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Meet Fr. Anthony Mpagi (click on his picture to see his greeting)
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UNQUIET WORD for September 19th, 2021Finishing firstIf anyone wishes to be first
he shall be last of all
and servant of all ( GOSPEL)
Who of us in their right mind ever wants, desires, cannot wait to be ‘the last of all’, ‘the servant of all’ at all? I can hear someone saying to Jesus – are you out of your mind? Who thinks like that? Can anybody who thinks like that ever be successful in this world?
I visit my nieces and nephews and they are always excited to show me their latest trophy or certificate at a competition or sports event. I once naively asked them: but do you always win? Are there times when you come second or third or you fail totally(last)?
It seems the order of the day to give confidence to our young that they are always to finish first (number one). This has its consequences we all can imagine!!
The scriptures we listen to this weekend say to us that –‘yes!’, you can finish first , but ‘finishing first /number one/greatness in God’s worldview, has the ‘different focus’:
It is about putting the concerns of others at the center of one’s motives, plan, and initiatives. In otherwards ‘the interest of others comes first’, (when you do this, live this way, then in God’s kingdom, you finish first)
God’s way of looking at things and therefore the lifestyle option for those who claim to follow him will always put us at a clash or bring about tension between worldly mentality and God’s worldview. You hear this clearly in the first reading.
The author of the book of wisdom presents to us a tension that exists between the ‘wise’ (God fearing person/virtuous / pious) vis-a-vi the godless person (the wicked). The godless person will not stop at anything to seek what they want and for them ‘might is right’. For them the concern of others is not at the center of their motives, plan or initiatives. It is about self-centeredness.
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him. ( First Reading)
The godless person will stop at nothing to be ‘number one’ even if it means the death of another. It is all about them.
St Paul says in the second reading, where people live not according to the wisdom from above (divine wisdom) , the worldly mentality rules, here you will find jealousy and selfish ambition that bring about chaos and disorder. You find conflicts after conflict among people. There is a breeding of envy and the killing of another to obtain. At the heart of all this chaos is never the concern of others. At the center of one’s motives, plans and initiatives is never others but self. This is a different kind of ‘finishing first’.
The disciples in the gospel are arguing as Jesus is speaking about his death (self-giving) . He asks them on the way: ‘what were you going about?’ They keep silent. They were arguing about who is the greatest?’.
Jesus is God, (so he knows what they are thinking even if they do not say) . then he says:
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Then he takes a child and puts it in their midst. And says: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me”. Children in the ancient world of Jesus are not as endeared as they are in our present-day society. Children are helpless, put to hard labor, worked as slaves, undefended, powerless, and subject to abuse of power. The child represents the poor, the orphan, the least , the forgotten, the burdened , the neglected.
The one who receives them, meaning- ‘serves them first’, will finish first / greatness in God’s eyes. He or she who does this, receives God himself. Therefore, it is the one who puts the concerns of others at the center of their motives, plans, and initiatives who ‘finishes first’.
As we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we gather around Jesus who is the ultimate God-fearing person/ the true just one. He is the one who gives himself up for the salvation of others. As he dies on the cross for us, he destroys death and opens for us the path to God and God’s graces. The way we follow him best is by imitating him as we too put others first. Let us imitate his way and lifestyle.
This weekend we are blessed to welcome our first communion candidates at their First Communion Enrollment mass. We pray that we may bring them by our word and example to the school of Jesus. Their families at home may be a school of Jesus’ way and lifestyle of putting the concern of others at the center of our motives, plans and initiatives. They that way shall ‘finish first indeed! -
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October Month of MARY
October is the month of Mary
We will celebrate this month in a special way . Each week on Thursday evening , we will pray and learn the story behind these following particular devotions to our Blessed Mother:
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Knock
Our Lady of Kibeho
Join us on the following Thursdays : Oct 7, Oct 14, Oct 21, Oct 28
We begin with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 6pm,
Rosary ( with particular devotion)
Quiet Adoration
Conclusion with Mass.
We will end this Month of Mary Sunday October 31 at 10am with a Marian Mass/visiting African choir and the crowning of Mary
Mary is our most gracious advocate before God , Come let us lift up our prayer through her intercession.
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