Tag: Catholic Diocese of Manzini

By Thokozani Mkhonta

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It is evident that false prophets were common in ancient Israel. They coexisted alongside God’s authentic prophets. The dilemma of an ordinary Israelite trying to discern God’s message from among a host of contrasting prophetic voices all purporting to be God’s genuine representatives and servants was difficult to escape. The promise of a future prophet raised by God from amongst the people to guide the people with clarity of God’s word as indicated in First Reading is significant. It indicates God’s desire not to allow his people to live through life without proper guidance. The unfortunate and undesirable eventuality of an innocent seeker of God’s word being led astray by a false prophet posing as God’s sincere servant could only be avoided by God through the raising of a prophet whom God will put His words in his mouth, and who shall speak to the people all that God commands him.

Continue reading “Reflection for Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time” →

by Thokozani Mkhonta

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One of the realities of life which is widely considered by many as unfortunate is the fact of not knowing one’s future. It is widely felt that as humans we are disadvantaged by the fact that we cannot entirely hold our future in our own hands. Failure is one of the most shattering experiences of life. We struggle to understand why must life be such that we must learn through failure that some things were not meant for us.

Yet, it remains an incontestable fact of life that what we do today significantly affects our future. We shape our future through our present actions. We are certain that God has put part of our future in our own on hands. This is a lesson we cannot afford to neglect. It is sad to realize the opportunities we failed to utilize in the past coming back to haunt us in the present. Much of the emotional burden we carry lies in the fact of knowing that some of the distressing experiences of our lives are a result of our own actions.

Continue reading “Reflection for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B” →

by Thokozani Mkhonta (Seminarian)

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Today, the Gospel presents to us the earliest of encounters between Jesus and his first disciples. It recounts that Jesus was passing by when John the Baptizer declared to his disciples that the one who was passing by is the Lamb of God. Upon hearing this, John’s disciples immediately left and followed Jesus. One outstanding realization in this encounter is that it is John the Baptizer who declares Jesus’ identity to his disciples who appear to be clueless of such. As they walk after Jesus, Jesus turns and asks them what are they looking for. They express to Jesus that they want to see where he lives. Jesus invites them to come and see. It is striking to realize that the role played by John the Baptizer in this scene facilitated the first interaction between Jesus and his first disciples. It appears that the disciples might have remained oblivious to the presence of the Lamb of God amongst them should John the Baptizer have not enlightened them.

Continue reading “Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time” →

by Thokozani Mkhonta

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It is reckoned that our needs and desires go a long way in defining who we are. Our actions are largely motivated and informed by the things we desire to possess and persons we aspire to become. The scarcity of means to fulfil our needs is thus a major dilemma of life. Often, individuals have to put up with uncomfortable conditions and tolerate difficult people for the sake of gaining a livelihood. It is saddening to recognize the plight of those who lack the means to satisfy even basic needs.

It is as though the ones with much fortune and wealth are the happiest in life. Yet, it is evident that people tend to always seek and need more of what they already possess. This evidences the fact that we often deprive ourselves happiness by failing to appreciate and celebrate what we already have. If we fail to properly regulate our aspirations and ambitions, they will always rob us the opportunity to celebrate the present moment by stimulating an unsuitable longing for that which is yet beyond our possession.

Continue reading “Reflection for the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord” →