ANNUAL PRIESTS-RELIGIOUS GET-TOGETHER-KABALE DIOCESE: THURSDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2024 – REFLECTION
THEME:“WHEN I AM WEAK THEN I AM STRONG” (St. Paul)–RELYING ON GOD’S HELP
Opening Hymn:
Mukama niwe maani g’abantu be
Haza n’omurinzi w’omusiigwa we
Juna abantu baawe, n’obuhunguzi bwawe
Obuhe omugisha…
Hurira iraka ry’okweshengyereza kwangye
Ku ndakutakire ninyimutsya emikono yangye
Ngyorekyereize omu mwanya gwawe
Ogurikwera munonga…
1- INTRODUCTION
About my Life:
Good morning, brothers in the priesthood, and you brothers and sisters, members of the Consecrated life. I feel very humbled to stand before you, this morning! About a month ago, Fr. Vianney Sande, your Vicar General gave me a call while at my place of residence and current work place at Ibanda Priests House, on Kagongo hill, in Ibanda Parish – Ibanda District. And he invited me to come and preach a Recollection to you fellow priests and members in the various Religious Congregations living and working in Kabale Diocese. And, knowing how sometimes difficult it is to find some priest or a member from a Religious Institute to preach a retreat or a recollection, I did not want to complicate his search – for, perhaps, he had gone through a long list of calls, with some turning down the invitation. Usually there is a reason one is selected among many to offer this kind of assistance. I believe, Fr. Sande has reasons why he picked on me. Anyhow, that is why and how I am here in your midst. I am here to share with you the little grain of faith I have; for, it is all about sharing one’s faith, and nothing more. I am not here to impress you or convert you. I am here to share with you what I have believed and lived, the last 34 years of serving God’s people as a priest. I have already clocked 63 years of age, and I am not getting younger! I used to belong to Uganda Martyrs Parish, in Mbarara town (now a City), and was the first native priest ordained for that Parish, on Saturday, 2 September 1990, by the Late Bishop John Baptist Kakubi of happy memory.
Soon, after my Ordination to the Priesthood, I was appointed to St. Francis Xavier, Kitabi Minor Seminary, to be part of the formation team of young seminarians. Two years later, I was again appointed to St. Mary’s National Seminary Ggaba, in Kampala, as lecturer, and part of the formation team in that seminary. Four years later, I was sent to University of St. Paul, Ottawa, Canada, where I did further studies in Missiology, and Historical and Systematic Theology (Dogmatic Theology). When I came back to Uganda on 5 May 2005, I was appointed Diocesan Chancellor, a position I held till 10 July 2022. Then, I moved to Ibanda Priests House, a Diocesan Rest House; there I am currently engaged in various types of ministries. I have not served as a Parish Priest, or Curate, but I have had a taste of Parish work on part-time basis – both within the Archdiocese of Mbarara, and Overseas. That is all I can say about myself for now. And of course, now I am here, actually very excited to be amidst the Cho folks/tribes!
Reflection:
Ija ai Yezu Kristo
Niwe Mujuni w’abantu
Ija nitukukunda
Ija Kristo Ija
Obwakare tukakweta;
Kandi tukategyereza
Ku oija okatusaasira
Reeba ebibi byaitu
Ku bitureetera enaku
Ija Mukama waitu
Ija Kristo Ija…Refrain…(Tuhimbise Mukama, p. 125).
I want to begin our reflection with a little story: On one bright Sunday morning a mad man, a crazy man, enters a Church together with several other worshippers. He takes a seat, sits calmly and quietly. Beside him there are two or three other Church attendants. When it comes to the time for Offertory people get up and go to put money in the collection basket. Those going and those coming back are criss-crossing in a disorderly manner; this crazy man stays put, observing people thronging to engage in offertory- going and coming back to their pews. The mad man keeps observing them quietly. Time for Holy Communion comes. Several worshippers again get up and they go to receive Communion, but again they walk back and forth at random. The crazy man stays put, watching this scenario from his seat. When the colleagues resume their seats after Communion, that’s when the mad man opens his mouth, and speaks on top of his voice: “If these people can be this disorderly when I am still seated, wait, wait when I get up!” And he actually gets up: his colleagues beside him, flee their seats and the mad man exits the Church murmuring and mumbling…. Tinkumanya ahabw’enki, kwonka ahu abantu baingi bateeraniire, nari aha mukoro muhango, tihakaburamu omushazi, nari embwa! Ego, imwe mwije mukigyenderere. Humanity can be disorderly, and even sometimes crazy: actually some time back The New Vision, Uganda’s Daily, reported that at the time, in Uganda there were 14 million mental cases (and may be this statistic might only be mitigated. Someone has said that we are all crazy, but at varying degrees. That’s why we need Someone who can come and re-establish order and perhaps bring us back to sanity. Tokashanga n’omuri itwe Abasaseredooti n’Abanyadiini harimu abu akanyatsi karugireho, abashazi, tutakukimanya, nainga nabo batakwemanya ku bashazire?! Under such circumstances, one way of getting back to sanity (moral and spiritual sanity), is having Retreats or Recollections like this one. We all need some time, however little, to be recollected, to gather together the little fragments scattered by our busy schedules, and stresses in life.
I consider the Priests[-Religious] get-together like this that is held annually, a few days before we celebrate the Birth of our Lord on Christmas, a rare privilege and a real blessing. At the time when most people are busy with preparations for material and social celebrations, the Lord gives us, we co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, an opportunity to meet and have a moment of spiritual celebration, to renew our lives and build up our expectation for the commemoration of the Lord’s coming, into our lives. [Here is what Banyankore say: “Obunuzi bw’ebyokurya tibuba mu kumira; buba omu kufutana!” In other words, “The flavour and tastiness of the food is in the mouth, while we are chewing the food. Once the food is swallowed and it goes into the stomach, it turns into acid, and we can no longer enjoy it!” Similarly, we should try to enjoy the Season of Advent with relish for, as St. Paul calls it, “Advent is a Season of Grace, a favourable time” (2 Corinthians 6:2; Isaiah 49:8). Remember, moreover, Christmas is just one day; and by the time some of us sit down to enjoy it, we are already exhausted by the Safaris, fatigued by journeys and the hullabaloo surrounding Christmas preparations, and Christmas passes just like that. But once we use the Season of Advent to prepare ourselves spiritually, we benefit greatly. I think, from his heavenly dwelling place, the Lord is smiling, seeing how genuinely we are busy preparing to receive him; I think, He too feels the joy of coming down for a people that love him and are ready to receive him as we cry out in song:
[Ija ai Yezu Kristo
Niwe Mujuni w’abantu
Ija nitukukunda
Ija Kristo Ija
Obwakare tukakweta;
Kandi tukategyereza
Ku oija okatusaasira
Reeba ebibi byaitu
Ku bitureetera enaku
Ija Mukama waitu
Ija Kristo Ija…Refrain…(Tuhimbise Mukama, p. 125) [Leave out, since it is already sung].
The theme I have chosen for this brief reflection is a familiar one, namely: “‘When I am weak then I am strong’: Relying on God’s Help.” As you might know, these are St. Paul’s words taken from his 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians Ch. 12. It might be of use to read to you these verses, in order to capture the context of our theme today. Here is what St. Paul writes: “…So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong…” (2 Corinthians 12:7-12).
Many theologians have meditated, theologised and speculated about this text in order to find out what St. Paul’s “thorn in the side/thorn in the flesh” might have been, but none of them has ever pinned down the real meaning or truth of it. But of this I am sure: each one of us carries a certain thorn, on or in him/her. It could be a physical painful ailment; it might be some kind of social predicament; or a moral weakness, or problem(s) of some sort, that we continually battle with and pray about without getting any kind of tangible solution; instead in the end we, like St. Paul, come face to face with the God of silence! For St. Paul, the Lord’s answer eventually was: “[Be at peace, so to say], My Grace is sufficient for you!” If you and I have never gotten any answer to our trials and tribulations, may be one day we will. We only have to wait with patience. Such is the context and background to our theme: “‘When I am weak then I am strong’: Relying on God’s Help.”
2- PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
In order to bring the meaning of this theme to light, I wish to share with you my own personal experience, which experience I encountered towards the end of my studies in Ottawa, Canada, now close to 20 years ago. For close to six years, I had been battling with studies in preparation for my third Degree in Theology. After lectures were over, I started doing research and writing what would become my Doctoral Dissertation in the domain of Historical and Systematic Theology – or Dogmatic Theology, as others call it. I consulted every source that was relevant to my topic, and even came back to Uganda to do research, in the Archdiocese of Mbarara, and some parts of Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province. I was writing on the theme of Integrated Healing in Christian circles. In the end, I managed to type out and put together all my findings and submit a copy of my work to the Professors. They read my book and passed it as worth my efforts. But I would not be awarded the Degree, without defending it formally before a panel of examiners – Professors, both from within the University and at least one external examiner.
It is at this stage that I met what I may call the greatest challenge of my academic career. I knew the day would come, when I would have to face a panel of Professors at my Defence, and the day was approaching fast – the 15th November 2004, on the Feast of St. Albert the Great. In view of the day of the Defence, that’s when I realised the hurdles I had to face.
The first of my worries was: “Ebyo naaza kusingwa ekigyezo kya Defence nshware ndi omushaija mukuru, kandi nshwaaze na Bishop wangye owantairemu obwesigye, akanyohereza kushoma? Mbwenu shi, ndyayemereranta omumaisho g’Abasaseredooti bagyenzi bangye, nkabagambira nti nguzingire nataaha ntatungire Degree i nagiire kushomera? Gyera omukimba gwa sente ezishohweire ngu mbayo nshoma, aha muheru nkaija nsingirwe, nkataaha engaro nsha ntaine Kipapura ky’obusinguzi, n’ebindi biteekateeko bya nyabineebyo…” That’s what bothered me: Coming home a failure?!
Here was my other concern: Earlier, I had witnessed a number of sessions of Defence, including one of the then Fr. Lambert, and I had seen how Professors fired tough questions and grilled the candidates before the audience in attendance. And actually, a month before my own Defence, I had witnessed a Canadian student who was queried about his Doctoral Thesis, and was oblivious of what to answer; he eventually fainted, and an ambulance was called in and whisked him away for treatment; that was the end of his Defence. I have no idea as to what followed after that, or if he did a retake… All that was at the back of my mind as I prepared for my own Defence. “What if I also fainted, or peed in my pants, before the audience of the spectators!” To be frank with you, at some stage, I even meditated buying pampers, just in case! You know, out of anxiety, nervousness and panic, it can happen that one wets his trousers with streams of warm water!
My fears worsened when I failed to get an external Examiner that I had contacted. This was Prof. Lugira (may be some of you know him). Prof. Lugira is a Ugandan, whom I knew was residing and lecturing at one of the Universities in Chicago, in the USA. At the last moment, Prof. Lugira gave his apology that he would not make it, because of some unavoidable circumstances. Yet, this was a Ugandan, whom I relied on to be sympathetic to a fellow African, and not bombard me with intricate questions. When Prof. Lugira turned down our invitation, the Moderator to my Doctoral Dissertation could only land on Prof. Harold Wells, who was lecturing at Queen’s University in Toronto, a city four hours away by bus from Ottawa. Prof. Harold Wells was known to be a no-nonsense examiner (like Fr. Vincent Kanyonza, God rest his soul in eternal peace), famous for firing questions that are impossible to answer, and had the reputation for failing students. When I was given the news that he was the only external examiner that my Moderator could find, my heart sank!
I can tell you: three days previous to my Defence, I had sleepless nights in a row: praying to God, praying through St. Albert the Great’s intercession, to do something in my favour. The night before my Defence was hell of its kind: for long overnight hours, I prayed, asking the Lord to help me, at least for once, and not to punish me for the sins of my past life; “You, O Lord, are my only refuge and strength, pease do something for me bla bla, bla…; and sincerely I can’t count how many times I had to go to the toilet, due to a disturbed stomach! I watched the morning break, without closing an eye. For sure, I had never felt so weak and vulnerable in my life, as that very night.
The following morning I dressed as well as I could possibly afford, and walked to the University (the University was a walking distance from my rented residence), and went to the University early enough await my doom. On entering the examination hall, the audience had already gathered – and that scared me even more. To cut the long story short, the panel of 3 Professors sat opposite me and my Moderator, who sat by my side. The only person missing on the panel was Prof. Harold Wells, the external examiner. The Defence had been scheduled to start at 10:00 am, but it was now coming to 10:30 am, and yet Harold Wells was nowhere to be seen. Remember at that time there were not many mobile/cell phones available. So, we waited for Harold Wells, waited and waited in vain. When it came close to 11:00 am, the President to the Defence decided that the Defence begins, as we await Prof. Harold Wells. Anyhow, the session began, and Professors started firing questions at me; I answered to the best of my knowledge and capacity. As the first hour of the questioning was approaching the end, someone came in and announced that Prof. Harold Wells had been held back at Toronto Airport, and that his plane could not fly out in time because of too much snow, but that he would try to find some other plane and fly to Ottawa, but that there would be some significant delay. In short, Prof. Harold Wells eventually entered the examination room 10 minutes to the end of the Defence. After pouring out loads of apologies, he asked me one simple question which I confidently and successfully answered (followed by an applause from the audience!), and then he said that he would endorse what other examiners would say about my performance. And the Defence session ended. From the feedback given by the examiners, the President to the Defence announced, that apart from a few corrections and typos I had to make, I had passed with flying colours!!! But what an ordeal I had gone through!
That night after the Defense was over, I fell on my knees, and profusely thanked my God, the God who had been there for me, during the time of need, the God who had helped me cross the Red Sea on dry ground to the other shore, like the Israelites of old.
Some of you may have had tough experiences of your own, when you thought, perhaps, that you would never get out of them, and yet to your surprise the Lord did wonders for you....For me that night is when the words of St. Paul, “It is when I am weak that I am strong” became real. Realise, however, that weakness being weak in itself does not guarantee any rewards; only when our makes us dependent on the power of God, that’s when weakness turns into our strength. It is when we find ourselves weak and vulnerable, and turn to God for help, that our weakness becomes our strength.
3- VOCATION AND VULNERABILITY
A word about vocation and vulnerability: You see, when we are still young; when we are newly ordained to the priesthood, or just professed as religious, we are full of energy and zeal, and we think that we can do many things on our own. We are full of ambition, dreaming of accomplishing this and that. The phrase that is constantly in our minds is, “I can do it; yes I can!” – just like President Barack Obama used to say, during campaigns for Presidency, and even after becoming the President of the United States and served two terms. “Yes, we can, yes we can!” We too, when we are young and fresh, right from the mat, or after Perpetual vows, we also say, “Yes, I can, yes I can!” It is true, the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or the pronouncement of Religious vows, imparts on us special graces, and we are empowered – alas, sometimes we forget that we remain very very human. We forget that the ceremony of Ordination, or that of Religious profession does not give us magical powers; these ceremonies are not a kind of bodily make up, or plastic surgery for that matter, that transform our bodies to become angelic. We still carry the human nature on us and around us, with all its weaknesses and vulnerability. The clerical dresses (clerical shirts, cassocks, or even vestments, and a Religious habit/veil, are not magical wands that will chase away the devil; Satan usually finds a chink to use and go through. This no doubt applies to married life as well. Acquiring and wearing a ring is not a spiritual bullet proof jacket, to challenges in life.
In fact, there comes a time when “weakness actually invades our bones”, our minds and our hearts, as the Psalmist says (Psalm 6:2; 31;10). This comes about, especially when we hit 40 years and above. That’s the time we realise that the youthful age in which we trusted so much and relied upon, begins to be elusive and unreliable. In a frenzy of panic, some of us begin to worry about unfinished businesses; others start thinking about the sort of monuments that they could leave behind, from which they will be remembered when they leave planet earth. Some try to plant trees of wood; others sometimes plant those made up of flesh and blood! Babies and young children become a spectacle to behold, eyeing them with eyes of “what will I leave behind as a legacy I never thought of before?” Sometimes addictions of all sorts never experienced before also begin to emerge. If I had ample time, I would share with you my personal and passionate moving story about alcohol abuse. I almost went downhill, had I not received a helping hand; and had it not been the intervention of God’s grace, I would not be here addressing myself to you. Beware of stress, caused by the busy life of pastoral ministry; or nitty grit-ties of community life in convents, for those who are Religious. Stress is a monster; if it does not swallow you up, it might lead you to seeking alternatives…You know what I mean! [My experience has led me to believe and be convinced about the wise words of President Nelson Mandela, namely that: “The strength of a man is measured by not falling, but by rising each time he falls!” LEAVE THIS FOR LATER DURING THE HOMILY.] Today, perhaps more than ever, trials and temptations abound as never before – due to technological advancement and the fast-changing pattern of life.
I feel for younger priests, who have, or are being ordained in this time and age of craze and frenzy. But, even the elderly are not spared, especially after we hit the 40s and 50s and beyond. Is that what they call second adolescence? It is the time when those around us begin to wonder as to what is happening to their priest or religious. They try caution, and offer pieces of advice. But when these fail, they wish us “obusingye n’obugwagye” – they wish us a peaceful and soft landing, if not a hard one! At that stage, if the wisdom of age doesn’t kick in, to make us realise how weak and vulnerable we have become, and how we should turn to God for help, and depend on him for support, we are heading for real trouble. For, we start feeling many thorns pricking us all over. It is during such moments, that human weakness should be our strength, otherwise we are lost.
Before I conclude this section, I would like to read out to you one of the postings that someone recently shared on WhatsApp (it was posted by a Nigerian priest):
PRIESTS ARE HUMAN TOO
Yesterday, I came across the heartbreaking story of Fr. Dennis Conway, a Catholic priest in Iowa, USA who tragically took his own life. Personally, the tragic news of his death was for me a sobering reminder that priests, like everyone else, face the complexities of mental health and other human struggles.
You see, there is this tendency to place priests on a pedestal, expecting them to always be strong, joyful, and immune to the struggles of life. But priests are not superhuman; they are men with emotions, challenges, and vulnerabilities, just like everyone else. They carry their own wounds while still attending to the wounded.
Being a priest is an immense gift, but it comes with unique demands: the weight of pastoral care, the solitude of the vocation, expectations from the faithful, and constant availability to others, sometimes at the cost of personal well-being. These can lead to burnout and so on.
Many priests and religious may silently carry these struggles, fearing stigma or judgment. They may hesitate to seek help, thinking it might be perceived as a lack of faith or a failure in their vocation. This mindset can be isolating and dangerous. Mental health struggles are not signs of spiritual weakness. Depression, anxiety, and burnout are not foreign to priests. They are human realities that can affect anyone, regardless of faith or calling.
The Church, too, must recognize this reality and act accordingly. Supporting priests is not just about spiritual growth but also mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Priests need access to counseling, peer support, and opportunities for rest and renewal.
Even the Scripture reminds us of the humanity of God’s chosen ones: Elijah, the great prophet, once despaired and prayed for death (1 Kings 19:4). Even Jesus, in His agony, felt overwhelmed to the point of sorrow (Matthew 26:38). So, it is not strange to experience mental health challenges.
Dear priest brothers, let these examples remind us that feeling overwhelmed or struggling is not a failure of faith but part of being human. God’s grace works in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9), but we must also allow ourselves to seek help when need be.
To any priest reading this, know that it is okay to struggle. It is okay to rest. It is okay to seek help. Your humanity does not diminish your priesthood; it rather enriches it. You do not have to carry the weight of the world alone. Seek appropriate help.
The tragedy of Fr. Dennis Conway is a call to action: A call to prioritize mental health in the clergy and religious. A call to create safe spaces where priests can be vulnerable without fear of judgment. A call to approach priests with compassion, not just expectations. A call to see priests as they are - humans, loved by God, and in need of care.
To the lay faithful, let us examine how we treat our priests and religious. Do we place unreasonable expectations on them? Do we see them as human beings and individuals with personal lives and struggles, or only as figures of authority? Please pray for the priests and religious, not just for their ministry but for their personal well-being.
Let us pray for Fr. Dennis, for all priests and all people struggling in silence, and for a Church that supports its shepherds as much as they support their flock. As St Paul said, “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us” (2 Cor 4:7). Priests are vessels of God’s grace, but they are earthen - fragile, human, and in need of care.
May Fr. Dennis rest in God’s peace. And may his life and death inspire us to care better for those who shepherd us and to be kind to each other because we all have our unique struggles.
©️ Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch, 2024.
QUITE MOVING INDEED, ISN’T IT?!
4- SAFEGUARDS IN TIMES TRIALS
Let me briefly touch the last section of our reflection today, by suggesting a few safeguards or helps during times of trial. I want to suggest that these safeguards be approached on two levels: the human level and the moral-spiritual level.
A- The Human Level
a) Aging gracefully through personal/individual refinement:
Story:
This elderly couple were celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary (Wedding Golden Jubilee). The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren organized a party at the beach. Siblings and friends attended in big numbers. Celebrations went on in a vibe, including eating drinking and dancing. The aged couple had enough to drink. And at some stage, as the two sat side by side, the Mzee parts his dear one on the shoulder, and says, “Mukyara, hoona no manya ku ndakukunda?”! And the elderly lady smiles and laughs aloud! “Mwami wangye mbaire ntarakimanya!” And she giggles and laughs aloud again, showing the gap (call it ekyasha). And the Mzee says, Ai we, Yamaawe, mbaire ntaramanya ngu ogiraga ehinyenye!!!”
Perhaps it was the elderly couple’s first time to mention that they love each other, let along to smile and laugh aloud. Many couples get married, live together and produce children. Yet, they never think of telling each other how intimately they love each other. And may be they have very few occasions for joy and laughter. Same story can happen in our lives as priests and Religious. We may go through pastoral ministry, serving the people in various ways, but without experiencing God’s love or that of the people we serve. Do we sometimes feel unloved? How can we maintain the joy we began with in our young days of priesthood, even after aging? Feeling loved, loving, and living joyfully even in old age, are major safeguards in our vocation to the priesthood. Ebyo bibaasa kutuyamba kuzibira n’okwetantara emize eri kwija na bukuru!
b) Enhancing random acts of kindness
Story:
A Glass of Milk – Paid In Full (True Story)
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You donʼt owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctorʼs gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words:
“Paid in full with one glass of milk!”
Source: https://m.facebook.com/notes/beautiful-girls-romantic-coupledashing-boys/a-glass-of-milk-paid-in-full-true-story/276670529020878/
B- The Moral-Spiritual level
c) Remembering the origins of our calling, and the early beginnings of our vocation, so as to respond with gratitude and trust in the Lord.
We need to look back at our history, and how God loved us and graciously called us, when many of us did not deserve it. I have two important Biblical texts in this regard, one from the Old Testament, and the other from the New Testament: Here are the words of Moses to the Israelites: “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:6-9). Like the Israelites, most of us, if not all of us, it was not because of merit on our part that the Lord called us, but out of pure love for each one of us! Is there anyone out there to show gratitude?
The other text is from St. Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians: [Make this message your own] “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen; the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
Powerful words indeed, to keep chewing on and ruminating for days to come. When temptations and trials come our way, we should, with St. Paul say: I know the One in whom I trusted, and He will keep me safe till that Day (Cfr. 2 Timothy 1:12). The One who called us is trustworthy.
d) Strengthening our Devotion to the Sacraments: (the Eucharist &Reconciliation).
We need to develop a strong love for the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation; one to take away our sins and the other to nourish us and give us spiritual strength for the journey remaining. Sometimes we might tend to keep sin heaped in our hearts, because we are waiting for a priest from far, one who will hear my confession and disappear. I don’t want to confess to the one nearby, it might damage my reputation…But remember the one offended is your God, not a fellow priest. And why internationalize your sins, some will go to Kalamoja, others to Europe, in the meantime you are keeping kasasiro in you heart; okuzaagira omu kibi, tikirungi buzima!!!
e) Strengthening our bonds of Fraternity & Mutual Prayer for Each Other
We should restore the trusted friendships of our youth, especially those we had neglected. We should develop an attraction and love for spiritual direction and proper guidance from wise and spirit-filled friends. Above all, we should commit ourselves to praying for each other at every prayer and every Mass, as we do for our Bishops.
4- CONCLUSION: “I’LL NEVER FORGET YOU”… “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS…”
By way of conclusion, take these two Scriptural phrases as key. Remember what the Lord tells His people (including you and me): “I’ll never forget you my people…I have curved you on the palm of my hand…” (Isaiah 49:15). Also recall Jesus’ words to his disciples: “I am with you always to the end of time” (Matthew 28:20). May God bless you all! AMEN.
Ari haihi kwija Mucunguzi
Ensi kugicungura;
Ari haihi kwija Mutambizi
Ensi kugitambira.
Fr. Bonaventure Turyomumazima
Nyamitanga-Mbarara
Wednesday, 18 December 2024