Knowing the our Saints

Have a Good read!

We begin our lessons with at least a December saint. All saints for the 31 days of December are important, but of these, I admire the lives of two greatly: St. John the Evangelist and St. Ambrose of Milan. Of St. John there isn't much more we can say than what the Bible tells us, and a little from the Traditions. Many may be familiar with this, though I could bring it up here someday. However, we will focus our attention on St. Ambrose (Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church)

ST. AMBROSE of Milan (Bp and Doctor) - (339 - 397)

There are at least seven doctors of the Church, and St. Ambrose has been among the original four. Born Ambrosius Aurelius around 339 or 340 AD to a Roman Christian Parents. He, together with his siblings were brought up in Germany (Belgic Gaul at that time). Something perculiar happened when Ambrose was an infant: On a cot where he was, a swarm of bees encircled him, and left on him a drop of honey. This made his father and those around predict his future oratorical prowess. At the wake of his father's demise, he was taken to Rome for studies where he became a certified lawyer. Nothing else is known of his childhood.

Ambrose went on to be the great orator he was muted to be and found himself in exalted positions in the Roman society. Christianity in Rome was on the rise, and Ambrose was a catechumen preparing for baptism and reception into the Church during Easter. This was so because infant baptism was not rampant at the time, and was even discouraged, though not prohibited. This was on the grounds that baptised adults could better take care of their faith than children placed over the baptismal fonts at infancy.

It happened that the then bishop of Milan died, and a replacement was sought among the clergy of the time. There was disagreements among the members of the said clergy as to who would occupy the vacant seat, and this lingered for some time. However, as governor of Milan, Ambrose was obligated to maintain law and order, and on an occasion, he went as a lay catechumen to ensure this was so among the clergy looking to elect a new bishop. On one of these occasions, when Ambrose arrived, the voice of a little child proclaimed: "Let Ambrose be the Bishop", and this became a unanimous agreement among the clergy. However, Ambrose, on hearing this, took to flight and went into hiding. Sooner than later, he was discovered and, though not forcefully, was baptised, ordained and consecrated the Bishop of Milan. Ambrose went on to lead the flock entrusted to him by example and patience; while defending the Church from the activities and doctrines of Heretics and practices of Pagans. He employed his oratorical skills in defeating so many opponents in arguments against the Church and Her teachings. After his ordination and subsequent consecration, Ambrose gave up all he had (Money and properties alike) to the Church and to the poor.

Ambrose it was through whom the famous St. Augustine was converted and baptised before which the former's mother St. Monica had approached the good bishop severally to help her son. God heard her prayers and cries through this holy bishop of Milan. Ambrose, in his time contributed immensely in preaching, teaching and writing to the growth of the peoples' faith. His writings centre majorly on issues concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary, and especially on the Virgin Birth, and virginity after the birth of Jesus. He was bishop for about 23 years, and sometime during his episcopacy the world witnessed the fall of the Milan to Magnus Maximus. Ambrose remained in Milan thus suffering with the people during this carnage. Theodocius I was the emperor of the east at the time, and would suffer public penance later on when Ambrose the bishop excommunicated him on account of the massacre of about 7000 persons.

Ambrose was generous to the poor for he believed that the wealth of the wealthy was given by God to be shared eqaully among all. He died on April 4, 397, and his remains remain displayed in the Church of Ambrogio in Milan.

DAY 29 FINISHING STRONG; NOT FINISHING FIRST ...the best competitor is the Ideal Self...

Of the very many predicaments we go through, and of the numerous things that face us, only very few actually matter; only a handful would ever count. For instance, in this world so much in want and in need of a great many kindness, it wouldn’t matter how much wealth one has; what matters is how often and how cheerfully one gives. We don’t heal the world, as Michael Jackson would sing, by having but by giving. Again it would indeed matter little and mean nothing if one has fallen a thousand times in life; what does matter, and what means a lot is how often we rise from those falls and stand; For one doesn’t really stand until they have learnt from their mistakes and what pulled them down in the first place. One doesn’t win until they are standing on their feet. In the fight of life, it would never matter how many enemies you vanquish or overcome or conquer; what matters is the victory over the self. No one is truly a hero until they have the self under control. I could go on and on to count and recount the list of the things that do not matter. However, for the purpose of this article, one stands out among others: Finishing First vs Finishing well. The phrase cur curre bene, sed praeter viam – well have thou run, but off the track – have been true for a great many races in which man is involved. Sometimes the phrase, “slow and steady wins the race” is true, not because the slow one covers more grounds than the faster one, but because consistency makes great winners, and separates them from perpetual losers. The act of running well is not solely dependent on how fast one runs, but also how steady, and how by the rules one glides through the hurdles before them – one such rule is maintaining one’s track or lane.

Competition has come to be a motivating factor for many people to do well, and put in their best. But this is bad news, because many reasons abound why competition has, instead of helping build us up as a whole, is actually shredding us into pieces. People are created differently and with different capabilities. It is true that anyone could do anything, but the orientation one receives from their immediate surroundings while they grow up counts so much, and goes on to help determine what they become later in life. We definitely do not receive the same orientation, and so will never be equipped in equal strengths –  Some will definitely have the upper hand. So then, when we come up against those with the upper hand in a competition, and those who have put virtually the same or even greater amount of work as/than us, no magic will sway the victory towards us. We are oriented differently, and we should learn to appreciate and encourage others who are better at what they do. We too can be better in what  we do; in what we are well suited for.

Competition creates unwanted foes, even for a moment. Enemies are not good for us; and when we always play or fight to defeat the opponent, there comes a time when the opponent turns into an enemy – because they too want what we want. There also is a tendency for those who lose out in competitions to lose hope and give up. Despair is never a trait one should associate with. When you put the fish in a race with the antelope, it would spend the rest of its life there after believing that it is useless. The negative energy one puts into trying to come out on top of every other person could be utilised into something similar, but far more rewarding and praiseworthy.

THE ONLY OPPONENT THAT MATTERS

“When we compare ourselves with others, we may look pretty good to us; but when we compare us with the person we are meant to be, we could as well exclaim like the Tax-collector” – Stan Chukwube C.S.Sp

Those words could tell us what we need to know about the battles that matter. Never in the Bible has there been a mention about getting to heaven first, or being the first person to pass through the narrow gate. In other words, the first person to hit the target ideally gets no extra reward. The reward for a good and ideal race is always at the finish line – there the wreath awaits as many who make it. The race we run in run life is not a race against any other opponent; neither is it a race to prove a faster runner. Forget the system of the world, and concentrate on the opponent that matters. That opponent is the self. The self, the ideal self is our real motivator towards success. The person one is meant to be is the only yardstick to measuring success; and so, the closer they are to their ideal selves, the closer they are to success. I saw a video of a man in a race who defied pains, and shame, and despair to get to the finish line.

 Derek Reymond, one of the contestants for the gold medal in a 400m race in the 1992 Olympics tore his hamstring on the course of that race. He went down in pain, and then got up amidst the pains in his leg, and continued; even though he knew he was never gonna get the gold, or silver or bronze. He hobbled along while seeing off discouragements from people, even his father, to continue. Well, in pains, and in tears, he managed to make it to the finish line – though with the aid of his father – when every other runner was done. He got a standing ovation from all, but he gave the world a bigger lesson: it is not against others that we run life’s race. It’s against the self. We can only run with others, but never against them. When we run with them, they could help us when we fall; but if we run against them, we run the risk of being left alone on the sands of time. Life’s race is a personal one, and it does not matter how fast or how slow one reaches their target. It is the self we should conquer, not rivals. That way the good things that come to others may well extend and get to us.

PEACE!

The Mystical City

Glorious things are told of You...

A city too big for the earth, yes you got me right. The earth is made up of cities and kingdoms. The city of Rome, upon all its prowess in besieging nations, was never glorious, maybe because it couldn't conquer itself. Jerusalem didn't listen to God, and hence, the turmoil it's been in even till this day. The list goes on...but there's got to be a difference.
A glorious city is a great city, and of it alone are glorious things told. How prophetic, yet not totally novel was the psalmist when he proclaimed: "glorious things are told of You...". If Caesar dwelt in the city of Rome, and David in the city of Jerusalem; if Elizabeth III dwelt in the city of London, and the Pope in the Vatican city, then where dwells the maker of all these, the maker of the world; not just the maker, but where dwells the ruler of the universe? There has to be a city of God, most minds will defo go to heaven, but wait! Catechism teaches that God is everywhere, so He wouldn't just sit in heaven yet He's got a kingdom, a city. But is there a city that can ever contain the maker of the limitless universe? It's like a man entering into the small television he built, but multitude of men and mansions and cities are found in the T.v. anyway.
It's got to be a mystery, that is, inexplainable, no matter how hard one tries. In God is the heavens, in Him is the universe such that He cannot be contained even in the most infinite of these, since He's more infinite. Yet, and I say, yet, He lived in a much smaller space. Smaller? How have we measured it? With what unit? Where are the boundaries, and how small is this space? We can't answer because we can never know. The Virgin's womb is being referred to here, and how could it have contained He whom the heavens cannot contain? Two things come to mind: either it is big enough to contain God or that it could never have contained Him. The Blessed Virgin carried God for nine months, and that's why glorious things are told of Her because She is the city of God. There is or rather are certain characteristics of the city of God. First, it must be big enough to habour God, and second, it must be pure enough to house God. From elemetary logic, if Mary carried God, if Mary is the mother of God, then She satisfied the whole requirements, though made possible by God. She is the city of God, and no earth can withstand the walls of God's city, the body of the Theotokos. Hence, the Assumption.. .

Happy Feast day mother mine

To be continued...

Easter deLight

For every season there is a reason
And while we may dwell in the Euphoria
Of one or another, we oft the meaning forget;
And fail to get the Kpim of the message

One thing with life is that it tends to move in cycles. One thing about cycles is that they seem to have no starting and end points; They just keep moving. The earth keeps rotating and revolving, making us go through the same processes over and over: the mornings, the several evenings, the winters, the long summers, the harsh Harmmattans - with these times and Seasons we move. However, one thing stands out - we never get to RELIVE any passing time - every moment comes but once, and then forever is gone. We may have seen  many seasons of Christmas, or Lent, or Easter, but each each one comes with a different package. We only get to savour fully the contents of the parcels if we get to open the gifts before us.
That time is here again, when we have surest temerity to shout Alleluia. Why we shout thus though, is food for another meal; but how convinced we are as Christians singing the Great Alleluias and chanting the Psalms of victory, and crying the words of the Cantatas, certainly plays a huge role in giving meaning to our individual Easter seasons.

REASON FOR THE SEASON
True joy is what comes after the sorrows of the trying times. Listen to the psalmist who says: "At night dwells tears, but with dawn comes joy". Darkness covers so many things - especially the evils that thrive there in. The darkest times in the life of Christ, and indeed in the life of the Church unborn was that Holy Thursday Night - made holy only by Christ's pure act. That was the night evil rejoiced over the good. That night, the hope of salvation started to fade like the moon at its wan, or like a lamp without oil. That night, the Good was caught in the shackles of evil; evil took flesh and became a judge over the Good. And that same night, the friends fled and left Him to suffer alone; and so, the darkest shadow was cast over the works of light. Christ would speak, but prehistorically through the pen of the Psalmist; "Even a friend in whom I have trust; who ate my bread...has turned against me". And that night, this was fulfilled with just a kiss.
Sometimes in life, we toil with no apparent hope of success, the the clouds are darkest. At those times, life seems like an endless chain of many nights. Then we could consider giving up on the good; and walking the paths below. We have come at cross-roads at times in life, and many people here know that feeling - sometimes strong enough to make one doubt everything they'd believed in. When faced with such situations, we remember Christ who was silent without, but who prayed fervently within.

The soldiers of the Night, victory they cried,
When the battle still was on.
The armies of Light had run and hid in shame
While the Lord of Hosts hung unclad on the tree,
An object as of mockery and failure.

The drama of the night ended on the Cross with death; or rather in the tomb with decay. However, a bigger drama was unveiling all through the trial times. The death of Christ came as a blow to all who followed Him, especially to His closest friends. Those Apostles, with fear and trepidation were locked behind the doors of the Upper Room, the Scene of the Last Supper. What they did there, we weren't told; but one could imagine a feeling of loss in the air, or some horrible thoughts that made it through the narrow gates of their minds. But because "the love of Christ pushes us", they still visited the tomb - especially the women folk-, at least to go and cry. And so it came to be that through those women, the greatest News in History was relayed.

From dwelling in the darkest prison
Our souls with Christ have risen,
From the grasp of sin to Glory.
And the rock of decay is split asunder.

"You will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let Your Beloved know decay"
After the crucifixion, death and burial, hope dwindled more with each passing moment, hour and day. It was almost three days, and Peter, in encouraging all, may have run short of words. What need was there going to the tomb, only to see the corpse of Him who promised you life. The men were reluctant to make that sojourn again. But the women persisted; and it paid off. From worrying about who would move the stone for them, to panicking about who had removed the body of the Master; then to the ineffable joy that sprung from within when she saw the risen Christ. And that joy catapulted her back to the Upper Room. That joy too, which comes with dawn, brought Peter and John to their heels. That joy replenished the hopeless hearts, and exiled  fear. That is the joy we celebrate today, two millennia later, but with a little less passion, as mere pump and pageantry. We seem to have become used to seasons, and so each that comes around seems to us a mere repeat. And so we miss the message, and lose the meaning; and let slip from our fingers, the blessings potent in each Easter, or Lent, or Christmas.
We are not just Christians by name; we should be Catholics and Christians in heart and by deeds. This too, is a time for sober reflections, on what this season means to our individual lives; how it affects our daily dealings; and how it makes us change the faces of, not just the earth, but the faces of other hearts. The world which gropes in darkness depends on us for light, and through us, that light should shine. Until we realize this, we shall grope with the world in an endless tunnel, and depthless ocean of darkness.
Spread the Light of Easter beyond frontiers! Let's bear witness to the risen Christ; and tell the world that salvation comes from cross, that same cross they hold in Disdain.

And We have escaped to yonder...

The Spirit of X-Mas!

In mathematics, the end of every equation, trivial and non-trivial, is to find a certain unknown. This unknown could be represented by/with any variable one wishes to use.
In physics, certain kinds of radiations were discovered, and not knowing a suitable name to give them, scientists used the English-cum-Greek alphabetic characters such as α-, β-, and even X-to represent these unknown, or rather, unnamed radiations.
When St. Paul went to preach in Athens, he came across the alter dedicated to an unknown god. He made to cease the opportunity to educate the philosophical Greeks about their own unknown god. Well, we know the result of such bravery on the parts of St. Paul and the Athenians alike. Little Wonder why there is no Paul's letter to the Athenians!
The effect is the same in both instances: the concept of the Unknown. Before the fall of the Roman Empire, there was always a pagan feast on every 25th day of the 10th month, which happened to be December. This feast was the feast of a Roman god - the sun-god. During such feasts, people engaged in all sorts of immoral displays compounded by eating and drinking orgies. People always lived to suffer the consequences of these practices - yet those were religious practices done in the name of prayer and piety.
And these would go on until the Empire was overcome by the nascent Christianity. It was an option to abolish such ungodly practices. However, there was always a better option of turning what was bad, though based on some pious intentions to what would become plausible based on even holier intentions. The feast of the sun-god became the feast of the Son of God (don't mind those rhymes). And so the reason for the season became all the more worthwhile.
You would think everyone was happy with this transformation: you may be wrong eventually. The spirit of the world, which prompted and motivated such mundane activities in the feast of the initial feast of the sun-god has always fought to overturn this. And it seems it is gradually succeeding. Apart from bringing back those frivolities which would rather be known as side attractions to the celebration of Christmas, the world has slowly but steadily tried to get back the unknown god to the centre stages. It does this by distracting the minds of Christians (so called) from the real message of the Season, and by getting them to replace the Christ in Christmas with X. It presents it as shorter way, or rather time-saving way of saying the same thing. More insanely, it makes it look Childish to say Christmas; and a sign of maturity to say Xmas. However, the simple truth, you now can tell, is none of these but the removal of Christ from the hearts of those who claim to follow Him.
It is Christians, the so called who celebrate Christmas. And they are the ones who turn it to a mere celebration without the Christ. Just like in mathematics, we can always solve this riddle or equation in order to find the X - the unknown. When we do this, we shall also find that the place where X now occupies is the same place where Christ used to be.
Then and only then, will we see the need to do away with the world's X, and re-instate our own Christ. Until we do this, the Spirit of the season will always elude us.
Happy Christmas, (and not Xmas) to your
Have a tremendous and a blessed 12 days...

The Empty Tomb

No longer a mystery, the empty tomb,
Any more than the Cross' Saving grace,
For some it spelt a never looming DOOM,
But to us a certain hope to face,
The death which all would dread,
But which must be the cup we drain.

AT last the House of rot must empty be.
The Crux of IT, the Sound from its within.
The paid guards would cringe when they see,
And still opt to keep mute to their ruin.
But yes, a mystery to the world, that will remain,
The Tomb they would wish will never be

Simple Souls

Enjoying the fullness of life is definitely independent of the conditions one finds themselves in. A Happy life comes from within; and then it manifests itself anywhere possible. What happens to us; or rather what we allow to happen to us has no role whatsoever to play in living our life to the full. Chinwe, a lady with the Dawn's syndrome enjoyed the fullness of life here. In those 23 years, her simple soul and way of life affected others so much so that her presence will be greatly missed. Only simple souls can live here happily; that happiness which is only a rehearsal of the one to come...
Make yours a simple soul; its effect will surprise you.

CATHOLICITYBLOG: The Protestant Boy and the Virgin Mary

CATHOLICITYBLOG: The Protestant Boy and the Virgin Mary

 Have a Good read!

The Good thing about that Friday?

After the cruel nature traditionally associated with the likes of two days ago, one would wonder why it can be called good. Nothing about the proceedings of that Friday - from Caiaphas' House through Herod's to the Calvary and the tomb - suggests pleasantness. Is it the gory sight of the scourged man, manhandled beyond telling, or the denial of the Man by His most trusted person? Nothing seemed good about it, and rightly so.
However, fast-forward the hands of the clock to today, we see something special; something never witnessed in time: We see the empty tomb, the carefully folded linen, and what else - the man on white. Hardly could anyone believe theirs eyes, but it is true; truer than the reality of our existence. Our hope is renewed, and we regain our impetus. Cruelty has not won; but love has been vindicated. Today wouldn't be born without that memorable Friday. That is why it is called GOOD. The resurrection was necessitated by the Cross of Calvary. And so we look back and bless the Lord for that single day. That day became the turning point in time, and nothing can ever change it...

SACRED HEART

Have a Good read!

O dearest Heart Most Sacred,
My Lord's Guile-less, Lowly and Meek
Deign I ask, to tie as one to Thee, Mine;
Though most frail than all that erred.

As gentle she'd be as art Thou,
If in Thy embrace warm she's found.
Doing the one thing she learns from Thee,
My heart should learn to live the vow.

                                      Chimbuoyim

To The Heart Of Jesus

The flame of  Love

Which way to Your heart, Lord?

Not as if I’ve come to a cross-road,

Just wary of the one I currently tread on.

Like to a king’s lodge, the path that leads

So as beautiful and more should this be

Everything it is but comely and straight

Just then I wondered: this just can’t be

Maybe it’s not a road at all; maybe no more

Could be it leads to nowhere; just endless.

As I rise from the umpteenth fall, I knew awe,

Felt the cold hands of loneliness taking my breath

Then they crept in en masse, the fear kind-less

That’s a rocky road, the roughest I’ve met

The sun gnaws at my flesh; I’m scorched and wet

The hills I climb, not like what I’ve seen

The cold chilly breeze seep through my pores

It’s got a trail, snake-like, as the tricky meanders’

Lay-about bones along vivified the terror not there

The ‘unsure next’ lurks by, yet here we go

Down-the-spine-shiver stays, but ahead we row

Fleet of stairs up ahead, but burden for tiring legs

Can only hope I’m still on track, hope

Just outside the city walls, an alien territory.

Then by the open gate it hits – something’s familiar

A blazing flame red, amidst a fount of blood

It’s an unlikely route which leads here

No wonder a just few feet venture

At least rest’s assured in the flame of love, mercy

The Subjective God

Part of it, we are, it seems 

Always, of this ‘subjective’ madness

More pronounced even in our time

By the ‘truth’s arch-fiends’

Just a matter of personal opinion

For them hiding under its pinion

Is the question of a Being called God

Oft’ than not dismissed as mythical

But what could be more mythical?

Or is it a case of being poetical?

Than an applause for the weird,

What could be weirder?

For the defeat of goodness, they plot

As would say, the Psalmist who taught

From the world they seemed to have expelled

The One whose it is

Now after our hearts they go

To rid of it what remains, and so

Truths employed to replace the Truth;

‘What is’ with ‘what applies to me’,

Kenosizing the earth of Divinity
And ripping off hearts, their Paternity
Are steps already taken
As they make a miscellany of gods

On The Cross-Road

Somewhere in the middle
A thought flashed, with which I could meddle
‘Since no cue was forth-coming,
I’d just hit the ground and be running’

You, having found you on a cross-road
To make a choice can be to you, a hell of load
North or South, East or West
You never know which is best

Even harder it is, making a choice
When each seems to appeal with more voice
But there must be a road not taken; at least three
Tragically or not, only one is free

But still caught out in the in-betwixt
The situation must be remedied, fixed
Wait no longer, and for nothing fickle! 
Your Heart can solve the riddle 

Austyn Chimbuoyim

THE MASTER'S ART

Done and dusted, are the Arts of the Saints

We look and wonder

Without actually seeing a yonder

How fair the impressions of brush and paints

Like pencils, they were, in His hands

To write and to draw

That, on which we now gaze with awe

And the Creator’s slates on which is scribed His artistic strands

Tested and proved, the science of the Saints

Though nature wants it soft

Rough and tough it’s as oft

And out of the crucible it stays devoid of taints

Yet they only mimed the One Masterpiece,

Mimesised the real Model

And gained the ‘saintly’ label

Love is the art; sacrifice the science

It matters; it’s what brought them there

The Master’s Arts,

The Creator’s Science

Get on the wings, but only if you care…

                                                                                                Austyn C

...pEaCe...

When asked 'what peace is', many are wont to respond: ''peace is an absence of war''. I think I should differ a bit. Peace should not be defined or determined by war. There could be a situation in which there is no war, yet there is no peace; where people don't quarrel, yet they don't interact; where we live in a community, yet without co-existence. Can't we define peace by itself, I mean with no tag or reference to war?
Some of us lack inner peace, yet we want the world to be at peace. Yeah, we want Syria to have peace. It's a dream, but quite realizable, yet that peace which we seek for us MUST come from us. It must flow from us, but first in us. We have to create it first within us, since charity begins at home.
I then see peace as a condition of total harmony and co-existence between two or more parties; between the body and soul; between the oppressor and the oppressed; between Obama and Osama; between master and slave, neither out of force nor fear, but of free and selfless commitment. Yes, in peace there is no war, but there is much more to it than just 'absence of war'. Have you, have I really got true peace? It wouldn't be out of place if we ask ourselves such questions.

Peace! Shalom! Udo!

WHERE IS GOD?

''Where is God'', one may ask, ''when bad things happen?'' Where is God when the mountain is on fire and waters overflow onto the lands and the valleys? (no where to run to).
Where is God when it hurts? Where is God when the last oil is used up, yet with little or no hope of survival?
Where is God when our tears suddenly become our bread; and our fears fears become our companions? Where is God when we are hurting?
Where is God when a success of several years suddenly crumbles, in a twinkle of an eye? Where is God when the grass suffers just because two elephants fight?
Where is God when those little children are abused, and they must have to live with trauma their whole life? Where is He when the innocent suffers and eventually dies from another's doings?

Yeah, we may be right in asking, but may not be right in not really knowing where He is, when things seem to go wrong. We can't really live without His love; and love brings us closer to those we love, and those who love us. It is man who always goes far from God, not the other way. True Friends are near to us when we need them, but God is always near because we need Him always. In fact, He is always with us.
You still want to know how close He is to us? Well He lives in us. He is in us at every moment. When we sleep, He's awake watching over us. When we sin, He doesn't run from us; rather we run from Him. He still searches for us. What greater assistance can you render a friend than to feel his pains with him, to shed his tears, to make his own sorrows yours, to carry his burdens, to bear his shame? God does these to us. He suffers in us when we are hurt. He suffers in us when we sin. We only fail to notice His presence. Yeah because we're so selfish; because difficulty tends to blind us from, even others' ordeal, and we see only ourselves. The pain of the difficult situation leaves our senses numb and dead to other cases seeking our attention.

God is the reason we survive hardship. Should we face all misfortunes that come to us alone, without God, we would've died long ago.
Benedicamus Dominum!

When we awake

Through the coast they came

Across the Atlantic they sailed

With them was God, their book

yet our wealth enticed more

Could this be hope?

Sleep then we did, and dream

but theirs we tend to live

And thus they began – our woes

In bondage from then we lived

When they did go

Much less ready were we

We had our dream still

Out-shone by someone else’s,

the heroes’ motives upheld

But almost at hundred

In dreamland we still dwell

Aren’t we being real, to heed?

Reality calls, “wake up!”

“And you can live your dream”

By Oforma Augustine 

When we awake

Through the coast they came

Across the Atlantic they sailed

With them was God, their book

yet our wealth enticed more

Could this be hope?

Sleep then we did, and dream

but theirs we tend to live

And thus they began – our woes

In bondage from then we lived

When they did go

Much less ready were we

We had our dream still

Out-shone by someone else’s,

the heroes’ motives upheld

But almost at hundred

In dreamland we still dwell

Aren’t we being real, to heed?

Reality calls, “wake up!”

“And you can live your dream”

MARY: THE PARADIGM OF INTERCESSORS

Sunday 14, 2013                                                              Jn 2:3 – 10 (Teaching)

Let's know who knows Her...

Mary: As Catholics, we can handsomely tell or say who the Blessed Virgin Mary is. We don’t need to be told about the poor village girl of Nazareth. We need no one to tell us of that daughter of Joachim and Anne who was conceived without fault, who in fact is the Immaculate Conception. We no longer need any Divine revelation, in as much as we have the Bible, to give us the faintest information on the ‘Mater Dei’. We know Jesus (presumably), and we should know about Mary His mother.

We Catholics know that our faith is based on the Sacred Scripture and the Church's Teachings and Traditions. In fact, if any Catholic was asked, "Who is Mary of Nazareth to you personally?" We would definitely say, "She is my Mother". But then if we are asked a second question, "Why do you honour Her?" Most of us would be dumbstruck! Is it because the Church teaches us to? Is it because our parents and elders taught us so? Or are there some other reasons? For me, there definitely is. It is because I receive my Saviour Jesus' parting gift - the most valuable gift - His own Mother to be my Mother. What an honour and privilege it is!

Who then is She?

The Angel said to Mary: “Hail, full of grace…” (we know the others). A woman told our Lord, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you.” Jesus corrected that “Blessed is the one who hears the Word of God and keeps it.” Mary received the Word and gave it birth, not only physically but by the quality of her discipleship. She was the first disciple of her Son. Mary is a powerful intercessor for all who trust Her.

INTERCESSION means “seeking the presence and hearing of God on behalf of others”. It can also be the coming in-between two parties to ensure a co-existence, or rather serving as a link between parties, but mainly unequal parties. There are various areas in which Christians need intercession – though summarized under two headings – Salvation and Prayer. Anybody can intercede for others depending on his/her status, and on his relationship with both parties. A cordial relationship between any of the parties can help to accelerate whatever case in hand; more so, a cordial relationship between both parties can make it as fast as…

Normally, the intercessor’s move begins with an approach by one party (presumably the lower party). This normally is born out of a certain confidence in the said intercessor by the lower party, to make things or at least, to help make things right again, even after so many failed efforts by the party. The case can be a reconciliation case, an apology not yet accepted, certain favour(s) not granted – maybe job recruitment, promotion etc. whatever be it, the intercessor is normally someone who is influential either to either party or both. In cases of prayer we are well aware of someone telling the other(s) thus: “Please remember me in your prayer”, “kindly pray for me in so…so aspect” etc These requests are made in faith that God may be more favourable to the intercessor… (see also ‘Mediation’ form the back pages of the ‘African Bible’). Just as we intercede for and with one another, so do the saints and Angels, for us [1Tim. 2:1; Rev. 5:8].

PARADIGM: Model, Ideal; Mold, Form; Example, Pattern (Also the back pages of the above quoted Bible).

MARY AS AN INTERCESSOR

In prayer, The Blessed Virgin Mary:

·         Can aid us to raise our minds and hearts to God (this being the main objective of prayer), not to Her. This can be achieved by meditating and contemplating on Her mysteries (of the Rosary) and the life of Her Son.

·         Can obtain certain favours and graces for us. If we commend ourselves to the prayers of our fellows, why not Mary. If through a brother’s prayer, healing, forgiveness or certain graces are obtained, then how much more the B.V.M?

THE PASSAGE

Verses 1&2: Invitation

Jesus was invited together with Mary His Mother. Invite Mother Mary into your life (Behind every successful man, as the saying goes, there is a woman – this is also true in our spiritual journey). Inviting Mary into our lives now presupposes that she shares with us everything (and the disciple took Her home from that day…). She rejoices with us in moments of joy; and as well suffers and bears with us in moments of sorrow. Jesus is the perfect example of these happens, and maybe John. Invitation is the first step. The bridegroom invited Her to share their joy; Mary on the process, was keen to notice the shortage of wine (very essential for wedding feasts) which the bridegroom may not have noticed. One doesn’t even have to ask Her anything, She’s sensitive enough. Let’s not forget She is also our mother. Let’s not be like those who  call upon Her only in the moments of distress – for these people, She still answers, but with a difference: those who have invited Her to their lives need not request for something before they get it…She recognizes our needs and when we’re in need even when we seem not to…

Verse 3:

There came a point when ‘it’ finished. Anything can be this ‘it’. For this bridegroom, it was wine. For each and every one of us, it can be anything – food, shelter, love, money, fervor, zeal, virtue, sweetness of life… And because Mary was there (invited), it lasted just for a while. Remember Jesus was also there, and He is God. The disciples were there. It wouldn’t be a shame or disgrace on Her and Her Son, it would be the bridegroom’s load to carry. She didn’t wait for the bridegroom to start running around, or come and seek for help. She did not just have sympathy (most people will stop there), She empathized with them; She felt their sorrow. She would naturally wait for God’s time (Christ’s time) to come but She moved in a way that would interrupt, or rather fast-forward this time. And the She made a move: “They have no wine…”

Verses 4& ff:

At Christ’s response, some people would’ve recoiled back to their shells – they would have given up. The disciples would have given up. Mother Mary did not, because, not only did She know Her Son, She has us as Her Children. She knew the hour hasn’t yet come, yet She dared.

To get something from God, perseverance is quite expedient (remember the Canaanite woman whose child was possessed; or also the story of the Widow and a certain king),and not many of us have it.

There is no need for much argument between Mother and Son; the Son would obey (He already did for 30yrs). She P.U.S.Hed (prayed until something happened – such is the nature of Her intercession/prayer for us).  The mother knows the heart of Her Son, so She told the servants: ”Do whatever He tells you”.

THE PARADIGM…

Mary is the perfect example of intercessors because, while God could say ‘No’ to Her, It’s normally ‘YES’ because She never said NO to God.

She is the paradigm because, even if an intercessor is required to be without sin, or any history of sin…, She alone qualifies. So, others look up to Her, learn from Her example. (imagine a sinner praying for a sinner: what will be the possible end product? Ever wondered why Christ had to be without sin?)

Will it really surprise us if from time to time, the saints and co., go to God through Her. She is the queen of All Saints, …and the Queen of Angels…She has got to be…

The three relationships with God:

God is One …but in three Divine persons though…

·         With God the Father, Mary stands as the Daughter of a King, who has the key to the Father’s heart.

·         With God the Son, Mary is a Queen Mother who still knows the Son, the king…and who nothing is refused.

·         With God the Holy Spirit, Mary still stands as the Queen next to the king…and the kings heart is in Her hands, so tender and loving.

Whatever…but having said YES to God from the day of annunciation, God will hardly say NO to Her even in Her glory…

WE AS INTERCESSORS… (Lessons from Mary’s Character in the passage)

Sensitivity

Pity/Mercy

Empathy

Yearn for the joy of others

Make a move or ask for it

Persevere (P.U.S.H)

   

THE PROFANED...

O citadel once great!

Magnificient, you stood glorious

Heaven’s birds on you perched

As they sing to your maker.

O temple once fair!

As His hands did you make

The creator’s with much care

For He, in you, shall dwell.

O house once hallowed

From the abundance of the ONE!

How you’ve been shadowed

By the cloud of your wrongs/ own doings.

Once made from the earth

Then despised and trampled upon

Now marred to death

Any hope like the risen one’s?

Through your windows unrestrained

Came flying the vultures

Foul dungs down they rained

In the dwelling of your maker

Your ambo speaks

Not in praise of Him

But with certain insolence

Some blasphemy and sacrilege.

Never free, your sanctuary

From dead bones and carcass

And your altar a mortuary

For all who worship in you.

Once great, fair and hallowed

O man, wonder of creation!

Then nought, rotten and profaned

Your body, God’s temple.

For more, the flesh craves

The eye, for lust acquiesces

The heart, for shadows yearns

The tongue, like fire, blazes

Your maker, deprived, waits

The vultures, from you, drive

Clean up! Open your gates

In His abode, may He enter

Then shall your ambo sing

In praise and joy

And once more be pure

And not again profaned.

...Austyn Chimbu...