San Damiano Novitiate House - OFM Conv. Zambia

San Damiano Novitiate House - OFM Conv. Zambia San Damiano Novitiate House is a formation House of the Conventual Franciscans in Zambia.

During the Novitiate year, the novice is helped to deepen his understanding of the divine call to religious life and to the basic meaning and requirements of how to live this call in the Conventual Franciscan Fraternity.

11/01/2025

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTION

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

ISAIAH 40:1-5.9-11, PSALM 104: 1-4, 24-25, 27-30, TITUS 2:11-14;3:4-7, LUKE 3:15-16.21-22

We celebrate today the feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s feast marks the end of Christmas season and the beginning of ordinary time. Today’s feast invites us to celebrate our incorporation into the life of God through Christ life and mission. In the first reading, prophet Isaiah announces a message of consolation to Jews living in Babylonian exile. The prophets attest that their time of suffering is over and God has atoned for their sins and thus He will soon deliver them. The Lord God himself will lead them across the desert as during exodus from Egypt. Before the days of the Lord, God will send his messenger to prepare his coming to deliver and save his people. For us Christian, we see Christ as the perfect fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of deliverance not only from physical bo***ge but from spiritual bo***ge of sin, evil and death. In our gospel passage, we hear the testimony of John the Baptist with regard to the Messiah whom peoples were eagerly expecting. Many thought John the Baptist was the Messiah. John the Baptist refused being the Messiah in that he only baptize with water but the Messiah’s baptism will be of the Holy Spirit and of Fire. The passage further describes the baptism of Jesus together with other people who came to John. During Jesus’ baptism, three things happened; the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove and God’s voice was heard attesting that Jesus is His Beloved Son on whom His favor rests. Luke thus seeks to demonstrate from the beginning that Jesus is the embodiment of God’s presence among people and that God approves Jesus’ mission to save humanity. In the second reading, St. Paul writes to Titus about God’s salvation for whole human race revealed through Christ and its righteous demand on the part of believers. In the passage, Paul affirms John’s word during Jesus’ baptism that the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Paul asserts that God’s salvation is out of God’s compassion and not on any human good works. Humanity is saved through Christ’s by cleansing in the waters of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit (fire). In Christ, humanity have been saved and made heirs of God’s eternal life. Believers have therefore received the grace to live in righteousness. A life of grace that denounces worldly and sinful ways and looks forward in hope to God’s eternal life.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s liturgy invites us to reflect on Christ’s baptism and its relevance to our Christian faith and life. The feast of the baptism of the Lord inaugurates the adult life of Jesus who begins his public ministry. One would ask, “why was Jesus baptized if He was divine and God’s Son?” At Christmas, we celebrate the incarnation of Christ, the Word made flesh and dwelling among us. In Christ, our humanity is redeemed, divinized and thus enabled to share in the life of God. At Epiphany, Jesus reveals himself as light to the whole world and draws all to share in God’s light and life. In today’s feast, the mystery of Jesus’ self-emptying love revealed at incarnation is further manifested. At baptism, Jesus’ identity and mission is revealed: He is the Divine presence of God among us. Jesus, a sinless Messiah enters the waters of baptism (meant for us sinners) to identify Himself with us (though he is without sin) and incorporates us into His own divine life. In other words, Jesus shows solidarity with us whom He has come to redeem and save. Jesus who shares in our human condition though without sin, He seeks to save us from all that enslave us: addiction of all sorts, pride, unforgiveness, shame or low self-esteem, family or relational brokenness, suffering of all kinds, pain and hopelessness). Therefore, we are reminded that in such moments of our human weakness and helplessness, Christ is present among us and that He walks with us in the path of life leading us to true freedom, peace and joy. Further, Jesus’ Baptism foreshadows the mystery of our faith (Christ suffering, death and resurrection) in whom we are baptized and made co-heirs with Him. In addition, just as at Christ’s baptism, God confirmed his identity and mission, we too are affirmed in our own baptism as members of Christ body and given the grace to live holy lives. As such, we are called today to renew our baptism promises and live according to our Christian identity as beloved sons and daughters of God, who are called to bear witness to God’s love and mercy to the world through our words and actions.

Have a blessed Sunday

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual)

04/01/2025

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTION

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD: CHRIST, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

ISAIAH 60:1-6, PSALM 71:1-13, EPHESIANS 3:2-3.5-6, MATTHEW 2:1-12

We celebrate today the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word meaning to reveal, to manifest or to shine. In today’s feast, we are invited to reflect on how God has made Himself known not only to Israel but also to all nations. In the first reading prophet Isaiah gives a message of hope and restoration to Israel settling down after the Babylonian exile. He invites Jerusalem to rise and shine for God’s light and glory has come to dispel darkness on the earth. Isaiah’s message reveals the universality of God’s love and salvation for all nations. Israel who thought she is the only chosen one slowly began to realise that God chose her to be the light to other nations. In others words, Israel was to be the light and through her other nations will come to know and worship the only true God. Through Israel, other nations will pay homage to God, offer Him gifts (gold and frankincense) and proclaim His praises. Many times Israel failed to be the light and thus they were taken captive by other nations. In our gospel, Jesus Christ the new born child is presented as King and New Israel through whom God’s universal salvation is revealed and fulfilled. The Wise Men (gentiles) from East guided by the star (light) came to pay homage to the new born King. Through their determination, they encountered the new born king who filled them with joy, worship and sense of fulfillment. The Magi offered the child Gold (symbolizing Jesus’ kingship), frankincense (symbolizing Jesus’ divinity) and Myrrh (symbolizing Christ victory through suffering and death). After paying homage to the king, wise men returned by another route which infuriated king Herod. St. Paul in the second reading explains God’s revelations as ‘mystery’. For Paul, the mystery of God’s revelation is the inclusion of gentiles into the family of God. In Christ Jesus, Gentiles have become heirs, members of Christ’s body (believers) and partakers of God’s promise of salvation like the Jews.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are still in Christmas time celebrating with joy the incarnation of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Word made fresh and living among us (Emmanuel). Today’s liturgy invites us to reflect on the universality of God’s saving love for all humanity revealed and fulfilled through Jesus Christ. In the beginning God chose Israel to be the light through whom other nations will come to know and worship God. Nevertheless, Israel failed to be the light. In Christ Jesus, God’s light is revealed to all nations; we are all called to share in God’s saving love and life. Through Christ, God destroyed sin, evil and all that estranges and divides us. As such, we are called to remove all barriers that divides us; based on color, race, tribe, political or religious affiliations. Furthermore, the Magi whose journey symbolize not only a geographical and physical one, is also an inner journey of faith in search for the King of Kings. Like the Magi prompted by their knowledge of the cosmic which led them to see the new born king, who gave them joy and reverence, God’s light can also shine in ordinary events of our life and enable us to encounter Him who is the source of our joy, peace and fulfils our deepest longing. All that is needed is our attentiveness, openness, the urge to seek and move towards God’s light revealed to us in Christ Jesus. In addition, epiphany gives us hope in times when we feel rejected, disappointed, in despair or disturbed by life challenges. Epiphany calls us to look up to Christ the shining light who calms our fears, revitalizes our hope, restores our joy and gives us fulfillment.

Have a blessed Sunday

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual)

28/12/2024

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTION

FEAST OF HOLY FAMILY (MARY, JOSEPH AND JESUS)

1 SAMUEL 1:20-22.24-28, PSALM 84: 2-3,5-6,9-10, 1 JOHN 3:1-2.21-24, LUKE 2:41-52

We celebrate today the feast of Holy Family of Nazareth comprised of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Today’s feast comes within the octave period of Christ’s incarnation. In today’s feast, we are invited to contemplate on the mystery of God’s presence within family life and how like Holy Family of Nazareth we can become faithful disciples of Jesus in fulfilling our family duties. In the first reading from the book of Samuel, a child is presented as a blessing and gift from God. Hannah who suffered shame because of her infertility for a long time was blessed by God, conceived and bore a son whom she named Samuel. After the child was weaned, Hannah offered Samuel to God that he could serve in the temple for the rest of his life. Hannah offered her son as thanksgiving to God who heard her prayers and removed shame of barrenness from her. Our gospel passage presents the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as pious family who despite challenges fulfilled their human as well as their faith responsibilities. Mary and Joseph being faithful Jews, perhaps taught Jesus about their Jewish faith and thus went with him to the feast of Passover in Jerusalem temple. Mary and Joseph’s search for Jesus shows great love, care and concern for their child Jesus. In the same passage, Jesus’ response to Mary and Joseph when he was found in the temple, “don’t you know that I must be in my father’s house” reveals his true identity as God’s Son and that his obedience to his Father takes precedence over human or family ties. Here Jesus did not disrespect his human family (Mary and Joseph) but rather followed them and was obedient to them. Our second reading focuses on the broader family of believers in which everyone is included. John encourages and reminds believers of their true identity as beloved sons and daughters of God. God’s love revealed and fulfilled in Jesus Christ enables them to share in God’s life and love. Despite the hatred or suffering, believers have an assurance of sharing in God’s life not only in the present time but also in the life to come. Believers are therefore called to live a virtuous life in imitation of Jesus Christ through whom they have communion with God.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we celebrate today the Holy Family of Nazareth in whom Christ our Savior was born. The feast of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is placed within the Octave of Christmas to remind us of God’s presence within family life and how we can grow as faithful disciple of God in carrying out our family duties. In today world, the institution of family life has continued to experience challenges that threatens its origin, meaning and existence. Family life as of divine origin, permanent and open to the gifts of children (values and virtues are learned) is suffering due to contradictory values adopted by modern society; family today could be anything (man and man, woman and woman, person and animal). Family life is deprived of love, care, unity, peace, empathy thus making it dysfunctional. Once family is destroyed, human life and future is heading for destruction. Today’s feast therefore invites us to look up to the Holy Family of Nazareth as perfect model of our Christian and human family through whom we can learn virtues of love, prayer, patience, care, piety and obedience. My dear brothers and sisters, family life as an intimate community of life and love through whom children are born is an institution established by God. As such, we are each other’s gifts which ought to be cherished, loved, cared, protected and supported. Like any human family, our families are neither perfect nor lack challenges; infertility, infidelity, financial issues, fears, disobedient children, divisions, etc. We are therefore called to look up to God the author of family life who is always present, who strengthens us and gives us the grace to fulfil our various and distinct responsibilities in families. Holy family of Nazareth – pray for our families.

Have a blessed Sunday.

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual)

21/12/2024

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTIONS

4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

MICAH 5: 2-5, PSALM 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19, HEBREWS 10:5-10, LUKE 1:39-45

We celebrate today the 4th and last Sunday of Advent Year C. The readings draw us slowly closer to the celebration of Christ’s nativity at Christmas. Today’s readings invites us to reflect on the fulfilment of God’s promise of salvation and how through faith and obedience to God’s will we can share in the mystery of Christ incarnation. In the first reading, prophet Micah gives hope of restoration to Israelites whose society was characterized by immorality; oppression of the poor, corruption, dishonest and worshipping idols which led to the destruction of the Northern kingdom. According to Micah, Jerusalem become the epicenter of evil and warns the people on the misfortune that will come upon them. However, Micah envisions the coming of a leader (Messiah) who will come from Bethlehem, a seemingly insignificant town (David’s birthday place) who will lead his people with authority and strength of God: He will restore and shepherd Israel in peace. Micah contrasts Jerusalem, a big and significant city to Bethlehem, a small and insignificant place. In the Gospel, we see the fulfilment of Micah’s prophecy to Mary, an ordinary young girl of Nazareth. After the annunciation of the birth of Jesus by Angel Gabriel to Mary, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When Mary, the bearer of God’s incarnate Word greets her cousin Elizabeth, she (Elizabeth) was filled with the Holy Spirit and joy and her son in the womb leapt for joy. Elizabeth’s expression of joy at Mary’s greetings echoes David’s experience of joy when he welcomed the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit recognised Mary as blessed and mother of the Lord in whom God’s promise is fulfilled. In the incarnate Word of God in Mary’s womb, Elizabeth recognised God’s presence who has come to save his people. Our second reading from the letter to the Hebrews synthesizes God’s salvation revealed and fulfilled in Christ Jesus. The author asserts that Christ’s sacrifice is superior to Levitical sacrifice (animal sacrifice) in that Christ offered his own blood once and for all to sanctify and save humanity. By quoting Psalm 40:7-9, the author highlights the superiority of Christ self-emptying sacrifice embedded in His total obedience to his Father that perfected all those called to share in the life of God.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we celebrate today the fourth and last Sunday of Advent. In today’s liturgy, we are drawn closer to the fulfilment of God’s promise of salvation in Jesus, conceived in the womb of Mary. The promise made to prophet Micah on the coming of the Messiah from Bethlehem, a seemingly insignificant village, finds its fulfilment in Mary, a humble, poor, young and ordinary young girl. Mary thus plays an important role in our salvation in that she obeyed God and gave birth to our Savior: she is the Ark of the Covenant…the Tabernacle in whom God’s Son was conceived/dwelt. It is this privilege of blessedness of Mary that brought joy to Elizabeth and her unborn child and acclaimed her (Mary) as ‘Mother of my Lord and Savior promised’. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s liturgy unveils to us the mystery of God’s love in Christ, the Word made flesh and how we too can share in it. As pointed out that Mary is blessed not because she gave birth to our Savior Jesus but that she submitted in total obedience to God’s will. In addition, Jesus obeyed his father by surrendering his body and shedding his blood as a sacrifice to sanctify and save us from the slavery of Satan, evil, sin and death. Therefore, when we submit in total obedience to God’s will, God’s presence comes to dwell in us and enables us to share in His blessings like Mary (Luke 1:45, 11:27-28). We become God’s dwelling presence filled with peace, joy, love and hope. As we intensify our preparation for Christ’s birth at Christmas, let us surrender our lives (weaknesses and strengths, joys and sorrows, desires, doubts, anxieties, frustrations, etc.) totally to God.

Have a blessed Sunday

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual).

14/12/2024

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTION

3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

ZEPHANIAH 3:14-18, RESPONSORIAL: ISAIAH 12, PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7, LUKE 3:10-18

We celebrate today the 3rd Sunday of Advent in year C. The 3rd Sunday of Advent is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday” meaning “rejoice Sunday”. It is called rejoice Sunday in that Christmas celebration is close at hand. We are therefore invited to rejoice despite the challenges and uncertainties of life in that Christ is coming soon to save us. In the first reading, prophet Zephaniah looks forward with hope to the impending judgment, day of the Lord in which God will save the remnant Israel despite her infidelity. The prophet calls Israel to rejoice in that God will be in her midst to deliver them as a mighty warrior and renew her in love. God takes delight in their freedom, peace and joy. Our responsorial from Isaiah 12 echoes the reasons for Israel’s joy; great in your midst is the Holy One who is your salvation and strength. The second reading presents similar sentiments of joy to believers in Philippi waiting for Christ’s imminent coming amidst some challenges in the community. Paul exalts them to rejoice and show forbearance to one another. St. Paul urges them not to be anxious but rather offer prayers, supplication and thanksgiving to God who will give them peace which surpasses all understanding. In our gospel passage, John the Baptist responds to various groups of people who sought practical ways of responding to his message of repentance that prepares them for the Messiah. For John the Baptist, true repentance and preparation for the imminent coming of the Messiah is being charitable and compassionate to those in needy; being truthful to one’s commitments, being just and content. In addition, John the Baptist clarifies his mission which was mistaken by many as being messianic. John the Baptists denies being a Messiah but as one preparing them for the Messiah will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire (they will be purified and set them apart).
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we draw close to the feast of Christ’s nativity, today liturgy invites us to rejoice. We are called to rejoice not because everything is well with us but that Christ’s coming or presence in our lives is the cause of our joy. We are encouraged to focus on God’s presence in our lives rather than the dark situations of our life. That even in the midst of life challenges and uncertainties we can trust and hope in God who seeks to set us free from sin and all that estranges us from God, from our true self and from one another; a God who give us peace and joy. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, all our human endeavors are oriented towards achieving happiness. In other words, we all want to be happy in life. The question is how do you achieve our happiness? What makes us happy? Our desire for joy in life at times is overshadowed by life challenges and struggles; spiritual, psychological, physiological, social, relational and economical situations. The above situations often make us despair and without peace. Today’s liturgy therefore invites us to rejoice in that the Messiah is coming soon. In Christ’s incarnation, God’s presence will dwell among us to save us from all that enslaves, to fill our emptiness and shame, and restore our joy and peace. In addition, our joy can only be complete when those we love or those around us are happy too. True happiness is not in seeing others suffer. True joy embraces the weaknesses, failures and suffering of others and comes to their aid. In other words, true joy is reaching out to others and become the source of their joy. This can be achieved when we adhere to John the Baptist’s invitation to be compassionate and charitable to others, to be truthful without distortion in our commitments and dealings with others, to be just without extortion and to be content. In other words, John reminds us that to prepare or experience God’s presence does not require doing extra-ordinary things but is being true to ourselves and fulfilling our duties faithfully. It implies living in right relationship with God and with others.

Have a joyful Sunday

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual)

07/12/2024

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTION

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

BARUCH 5:1-9, PSALM 126: 1-6, PHILIPPIANS 1:4-6.8-11, LUKE 3:1-6
We celebrate today the 2nd Sunday of Advent year C. The readings remind us of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling his promises. As such, we are called to adequately prepare ourselves by removing all obstacles that hinders us from experiencing God’s salvation and restoration in our lives. In the first reading, Prophet Baruch gives a message of hope to Jerusalem, depicted as mother mourning for her children suffering in Babylonian exile. The prophet reminds her that God has not forgotten them, he will deliver and restore them back to their own land. Prophet Baruch thus tells Jerusalem to take off her garments of sorrow and affliction and put on God’s glory and integrity in that God will deliver the exiled Jews in peace, righteousness and glory. The prophet invites Jerusalem to begin removing all obstacles in the path of those coming from exile (symbolized by landscaping). God himself will lead them with joy, in glory, with his mercy and his righteousness. Our responsorial Psalm echoes the song of joy regarding God’s fulfilled promise of deliverance and restoration to those returning from exile. Our gospel passage resonates with the first reading in its call to prepare for the coming of God’s salvation through his Messiah. In the passage Luke presents John the Baptist, the precursor of Jesus from historical perspective making his message credible and not a made up story. John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin as a way to prepare for the imminent coming of the Messiah. Echoing Isaiah’s 40:3-5 prophecy, John the Baptist invites people to remove every obstacle that may hinder God’s salvation for all people through the promised Messiah to come. In the second reading, Paul invites the suffering and divided Christians at Philippi to remain steadfast in fellowship and allow God who initiated his saving plans to fulfil it in them until Christ’s comes again. In his thanksgiving prayer, Paul commends them to continue growing in mutual love and in discernment in order to remain pure and blameless as they wait for Christ’s coming.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we celebrate the second week of Advent season inviting us to prepare for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ in our lives. As pointed out last week that Advent invites us to prepare for the threefold coming of Christ; his incarnation at Christmas (we look to the past), his second coming (we look to the future) and his coming in daily event of our life (the today and now). As such, Advent invites us to take all necessary measures, removing all obstacle that can hinder God’s saving power to work in our lives. My brothers and sisters, we live in the world dominated by sin, evil, suffering and challenges. We believers often find ourselves entangled in the web of such enslaving and hopeless situations which make us fail to live our faith accordingly. In this Advent season, the liturgy prepares us to prepare for our deliverance and restoration that God seeks to fulfil in our lives. Today’s readings assures of God faithfulness to fulfil that promise. We are called to remove all obstacles of sin, unbelief, pride and every disordered behavior. In other words, the call to make crooked ways straight, filling in the valleys and making mountains low speak to the reality within us which obstructs God’s saving power to work in us. Therefore, we are called to reform through repentance, renewal of our various promises made but failed to fulfil and put our trust in God. In addition, are also called today to reflect on those challenging moments we go through in life which often make us feel abandoned and hopeless. That we should trust God who can change our situations and give us hope, peace and joy.

Have a blessed Sunday

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual)

30/11/2024

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTION

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

JEREMIAH 33:14-16, PSALM 24:4-5, 8-10, 14, 1 THESSALONIAN 3:12-4:2, LUKE 21:25-28.34-36

We celebrate today the first Sunday of Advent year C. Today’s Sunday marks the beginning of our church’s liturgical calendar, year C. The word ‘Advent’ comes from Latin word ‘Adventus’ meaning arrival. In Greek, the word used is ‘parousia’ to indicate the coming of the king or emperor. For early Christians ‘parousia’ meant second coming of Christ. In Advent, we prepare ourselves with hope to celebrate Christ’s incarnation at Christmas and his second coming at the end of the world or at the hour of our death. The twofold preparation and expectations of the Lords coming help us to always be ready through prayer to encounter Christ in ordinary events of life. In the first reading, prophet Jeremiah gives hope to exiled Jews in Babylon that God will fulfil his promise of restoration and uniting the house of Israel and Judah as one people. God will raise a righteous leader from Davidic lineage who will bring justice, peace and righteousness. Jesus, the embodiment of God’s presence fulfils Jeremiah’s prophecy in saving humanity from the slavery of sin, evil and death. In Jesus, humanity has been reconciled to God and live in peace and righteousness. Our gospel passage presents the second coming of Jesus at the end of the world in an apocalyptic way. It talks about the cosmic upheaval, signs in the sun, moon and stars, roaring and waves of the sea and shaking of the heavens. These events are not to scare the disciples but to give them hope that despite the cosmic turmoil, God will restore and bring order as at creation. Disciples are therefore invited to watch and pray at all times as they wait for Christ’s second coming. In the second reading, St. Paul gives hope to suffering Christians at Thessalonica who were waiting for the imminent coming of Christ. St. Paul implores them in a wishful prayer that they increase and abound in charity towards one another so that their hearts may remain blameless and holy before God until the return of the Lord Jesus.
My dear brothers and sisters, as we begin our Advent season, we are invited to prepare for the twofold coming of Christ; Christ’s first coming through incarnation at Christmas and his second coming in glory as ruler and judge at the end of the world. On one hand, Advent invites us to prepare for the first coming of Christ at Christmas. We look back with gratitude to God’s saving love through his Son who become one (was born) with us and shared in our human condition except sin (John 1:14, 3:16, Romans 5:8, Hebrew 4:15). Through Christ’s incarnation, we have been divinized and share in the life of God. On the other hand, Advent invites us to prepare for the second coming of Christ at the end of time or at the end of our life. In other words, we look to the future with hope to Christ’s second coming in glory in which we will live in eternity with God. We are thus invited to have an inner and outward spiritual disposition (of prayer, repentance and act of charity towards other) in anticipation of Christ’s second coming. Today, we therefore live in between these twofold coming of Christ; that Christ came in human form and will come gain. Advent thus helps us to reflect on God’s presence in ordinary events of our lives; in good and in troubled moments, in health and in sickness, in plenty and in need, in joyful moments and in painful moments, in hope and in desperation, in decisive and in indecisive times. The challenge is that we are preoccupied with worldly cares and daily rhythm of life such that we are unable to see or experience God’s presence. By being watchful in prayer during advent, we not only recognize and experience God’s presence that saves, forgives, sanctified, restores, transforms and fulfills us, but we also look forward with hope to live with him in eternity.

Have a blessed and fruitful Advent season

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual)

23/11/2024

SUNDAY READINGS REFLECTION

SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE

DANIEL 7:13-14, PSALM 93:1-2. 5, REVELATION 1:5-8, JOHN 18:33-37

We celebrate today the Solemnity of Christ King of the universe. Today’s feast concludes our liturgical year B. Next Sunday, we will begin a new liturgical year C with Advent season. The readings invite us to remain faithful to Christ our king whose reign is love and service, redemptive and victorious, spiritual and eternal. The first reading Daniel envisioned heavenly throne in which the ‘Son of man’ (Christ) appears before God. The ‘son of man’ is given dominion, glory and reigns over all nations forever. The vision gave hope persecuted Jews by king Antiochus Epiphanes IV (167-164 BC). Jews were forced to renounce their faith and identity and adopt Greek culture and its religious practices. Hence, those who refused were tortured and killed. The vision invites them to persevere in that God will inaugurate his kingdom of peace and righteousness and deliver them. Our second reading shares the same message of hope to persecuted Christians under the Roman Empire. In the vision, Jesus is presented as triumphant king of all kings of the earth who loves and redeemed people through his paschal mysteries and gives them a share in his kingdom. Our gospel text presents two contrasting kingship, that is, the kingship of Jesus and human kingship (Pilate). Jesus kingship is from God and is founded on love and truth; love that liberates and gives a share in God’s life. Human kingship on the other hand is oppressive, perverts the truth and is finite.
Today’s feast was instituted by Pope Pious XI in 1925, a period of totalitarianism, materialism, secularism and hostility towards God. The Pope wrote the encyclical “Quas primas” to direct people towards acknowledging Christ’s kingship in order to have lasting peace among nations. By acknowledging Christ’s Kingship, people will not only subject themselves under Christ’s absolute authority and power, but will also imitate his acts of charity and mercy towards others. Today, we are living in a world were politics and religion, state and the church, religion and sect and individuals live in contrasting environment. It is the world in which absolute power, dominance and authority are exercised which often result in injustice, divisions, hatred, wars and all kinds of vices. As Christians we often times found ourselves in dilemma’ as to which authority and power (kingship) to serve or pay allegiance to. Is it an earthly kingship whose values are that of dominance and absolute authority, perversion of truth and is temporal, or the heavenly kingship whose reign is based on redeeming love, truth and is eternal? For us believers, to belong to Christ kingdom means accepting his message of love and truth and living the values of his kingdom. In others words, it is living a Christ-like life of sacrificial love and service, compassion and forgiveness, justice and peace, promotion and safeguarding of human dignity, living and standing for the truth without compromising.

Have a blessed Sunday

(Friar Vincent Sichande, Ofm. Conventual)

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