Category: Reflections

by Fr W. Nkomo

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From Fear to Faith on Easter Morning

John’s version of the resurrection paints a portrait of a journey that some of the early disciples had to make; a journey out of fear and into faith. It shows progressive nature of the experience of the resurrection which eventually leads to understanding it more deeply. Let Us reflect now on this journey as outlined in today’s Gospel.

First the reaction Mode as described in the text, begins with everyone in reaction mode, quite literally running about in a panic! This panic begins with Mary Magdalene who runs to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved. We are told that Mary Magdalene sees direct evidence of the resurrection but presumes the worst: that grave robbers have snatched the Lord’s body! It doesn’t even occur to her to remember that Jesus had said that He would rise on the third day and that this was that very third day. After Mary’s report they all start running. Continue reading “Easter Sunday reflection – Year A” →

by Fr. Andrij Hlabse, S.J.

Pope’s prayer Intention April 2020: “We pray that those suffering from addiction may be properly helped and accompanied.”

In his prayer intention for the month of April 2020, Pope Francis asks everyone to pray for those who suffer from addiction, especially addiction to gambling, pornography, and the internet.

In our world and our Church, many of our brothers and sisters struggle with addictions. Indeed, almost half of Americans report having a family member or close friend who has struggled with drug addiction, and one in seven report suffering from substance addictions themselves. Today, the internet also provides an avenue for addictive behaviour, including to internet use itself, to electronic devices, and to pornography. The latter is especially prevalent and known to have devastating effects on personal relationships. Which family has not experienced something of addiction’s difficulties? Continue reading “April 2020: Liberation from addictions” →

by Fr Z Ngwenya

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Readings: First reading: Is 50:4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 22: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Second reading: Phil 2:6-11
Gospel: Mt 26: 14 – 27: 66

The whole liturgy is shrouded in a veil of suffering. In the song of the servant of Yahweh we hear: “The Lord Yahweh comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults.” The figure of Yahweh’s servant surprises and shocks us for various reasons. He is an innocent man. Although having done no harm to anyone, he suffers outrages, blows and insults. He is a religious man who perceives God’s hand in the midst of all that is happening to him and feels Yahweh’s mighty strength and presence. He is a disciple of God who, getting the better of his suffering, has comforting words for the persecuted and the needy.
Continue reading “Reflection for Palm Sunday – Year A” →

by Fr Z Ngwenya

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Readings  First: Ezekiel 37:12-14
Respons. Psalm: Ps. 130: 1-8
Second: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel: John 11:1-45

The God of Christianity is a God of life. He is the Lord of life. He is the God of the living and not of the dead. God’s glory, as St. Irenaeus says, is that man lives, in his fullness and integrity. To bring this about, God uses every means with inexhaustible patience and fidelity, as is reflected throughout the long history of God’s relations with his people, Israel. One stage corresponds to the exile in Babylon, between the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Exiled in Babylon, the people, and especially its hope in the future, languish and die. This situation prompts Ezekiel to find a symbol in the dry bones, stripped of flesh and dead. Through the prophet, God reveals to the people that he will raise them from the graves in which they are now, that he will give them new life and bring them back to the land of the living, the Promised Land. Continue reading “Fifth Sunday of Lent – Year A” →

by Fr Z Ngwenya

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First Reading: 1 Sam 16: 1. 4. 6-7. 10-13;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 23: 1-6
Second: Eph 5: 8-14
Gospel: Jn 9: 1-41

From the beginning, Christianity has manifested itself as an amazing paradox; perhaps, this is the key to today’s readings. God does not look at appearances, as men do, but at the heart. This is the reason he chose the youngest of Jesse’s sons to anoint him king of Israel. The Christian paradox does not surprise us. The Christian God is the one who is closest and, at the same time, the most remote. He is omnipotent but comes to us as weak. He is a loving Father, with an interior that is maternal. He is spiritual and invisible but makes himself visible in the transparency of flesh. In the human way of evaluating persons and things, the greater the task the more one looks for the best trained leader, with a strong and attractive personality, and a greatest number of qualities. In today’s first reading, God reveals he does just the opposite: he chooses the little, that which does not count in the eyes of men. With this paradox, God highlights what matters most in a mission: not just personal qualities but the strength and power of God’s Spirit. Continue reading “Fourth Sunday of Lent – Year A” →

by Fr Z Ngwenya

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First Reading: Ex 17: 3-7;
Responsorial psalm: Ps. 95: 1-2, 6-9.
Second: Rom 5: 1-2. 5-8
Gospel: Jn 4: 5-42

Brothers and sisters, we as the pilgrim church here on earth have been immersed in the history of salvation. When we speak about the history of salvation we speak about the theological expression of the divine initiative and of his loving presence and dialogue with mankind. God is always present, he dialogues with us, and is always taking the initiative in this dialogue. In the first reading we see that God who chose the people of Israel, does not abandon them in their need, but fulfils his promise of fidelity in the pact of alliance and accompanies them with his power in their wanderings through the desert. This divine presence is not always visible. In fact, the opposite seems true: that God has forgotten his people. The children of Israel cry out in hunger and thirst in nostalgia for the past. God is moved and intervenes effectively by sending manna, abundance of water, and gives them the hope of a land of milk and honey. Then the people realise God is truly faithful and they renew their confidence in him and his elect, Moses.
Continue reading “Third Sunday of Lent – Year A” →

by Fr Z. Ngwenya

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First Reading: Gen 12: 1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 33: 4-5, 18-20, 22
Second Reading: 2 Tim 1: 8-10
Gospel: Mt 17: 1-9

In the Christian idea of life, every person is called, receives his/her own vocation from God, and the qualities and graces to undertake it. Vocation to matrimony, to the religious life, to the priesthood; vocation to give glory to God and to serve one’s neighbour as a doctor, worker, journalist, farmer, as a parent, and as a child.
Continue reading “Second Sunday of Lent – Year A” →