24th May 2020

7th Sunday of Easter 

Acts 1:12-14; 

Ps 27:1, 4, 7-8; 

1 Pt 4:13-16; 

Jn 17:1-11 

Homily: Rev. Deacon. Samuel Nyonje 

Today we celebrate World's Communication Day. It's exactly 57 years since the inauguration of the official Church Document *Inter Merifica* ( Decree on social communication). 

The Church knows that if the influence of media are properly used they can be of considerable benefit to mankind. They contribute greatly to the enlargement and enrichment of men's minds and to the propagation and consolidation of the Kingdom of God. The Church still also knows that man can use them in ways that are contrary to the Creator's design and damaging to himself ( Inter Merifica #2).

In today's readings asks us to glorify God, this is the only way to share in his kingdom. So too should the channels of Communication in the 21st century. But what do we get in the contrary? Today, we've experienced the worst, especially since this pandemic was made a world concern, our media personnels have stopped to reason beyond Corona. Most channels instill fear, fake news, disharmony among other evils...some channels are politically sponsored to keep masses in political mood. Have always wondered why can't media houses air religious services unlike in political rallies where you'll see hundreds of media houses...today, unless a Church pay huge money, no media will air the service.

Dear friends, our mission on earth is to glorify God. So to glorify the Father simply means that our entire being, our thoughts, words and actions, manifest the life, love and goodness of God in and through us.

Similarly, Jesus spent his whole earthly life glorifying God the Father. He did not preach about Himself but His Father and the Kingdom of God. When we give glory to God, he gives back. Since Jesus glorified the Father, in return he glorified the Son by raising him from the dead. Most especially in the ascension, Jesus is glorified in heaven. 

In the contrary, the world seek not to glorify God, rather replace God. This we've experienced when world leaders register many atheistic organizations, funding them among other diabolical sects that are anti- God. There is so much pride, arrogance and presumptuous self-confidence in man today and mostly among the world leaders. Many have invested in nuclear war heads and bombs just to destroy humanity. There's no more value of human life and dignity. Many NGOs are against natural conception to natural death. There's a lot of abortion, creation of virus, genocide, political struggle but no one fights for God. In fact the Catholic Church has been left to glorify God as she seek to lead other Christian denominations to God.

Jesus Christ glorified God first by speaking the truth. He exposed the hypocritical teachings of the Pharisees. This ought to be the mission of World Communication, standing by the truth. Secondly , Jesus glorified the Father by proclaiming true love. Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation *Gaudete er Exultate* says that, "...holiness is nothing other than Charity lived to the full...". He came for the suffering of many, for the weak and deprived in the society ( Luke 4:16-18). World leaders use media today to fake their charity, we've witnessed when food relief is launched by Kenyas government but immediately after launched it doesn't reach the public...we find media is used to only fool masses, where food goes media can't show us.

Thirdly, Jesus glorified the Father by being life giver. He promise us eternal destiny ( 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 ). This eternal life is prefigured in our daily life...in fact our present life foreshadows our future.

We ought to stand for the truth, true love and life givers during this hard times. Please let's reach out to our friends to know how thy live, it's amicable to call a neighbor just to know how they fair on. 

As we mark this World Communication Day, we should ask ourselves if we've glorified God in our lives, faith and actions. The best channel of communication today is our lips and life. We should be tolerable media, patient media, media that loves, values life, values dignity of human person, respect religion and state. Of course when we do this the world will hate us, but St Peter exhorts us, we should not be afraid because we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ. 

May this day bring light of Christ to us to stand for the truth.

( nyonjes146@gmail.com / +254708607911 )