Why It Matters: Mother Teresa: little flower of our Time

Why It Matters: Mother Teresa: little flower of our Time

Why It Matters: Envisioning a Sacred Community: Imparting Ubuntu in our communities

Why It Matters: Envisioning a Sacred Community: Imparting Ubuntu in our communities

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.

Why Health Reform is Imperative

I thought of asking simple questions concerning health reforms which as you know is necessary. The current campaign to stop these reforms is evil! It is a shame that the United States despite being so rich is the only country in the first world that does not provide health care to all its citizens. Unfortunately, many Americans do not know that.

It has now become fashionable to call those who are advocating for health reforms as socialists. Those who are still opposed to the election of Obama have taken this chance to call him all sorts of names, among them Hitler! They have called him Nazi! Yet these people are ignoring the fact that every American is entitled to health care!

For so many years, people have complained about insurance companies cutting health benefits for patients and the ever increasing premiums! We have watched with pain our beloved ones die due to lack of insurance! We have seen young people denied care because they can harldy afford! Others have been denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

How come these companies can claim to be advocating for patient rights? Is the world changing? How on earth can insurance companies continue to spend more than 1.4 million dollars a day on stopping health reform? Or since when did health insurance companies that have continued to pocket billions of dollars become advocates for patient rights? And when are we going to stand up to these companies? In short, whom are they fooling? Please stand and be counted! Health reforms are necessary and Obama is right!!

On the Death of Dr. George Tiller

The Death of Dr. George Tiller left me wondering, why on earth would somebody go to that extent? Why shoot somebody in the Church? Where are we all heading?
I know that we all hold different views on abortion. But to shoot somebody in the Church, simply because I do not agree with them is evil at its worst.

All because she was Gay

On my visit to one African country, I shared tea with one woman. She was a lovely woman who lives in "hell." I literary mean "hell," as you know it. I sensed that the poor woman did not trust anybody in the Hotel. So I inquired about her fears. "I am an African woman who is gay," she told while looking around. I developed interest in her answer. As a researcher, I inquired, "how is homosexuality conceived in your country?" Her answer, "To be gay in this country is like living in hell. My parents have accepted me, but the community does not. I can't go to school, to the market, to the hospital and even walk freely in the streets."

After she realized that I am a priest, the woman was bold enough to challenge me to start seeing gays and lesbians as human beings with rights. So she invited me to witness one of the worst form of human rights abuse promoted by Christians in our time.
"Do you want to see how I live my life and preach about it?" She asked, as she stood up and headed to the door. At this time, I followed her at a distance, like Peter did to Jesus!

From nowhere, she was surrounded by men who started harassing her for shaming her country. As though that was not enough, they started slapping her and hell broke up. The poor woman could not defend herself! Thanks be to God, the police did not take time to arrive on the crime scene. To my shock, those criminals were left and the poor woman was arrested for being gay.

I am ashamed that I did not stand up for her. After sometime, I caught up with her! In tears, she narrated her ordeal and informed me that all her money was taken. "I am tired of living in fear. I love this country but I am gay! "

I was later informed that the people behind the demonization of that woman were Deacons, priests, Bishops and Archbishops of my faith! As a priest, who is highly concerned with how Christian minorities are mistreated, beaten, imprisoned and even killed in some Islamic states, I am ashamed that we are mistreating homosexuals in the same manner.

When I shared her plight to some Christian pastors and priests, they told me openly that homosexuals should be shot! Friends, I we all have different views on homosexuality but I cannot accept denying others their rights because of their sexuality! Call them Hindus, Mormons, racists, Muslims and worse still, homosexuals! I believe as long as we are humans, we all have rights to be advocated and protected!