. These choices condition and often even determine their futures. Effective catechesis will assist  young adults in examining their lives and engaging in dialogue about the great questions they face. Catechesis should help you make these crucial decisions in accord with God's will and in light of the Catholic faith.

You ought to be formed in Christ, helped to make moral decisions in light of the teachings of Christ and the Church. “Good and evil, grace and sin, life and death will more and more confront one another within them, not just as moral categories but chiefly as fundamental options which they must accept or reject lucidly, conscious of their own responsibility.”

If all CYA will be part of continual CATECHESIS for young adults, it'll draw them into the liturgical life and mission of the Church. It invites them to commit themselves to Christ, live fully Christian lives, and carefully consider their vocational call, whether it be to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, married life, or chaste single life. This can also be an opportunity to consider a future of lay ecclesial ministry in the Church. Young adults should also be given the opportunity to receive formation and training to serve as liturgical ministers such as readers of the Word and leaders in small Christian communities.

However, dear friends: The distance some young adults feel from the Church can often be bridged by an adaptation of and approach to the language (mentality, sensibility, tastes, style, and vocabulary) employed in catechesis for them. Retreat experiences are often very effective ways to bring young adults to Christ and the Church. If young adults have been away from the Church, the Gospel message should be specifically addressed to them in imaginative ways that encourage their return. Parish and diocesan programs of evangelization and outreach should actively seek out young adults, enthusiastically welcome them, and facilitate their homecoming. In addition, young adults should  be encouraged to articulate any questions, difficulties, or concerns that they have that may contribute to their distance from the Church.

Thank you friends for your audience today (30th June 2019) in this parish ( St. Monicah Sec 58- Nakuru Diocese). I therefore exhort you, just like Christ did: "...go and make disciples of all nations..." 

SAMUEL NYONJE MUHANJI   Wishes you fruitful Sunday and successful weekday ahead.

FOR QUESTIONS/ CLARIFICATION kindly:

Contacts : 0708607911. nyonjes146@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS IN LITURGY

A Sacramental celebration is woven from signs and symbols . In keeping with the divine pedagogy of salvation , their meaning is rooted in the work of creation and in human culture, specified by the events of the Old covenant and fully revealed in the person and work of Christ.

In human life, signs and symbols occupy an important place. As a being at once body and spirit, man expresses and perceives spiritual realities through physical signs and symbols. As a social being, man needs signs and symbols to communicate with others, through language, gestures, and actions. The same holds true for his relationship with God.

God speaks to man through the visible creation. The material cosmos is so presented to man's intelligence that he can read there traces of itsCreator. Light and darkness, wind and fire, water and earth , the tree and its fruit speak of God and symbolise both his greatness and his neareness.

In as much as they are creatures, these perceptible realities can become means of expressing the action of God who sanctifies men, and the action of men who offer worship to God. The same is true of signs and symbols taken from the social life of man: washing and anointing, breaking bread and sharing the cup can express the sanctifying presence of God and Man's gratitude towards his Creator.

The great religions of mankind witness, often impressively, to this cosmic and symbolic meaning of religious rites. The Liturgy of the Church presupposes, integrates and sanctifies elements from creation and human culture, conferring on them the dignity of signs of grace, of the new creation in Jesus Christ.

Consequently, the Chosen people received from God distinctive signs and symbols that marked its  liturgical life. These are no longer solely celebrations of cosmic cycles and social gestures, but signs of the covenant, symbols of God's mighty deeds for his people. Among these liturgical signs from the Old Covenant are circumcusion , anointing and consecration of priests and kings, laying on of hands , sacrifices, and above all the Passover. The Church sees in these signs a prefiguration of the Sacraments of the New Covenant.

Samuel Nyonje Muhanji Thanks you for reading this article .

Wishing you grace filled and fruitful day.

THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN

To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God, and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the eternal punishment of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here in earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory.

This purification frees one from what is called the temporal punishment of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.

The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace . He should strive by works of mercy and charity , as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the "old man" and to put on the "new man."

[ Catechism of the Catholic Church #1472-1473]

Samuel Nyonje Muhanji wishes you God's blessings.

Thanks for reading this article. Kindly you can reach me through 0708607911.

READINESS TO FALL IN BATTLE

Fortitude presupposes vulnerability; without vulnerability there's no possibility of fortitude. An angel cannot be brave, because he is not vulnerable . To bebrave actually means to be able to suffer injury. Because man is by nature vulnerable, he can be brave.

By injury we understand every assault upon our natural inviolability, every violation of our inner peace; everything that happens to us or is done with us against our will; this everything in any way negative, everything painful and harmful, everything frightening and oppressive.

The ultimate injury, the deepest injury, is death. And even those injuries which are not fatal are prefigurations of death; this extreme violation, this final negation , is reflected and effected in every lesser injury.

Thus, all fortitude has reference to death. All fortitude stands in the preeence of death. Fortitude is basically readiness to die, or, more accurately, readiness to fall, to die, in battle.

Every injury to the natural being is fatal in its intention. Thus every courageous action has as its deepest root the readiness to die, even though , viewed from without , it may appear not reach down into the depths of the willingness to die is spoiled as its root and devoid of effective power.

Readiness proves itself in taking a risk, and the culminating point of fortitude is the witness of blood. The essential and the highest achievement of fortitude is martyrdom, and readiness for martyrdom is the essential root of all Christian fortitude. Without this readiness there is no Christian fortitude.

St. Thomas Aquinas in whose summa   an article deals with the so called "joys of fortitude, " says that the pain of martyrdom obscures even the spiritual joy in an act pleasing to God, "unless the overflowing grace of God lift the soul with exceeding strength to things divine."

[ Cf. Joseph Pieper, The Four Cardinal Virtues  , p.117-119]

Thanks for reading my article: Samuel Nyonje Muhanji wishes you blessings

THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS - St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest theologians in the history of the church, here focuses on the passion of Jesus Christ not only to redeem us but also to teach us.  Indeed, the cross exemplifies every virtue and teaches us all we have to know about Christian discipleship.  For the Feast of St. Thomas on January 28.

Let's first know this: Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.

It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.

If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.

If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous

If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.

[ An excerpt from the office of readings: Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas 28th Jan]

©Samuel Nyonje Muhanji 

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT ( Day 2 )

*NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT DAY 2*

JOY

 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Let us bow down in humility at the power and grandeur of the Holy Spirit. Let us worship the Holy Trinity and give glory today to the Paraclete, our Advocate. 

Oh Holy Spirit, by Your power, Christ was raised from the dead to save us all. By Your grace, miracles are performed in Jesus’ name. By Your love, we are protected from evil. And so, we ask with humility and a beggar’s heart for Your gift of Joy within us. All of the Saints are marked with an uncompromisable Joy in times of trial, difficulty and pain. Give us, Oh Holy Spirit, the Joy that surpasses all understanding that we may live as a witness to Your love and fidelity! Amen. 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ Our Lord, Amen. 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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