Friday, September 23, 2011
Envisioning a Sacred Community: Imparting Ubuntu in our communities
In my culture, we usually speak in plural term; the tradition most Westerners find so frustrating. In most cases, one hears statements like our mother, our family as opposed to my mother, my father or even my family. This understanding is somehow different from the Western understanding which speaks in individual terms. My family means my spouse, myself and my children, period! In fact, when you great me, how are you, you expect me to answer, fine! If I am not well, I will say that I have a cold. In my tribe, however, my response will include my community. When I say to Mwape, mulishani, I am asking her to tell me about herself, brothers, sisters, animals and community. If she ignores to tell me that her brother is not well, then she does not care about me or her family. This relationship is usually expressed in the ethics of Ubuntu, which connects one to the wider community.
As a former Franciscan, my spirituality has been influenced by the life of St. Francis of Assisi. To some extent, his life and teachings have influenced what I value most; justice for all God’s creation. Amidst our busy schedules and approaching datelines, we are usually tempted to forget that we are all sisters and brothers keepers. All of us were created in the image of God and I mean all; criminals and even our own enemies. As Desmond Tutu once said, in God’s family there are
“no outsiders. Everyone is an insider. When Jesus said, "I, if I am lifted up, will draw..." Did he say, "I will draw some"? "I will draw some, and tough luck for the others"? He said, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all." All! All! All! – Black, white, yellow; rich, poor; clever, not so clever; beautiful, not so beautiful. All! All! It is radical. All! Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden,Bush – all! All! All are to be held in this incredible embrace. Gay, lesbian, so-called "straight;" all! All! All are to be held in the incredible embrace of the love that won’t let us go.”
The ethical paradigm is associated with Desmond Tutu as popularized by Michael Battle in his book, Ubuntu Theology of Desmond Tutu. While Tutu could have theologized this concept, in reality, political scientist, anthropologists and missionaries like Placides Tempel had written about it as early as 1946. It is tempting for us to celebrate the ethics of Ubuntu without pay attention to its ideals. The ethical ideals of possessing Ubuntu is not limited to accepting the interconnectedness of human beings but extends to ensuring community well-being. By accepting that I am because I am interconnected, I am declaring my responsibilities to the community to which I am a member.
Ubuntu an ethical idea to which all communities should aspire. Our political differences can blind us from knowing that we depend on each other’s toil. As an employment grows, and the economy threaten us, we are can easily ignore our responsibilities to one another. We are the sacred community is founded on the inclusive love of God for the sake transforming our local communities into loving and serving communities.
Mother Teresa: little flower of our Time
As I return to blogging again, I would like to begin by praising Mother Teresa or Blessed Teresa as the Church of Rome would like to call her. I wont dwell on the theology of the Roman Catholic Church, I leave that to cardinals and the Pope. Her words say it all:
If we pray, we will believe;
If we believe, we will love
If we love, we will serve.
Mother Teresa believed, loved and served all those she came across out her love for Christ. She was a living Saint among us and those who have spent time to study her life and prayers are really blessed. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (gonxha meaning "rosebud" or "little flower" in Albanian)on 26 August 1910, in today’s Republic of Macedonia, mother Teresa remains the most inspiring person in modern Christian history. Mother Teresa received “a call within a call” to leave the comfort of the convent and serve the “poorest among the poor” on the streets of Calcutta. With no income, she begged for food and supplies. Yet her life style and work on the streets attracted the attention of many people. By 1949, she was joined by a number of young women. In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries.
By the 1970s, she was internationally famed as a humanitarian and advocate for the poor and helpless. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna in 1980. Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity continued to expand, and at the time of her death it was operating 610 missions in 123 countries. Like any other person, she has been praised by many individuals, governments and organizations; however, she has also faced a diverse range of criticisms.
Honestly, I did not agree with mother Teresa on everything but could not her adoring her simple life and great humility.We can all start charitable organizations to serve the poor; we can build homes for the destitute and even give arms to those who knock on our doors; but what is the motive. Mother Teresa work came out of her love for Christ. As she used to say, we do it for Jesus. Today, I may ask, why do we what we do? Why do we serve? I pray that we will believe in Jesus Christ, love God and others as ourselves and finally serve God in all people despite their social and political backgrounds.
Remember, whatever you did for the least of these friends of mine, you did it unto me.
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