Friday June 5, 2026

2 Timothy 3:10-17

You know what I have taught, how I have lived, what I have aimed at; you know my faith, my patience and my love; my constancy and the persecutions and hardships that came to me in places like Antioch, Iconium and Lystra – all the persecutions I have endured; and the Lord has rescued me from every one of them.

Can you tell the story of how the Lord has rescued you from situations that would have totally destroyed you? Or maybe tell the story of how the Lord is rescuing you as we speak from a no win situation. I have found that naming and pointing out or simply recognizing the workings of the Lord is halfway to victory. I think every week you should tell yourself or tell a close friend about the little ways and mighty ways God showed up. And if you feel God has not been showing up for you lately, don’t feel bad or guilty recognizing that. You are simply in the season of waiting.

Let’s make it a habit of giving testimony. It does not only lift others up, it lifts our spirits too. Sing with me the beautiful song from Sunday School “What the Lord has done for me, I cannot tell it all…”

Thursday June 4, 2026

John 6:51-56

Jesus said to the crowd:

‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.

Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;

and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,

for the life of the world.’

We will celebrate the feast of the body and blood of Christ this coming Sunday. Sometimes I wish we could celebrate this feast as we did in the old country. It used to be a massive feast of procession. On this day, Jesus got out of church. I remember the priest dressed in golden vestments carrying a heavy Golden Monstrance carrying the blessed sacrament. There was not a shortage of incense on this day as the priest went deep into the African villages/townships blessing people. When Jesus was brought back to the church, we had benediction. It was a whole day affair indeed.

What does the Body and Blood of Jesus mean to you? Should Jesus leave the church once a year? This Sunday, we will hear about the mystical body of Christ. Real presence also happens when the mystical body reaches the world whenever you show up. Remember, the only scripture that some people will ever read is your presence to and for them when you show up!!! I cannot wait to preach this homily.

Much love

Monday June 1, 2026

2 Peter 1:2-7

May you have more and more grace and peace as you come to know our Lord more and more.

By his divine power, he has given us all the things that we need for life and for true devotion, bringing us to know God himself, who has called us by his own glory and goodness.

I absolutely echo St Peter’s message over your life today. I want an abundance of grace over your life and peace. Do you think and feel that you are at peace with your life today? I thank God that the home that Mary Ann and I have created is also a sanctuary for us. I have said to her many a time that she brings so much peace in my otherwise chaotic life. But really are you at peace. Do this little exercise for me. With your eyes closed and hands over your heart say, I am at peace with where my life is.

For St Peter, this peace comes from knowing the Lord. And for us as well friends the more we know the ever presence of God and the more we are willing to put everything in his hands, the more at peace we will be.

I also want to pray for those for whom home is a battlefield. I pray especially for children born in chaos. Just know that you serve a God who makes a way where there is no way. He will bring you to your place of sanctuary. God will sort it out!!!

Love you.

Wednesday May 27, 2026

Mark 10:32-45

The disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem; Jesus was walking on ahead of them; they were in a daze, and those who followed were apprehensive.

Have you ever had the feeling of being surrounded by people and yet felt so alone? This episode brings to light for me how much Jesus was alone sometimes. In this episode, he tells the disciples that he will face death when he gets to Jerusalem. Then James and John come up to him and ask if they could have prominent places in his cabinet when they get to Jerusalem. Nobody heard him. Or they just glossed over what he had shared with them. In fact a fight/disagreement erupts among the disciples about this. They are upset that James and John would go behind everyone and ask for this. The fight for power does not escape churchy folk.

Sometimes we think Jesus was just giving the disciples an FYI about what will happen in Jerusalem. We think he was ok with it. I think not, I think the Lord was troubled at heart and he shared with his closest friends what was troubling him but nobody listened.

I am so blessed that often I don’t even have to say what is troubling me before my wife asks, “are you ok darling?” She notices my energy, my mood.

I invite you today to pay a little more attention to those around you. Do you notice the unspoken pain and worry? Do you notice the joy too? I certainly hope no one ever feels this alone when they are in our company.

Tuesday May 26, 2026

Mark 10:28-31

At that time Peter began to tell Jesus, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.

I absolutely love this episode. Nothing churchy about it at all but just a raw conversation between the practical Peter and the practical Jesus. Dude, we have children and tuition, how are we to provide for them?

I have to say that growing up in the Roman Catholic Church and being in seminary, I never lacked anything. Holy Mother church took very good care of me. We used to say in seminary that “Join the church and travel the world.” Before I was 25 I had lived in three different countries. The Lord has blessed the church. We talk about the poverty of the church, the truth is it’s only talk. The church is doing extremely well because God has blessed it. In a way Holy Mother Church has to be blessed so she can bless the world with hospitals, schools, food banks to mention but a few. This blessing comes from above but it also comes from you.

When we started Rabbouni, I had to pick up a second job and I have kept a second job because as you well know, life is expensive out here and our church like in the early church could use every help. I have to tell you this: Our Lord Jesus was spot on. I have been so incredibly blessed. Now sometimes I worry but even Rabbouni as small as we are as a faith community we have been provided for. This gospel passage is about trusting God. You will receive new brothers, sisters, family. God will show up in many many different ways if you but trust his word.

I don’t know if St. Peter saw it all. But we see and experience what our Lord promised that early struggling community that faced so much uncertainty.

Friday May 22, 2026

John 21:15-19

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.

Today I commemorate 22 years of being a priest. On May 22. 2004, I was ordained a priest by Archbishop Kelly of the Archdiocese of Louisville. I have to say that things have not gone according to plan but in a weird and twisted way God has made a way. For when God ordains, God sustains. Somehow he has carved out a ministry for me and I have to tell you if it wasn’t for Him, Rabbouni would have closed in no time. Yet God has so blessed us that this Sunday we are celebrating a Confirmation of 7 teenagers and our ministry is stronger than ever. Truly you should come see the miracle of Rabbouni. You don’t have to join us, just come experience how it feels to sit in God’s blessings.

Do you love me? Imagine Jesus asking you this question. Do you love me? Will you trust me? It is a scary thing to completely love the Lord especially in the times of St Peter. St. Peter avoids the question. We do not get this translation or avoidance in the English language. But our Lord asks, do you have Agape for me? Peter responds, yes I have Filia, for you. Translated, do you have self sacrificing love for me? Yes I have only friendship love for you. Like a politician St Peter finds a way to answer the question he wants not the question he is asked.

What scares you the most about trusting? For me, it’s not knowing if things will pan out. Not knowing if anyone will show up at Rabbouni, yet with our team we set the table. Year after year we do not know if we will have enough money to cover our expenses and yet year after year we have a surplus. Someone please explain this to my stubborn self.

Thursday May 21, 2026

John 17:20-26

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father,

I pray not only for these,

but for those also

who through their words will believe in me.

May they all be one.

Father, may they be one in us,

as you are in me and I am in you,

so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.

I remember writing a paper during my studies in South Africa about unity not uniformity. I don’t even remember if I was assigned the topic or we all had to write it. Our differences are really what makes the salad bowl of living beings beautiful to behold and have. Think how boring a world would be if we were exactly the same in every way. This is why I call out to you to sing your song, live your life out loud. Because when we take ourselves out of the mix, the world misses out on the beauty that God wants to add to this world at this time.

Our Lord prays that his disciples be one. Why pray for something that would be so obvious. Well maybe when you get close enough things were not as smooth sailing as we might think. The tribal differences were too entrenched, the politics were intense (church politics is brutal). So he prays that we find a way to see the good in each other. I remember how happy mama was when we as a family got along. There is seven of us and meeting us you would question if we all come from the same womb. We are as far as the east is from the west and sometimes it feels like the bond that keeps us together will snap anytime. Find a way to make your bonds strong and stronger.

Remember Mr. Marley and the song he left for us …”One Love…” In the end, all we have is each other. My charge to you is “Find a way to be one again!!!”

Wednesday May 13, 2026

Acts 17:15-22

‘Men of Athens, I have seen for myself how extremely scrupulous you are in all religious matters, because I noticed, as I strolled round admiring your sacred monuments, that you had an altar inscribed: To An Unknown God. Well, the God whom I proclaim is in fact the one whom you already worship without knowing it.

Right after my first vows I was sent to go evangelize among the Bush-Men or Basarwa as we called them in a place called Hukuntsi right in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. Oh I was ready to go convert them! My novice master saw the excitement and eagerness in me and as he loaded my vehicle up, he called me to the side. He placed his hands on my shoulders and in his beautiful Irish accent he said “Brother Robert, remember this, before you get there know that God is already there..”

I very quickly learned that when you get somewhere, you have to kiss the ground and the people. That is, be willing to learn. I brought nothing to the Bush-Men. Instead they ministered to me in ways that have changed my life.

St Paul recognized that people in Athens had more spirituality in them than he had ever imagined. Have you ever thought that your child would be your teacher? Today open yourself to the lessons that Mother Earth, the universe, your spouse, children and friends bring to you. Lessons that challenge and grow you. God is all over your life. Listen and learn!!!

Tuesday May 11, 2026

Acts: 16:22-34

Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations.

Brother Paul and Silas had been arrested for preaching Christ to the people and they had been thrown into prison. This was the last place they ever thought they would end up. But look what they bring into prison. They bring the joy of praise and worship. Yes the Romans can imprison the body, life has a way of bringing us into places and situations we would rather not be. Go there with the joy of praise and worship. When we do this, something begins to shift. God opened doors for our two brothers and led them out.

Listen, whatever it is you are going through can only truly be beaten by worship. As Jesus said to his disciples who were struggling to drive out a demon “..this kind can only be driven out by prayer and fasted…”

Fr Chibundi

Friday May 8, 2026

John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘This is my commandment:

love one another,

as I have loved you.

A man can have no greater love

than to lay down his life for his friends.

We often look for the big sacrifices in life. The ones that really shake the earth. Today though I invite you to look at the small sacrifices that you make out of love. You do not even think of them as sacrifice because it is just what you do daily. I am thinking about things like walking the dog. Maybe preparing dinner or doing the laundry. Everyday you give of yourself to the ones you love.

The most asked question in my house is … “what are we having for dinner?” Sometimes I wanna scream and say “figure it out!!!” Having lived in a monastery and rectory most of my life, dinner was always there. Someone took care of it. Before seminary… mama always took care of it. Darn it now I have to think of every meal and cook it. Out of love and a little sacrifice we set the table. And sometimes the food is eaten and other times it is not.

The little sacrifice that you do in washing the laundry and folding the clothes. The washing part is easy, then the clothes just sit there in the clean basket for a minute.

My point is, your life is full of little sacrifices and big sacrifices. Today though thank the Lord that you are still able to do these things.

Thursday May 7, 2026

John 15:9-11

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,

so I have loved you.

Remain in my love.

I love celebrating weddings. Every wedding reminds me of the beauty of love. The beauty of finding someone to do life with. Yes we can all do this by ourselves and yes marriage is not for everyone but there is something so special to me about standing there and saying “… I will love you and honor you for the rest of my life…”

What is even more beautiful to see and experience is celebrating anniversaries. Being married to someone for 25 or 50 years is indeed a testament. How does that couple remain in love for 10, 20, 30 years. It is work, a lot of work.

I want you to bring that “work ethic” to your faith. Simply checking the going to church box may be a very very good start. But being in relationship with God is also about learning how to love God at every stage of our lives. Young love is different than 50 year love. Have you ever noticed how quiet 50 year old love is? It is quiet but strong indeed.

Our Lord Jesus says this is how you remain in love with God. You practice the commandments!!!

Monday May 4, 2026

John 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them

will be one who loves me;

and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father….

I wanna retranslate the reading above because I find it confusing. We know that we have the 10 commandments which have come to us from the time of our patriarch Moses. Is the Lord giving new commandments? Certainly not, the Decalogue will guide us forever.

What if we say, Jesus is talking about his teachings: Being a disciple is taking his teachings to heart and letting them lead us. Yes these teachings seem so easy to accept today but they were once radical. Nobody talked about loving enemies and praying for those who persecute us. This message/teaching of a God who gives “sonship” to all peoples was unheard of. Maybe we need to tap into that radical aspect of the gospels.

When I was in prison, you visited me. Who needs visiting and understanding today in your life? When I was hungry, you fed me? Who is hungering for love, acceptance, patience. Who is calling me and you to reevaluate our stance. Recently someone wrote to me about their journey of life and wondered who would bury them. It opened up a world of questions in my mind about ministry and how present I could be. Maybe I should pick up a book I was made to read in my early years of seminary “The Road Less Traveled.” It would be interesting to see what it opens up some 30 years later after the first read.

Wednesday, May 29 2026

John 12:44-50

Jesus declared publicly:

‘Whoever believes in me

believes not in me

but in the one who sent me,

and whoever sees me,

sees the one who sent me.

This gospel of John is written around 120AD. None of the first recipients had walked with our Lord. This alone gives it a slightly different approach than the gospel of Mark. Mark’s people knew Jesus and his family. But John’s audience had received the faith like us, it had been passed on to them. But unlike us, they were also going through the great persecution. Believing in Jesus was risky and costly if I should say. The Romans did everything they could to stop the Jesus movement but Spirit was with this movement. Spirit led them, Spirit sustained them, Spirit grew them.

The question today for this faith community in 120AD is can we see God in this struggling church? Honestly did you see God present when the struggle was real in your life. Sometimes I did, other times I just survived. But looking back on those times that I just survived the only thing I can say with certainty is that it must have been God!!! Because brothers and sisters I really don’t know how I came out of such intense criticism with a smile.

What is your struggle today? Are you filled with uncertainty? Are you in survival mode? Notice the little things my friend. Notice in the little things how Spirit is saying “Here I am, standing right beside you.”

Tuesday April 28, 2026

John 10:22-30

It was the time when the feast of Dedication was being celebrated in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon.

What stands out for you in this short passage above? Specific time, specific season, specific person. These three stand out for me and they invite me to think of who I am, what season of my life it is and what is the mission.

You have probably heard me say this a thousand times that God breathed you into being at this specific time in history for a reason. Sometimes we consciously participate with God to bring his will about but sometimes God is doing something in our lives by placing us in certain places. Without knowing it we are fulfilling his will.

This particular day the Pharisees asked Jesus to level with them and tell them who he was. It was on this day that he said ‘The Father and I are one’ They did not like that answer. But I also wonder what else Jesus did that day that is not written in this book?

As you go about your day today please know that you are here now for a reason. Some people will get your why and some people will fight your why. Just know your why!!!!

Friday April 24, 2026

John 6:52-56

I tell you most solemnly,

if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,

you will not have life in you.

Did you go to Sunday Eucharist? There was one thing that gave the early church life and courage. It was the meeting of the disciples to hear the teachings of the Apostles, to share their daily struggles and successes and to break bread. They continued a tradition that Jesus himself had started, a tradition that gave our Lord life. Yes maybe it was not as elaborate as it has come to be but we know from the earliest writings that they repeated the words of institution. On the night before he died, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it and said TAKE THIS All OF YOU AND EAT IT. THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

I cannot wait every Sunday to celebrate Eucharist because it literally fuels my life. In the early days of Rabbouni when I did not know if anyone would show up or after some good meaning Christians cursed me out via email for starting this faith community or when a priest suggested I had purchased a ticket to the depths of hell etc etc. I just wanted to get to Mass with one or two people. There I was refueled, their Christ became truly present and whispered through the community, “Keep moving father.”

So whatever the noise, whatever the politics, however annoying the priest might be, go to Eucharist!!! Your life depends on it.

Thursday April 23, 2026

John 6:44-51

Jesus said to the crowd:

‘No one can come to me

unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me,

and I will raise him up at the last day.

I have always thought that we are the seekers. We go out and search for God like hunters search for their prey. In fact I have been told by people who speak the original language that the word ‘prayer’ itself in Jewish Aramaic simply meant ‘to set a trap.’ So when the disciples went to the Lord to ask him that he may teach them to pray they actually said “Lord teach us how to set a trap as John taught his disciples how to set a trap for God.’ There is something to be said about this attitude, this orientation. We seek to catch this wild unpredictable Spirit. Our souls are designed like a trap to catch God.

Our Lord however says in today’s passage that it is God who searches for us and draws us to his Son. Yes we love God but God’s love for us is beyond telling and this Wild, unpredictable Spirit will not stop looking for us until we all meet in Christ.

So yes set the trap for God, but also know that he first loved us and has been seeking us. Everything you are going through is leading you to Him.

Fr. Chibundi

Tuesday April 21, 2026

John 6:30-35

The people said to Jesus, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do?

It is absolutely normal to want to check and verify things and people in life. It is the way we are as humans. We want to be sure. The problem with these fellas who come to our Lord asking this is… they had seen enough of his works and they were still asking for more signs. For this kind of folk, even rising from the dead would not do it.

Imagine how ridiculous it would be if I or you were to ask for a sign. I have lived a long time and at least in my life I can honestly say that God has shown up on numerous occasions. Hake you reading this reflection is a God wink for me. Every Sunday when we celebrate Eucharist is a God wink, me having a job a God wink. If we are open enough today we will see so many times God giving us a wink. I am with you always to the end of time. His got you covered!!!

Much Love

Wednesday April 15, 2026

John 3:16-21

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost

but may have eternal life.

Did you watch the splashdown of Artemis II? That spaceship took our Astronauts further than we have ever gone and they sent back beautiful pictures of our home earth. To think that earth is just a tiny part of creation, a dot in our galaxy always amazes me. The Astronauts were ready to come home, home to this beautiful creation.

Many years ago I attended a retreat in Kafue, Zambia that was given by a Jesuit priest. I was very “holy” those days. By that I mean I thought the more I “hated” my embodiment the closer I would get to God. I read of saints would give themselves a whipping—flagellation so they would get closer to God. Anyway this Jesuit priest shocked me when he said “God loves you as you are - don’t change.” I thought he had lost his mind. Of course God wants me to change so he can love me even more. Thank goodness for growth and thank God for that Jesuit priest. It took a number of years and psychological exercises for me to see the beauty of this creation that I am.

Jesus says to Nicodemus, God so loved the world. God sees the beauty of creation, the beauty of your finger prints and your DNA and He loves it. Today I invite you to bathe in the mystery of who you are. For you, God created this beautiful world. St Paul says, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” So go about your day knowing that you are a great work of art by God Himself.

Fr. Chibundi

Tuesday April 14, 2026

John 3:7-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘Do not be surprised when I say:

You must be born from above.

There is birth and there is rebirth, there is creation and there is recreation. We all have that moment of awakening when things begin to take on a new meaning. I heard the story of the Buddha a while back. People went to him and asked: Are you a god? He answered “No, I am not. Are you a man? No, I am not. Are you a sorcerer? No, I am not. Well tell us then what are you? The Buddah responded “I am …. AWAKE!!!

What do you do with such an answer? Well Our Lord Jesus in talking to Nicodemus talks about being born again. What is all this!!! A lot has been written about being born again and let me throw into the pot this explanation that has given me so much life. The moment you realize that you are not an earthly being having some spiritual moments here and there but actually you are a spiritual being having an earth experience. Piere De Chardin said this many years ago and being born again suddenly made sense to me. There is more to me and you than our earth experience. To put in in other words our lives include the earth experience. You are Spirit, breathed into existence at this moment in history for a reason. This one is deep, if you get it, you are born again.

Love you

Fr Chibundi

Wednesday April 1, 2026

Matthew 26:14-25

When evening came he was at table with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating he said ‘I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me.’

Expect this in life: You will be betrayed, someone will steal from you, someone will tell a lie or twist what you said. Yes someone will go behind your back and betray your trust. The question is what or who will you become when you pass through those troubled waters. Our Lord Jesus still showed up for dinner and although deeply hurt by this betrayal he chose not to put Judas on blast. Jesus dug deep within and found love and understanding. He would not let the betrayer change who he was called to be. In fact, he knew that all the brothers sitting at table will betray him in some way.

Last Sunday in our reading of the passion we saw that only Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed with him through it all. Church are we the betrayer? Have we twisted his words and mission? Have we betrayed his trust? Yes we have and yes we will. However this betrayal does not define us. Accepting his mercy and opportunity to do better is what truly defines us. I thank God for the gift of time, I thank God for this moment that I can reflect on how best I can serve him. The scary part of all this is to know that I am capable of betraying, denying, running away when things go bad. What God is saying is, you are also capable of coming back and saying “give me another chance Lord.”