Thursday May 22, 2025

John 15:9-12

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,

so I have loved you.

Remain in my love.

On this day 21 years ago I was ordained a priest by Archbishop Kelly. It has been the most unpredictable 21 years that a soul could ever live. But if you look back on your past 21 years would you have ever dreamed of being where you are? I believe a few people would say yes to that but for the vast majority it has been an unpredictable future. I often sing to my soul the beautiful song “be still my soul, God will undertake to guard and guide the future as he has the past.” So thank you to all who have blessed me with your presence these past many years. Yours are the pieces that make the mosaic of the face of God.

Our Lord says today “Remain in my love.” I love to people watch and whenever I see an older couple holding hands or dancing I reflect on what it takes to be in love that long. How in the world do you remain in love? I think part of the answer is to choose your person every day. To proudly say “she is my girl or he is my guy.” Do you choose God as he chooses you? Today I hear God say “yup that’s my priest.” Thank you Lord for being my friend.

May God Bless us all!

Monday May 19, 2025

John 14:21-26

I have said these things to you while still with you;

but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in my name,

will teach you everything

and remind you of all I have said to you.’

We now in this second part of Easter shift our attention from Resurrection to the action of the Holy Spirit. I frankly did not know much about the Holy Spirit. I mean I knew about confirmation and the gifts of the spirit but I did not have an experience of it. It all changed when a friend of mine introduced me to the charismatic renewal movement that was sweeping the Zambian Catholic community. This was the time when we the Zambian Church allowed ourselves to get caught up in the movement of the Spirit. I can clearly see now why it made the church leaders nervous but they did a great job in giving guidance to this free praying, dancing and singing group. I so wish you could experience it.

Remember I once said that there is a difference between saying “The Lord is Risen” and “I have seen the Lord?” One is a proclamation of faith and the other an experience. I wish for you an experience of the spirit. Not trusting that God’s Spirit is leading us in a mysterious way but actually feeling that we are being led. Both by the way are valid experiences of faith but the latter for me, has been very powerful.

Today go in your silent prayer and invite the spirit, let yourself be led.

“Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth.”

Wednesday May 14, 2025

John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,

so I have loved you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments

you will remain in my love.

I don’t think I ever noticed this but my eye caught it this morning. There may be nothing to it and scripture scholars might say I am reading into the text. However our Lord says “.. If you keep MY commandments…” why not say “..THE Commandments…” Are we talking about other commandments than the ten(10). But why would he call them .. his? Is this part of the high Christology of John showing us that Jesus was there from the very beginning and so God’s commandments are his commandments?

Allow me to think he had other rules for his group which fed into the Decalogue. What would those commandments be? To mention but a few this morning, I would say:

1. Do not be Afraid

2. Turn the other cheek. Understand this one in particular. It does not call you to be a doormat.

3. Do this in memory of me. Taking the bread and wine #eucharist.

4. Love God, love neighbor. Remember the story of the Good Samaritan.

5. Heal the Blind.

We can peruse the scriptures and find his instructions. If you find another please drop it in the comments below. Remember these are not in order of seriousness. They are just instructions that came from his lips.

Tuesday May 13, 2025

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. The Jews gathered round him and said, ‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus replied:

‘I have told you, but you do not believe.

The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness;

but you do not believe,

because you are no sheep of mine.

I think it was St Francis of Asisi who said “preach always and when necessary use words.” I have always loved this exhortation. It is a reminder that we preach with the actions of our lives. Those who are ready to listen only have to see and they will believe. There has not been a shortage of books and homilies about our Lord. There has not been a shortage of works of mercy by the believers. I think of the many people who have embraced the call to be missionaries and those here at home who have dedicated their lives to ministry and yet that may not be enough if one is not ready to see, to hear, to believe. Heck Jesus will come back from the dead and the Pharisees will still look for a sign.

How about you? In what ways are you like the Pharisee? What would it take for you to know that you are not alone? I cannot tell you how many miracles I have experienced and yet I am still not absolutely sure sometimes.

Like St Thomas let us pray “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”

Friday, May 9, 2025

John 6:52-59

This is the bread come down from heaven;

not like the bread our ancestors ate:

they are dead,

but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

When I was in seminary we would remark that there will never ever be an American Pope. Well folks, it is true, never say never!! The Spirit blows where it feels and the “impossible” has happened. What an exciting time to be alive. We pray for the Bishop of Rome,may God who has called him to this mission bring it to fulfillment.

You know we also celebrate another miracle, one we touch everyday but maybe we do not pay it as much attention. The miracle of God becoming bread, God becoming our daily sustenance. In this bread of life series our Lord gives himself to the disciples in the form of Eucharist. I pray today that we find the answers to all our questions when we loin together for the breaking of the bread.

My novice master used to caution us and would say. Don’t bow to the Jesus in the tabernacle and despise the Jesus in your brothers. Namaste!!! Learn Namaste!!!!

Thursday May 8, 2025

John 6:44-50

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.

It is written in the prophets:

They will all be taught by God,

and to hear the teaching of the Father,

and learn from it,

is to come to me.

Think of all the people who were drawn to Jesus during his time until now. He has had quite a character of peoples coming to him and he has the shoulders to carry us all with our differences. Today I just want to remember those who for whatever reason feel self conscious and like they don’t fit in. Listen if you knew half the stories of people in the pew, you would know you are in good company. Someone once told me a long time ago that we all have three lives. The Public life, The private life, The Secret life.

These lives can be very compartmentalized and that helps us on our journeys. But maybe the goal is to make the walls of these lives thinner and thinner until their is just life and what it brings.

Monday May 5, 2025

John 6:22-29

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water.

I love reading these stories of the power of God striking all over the ancient near east. One minute Jesus is feeding five thousand people and the next minute he is walking on water. I stand as one of those who has been fed quite abundantly by the good Lord. I always remind myself of where and how I grew up. We literally were fed by the Lord. It may not have seemed like that at the time, but looking back I am filled with gratitude. In the Lord’s Prayer we say “from the earth, give us today and tomorrow our daily sustenance…” May we see everything we have as gift.

Let’s get to the walking on water part. Have you ever done that? The sea is meant to symbolize the unknown, dangerous, unpredictable world. A world that has its own mind and will swallow you up and spit you out without any reason. This is the world which Jesus terms and invites us to do the same. But we need tools to do this, don’t we? I have found that daily meditation, yoga, Holy Mass, prayer, family these are some of the things I relay on to help me walk on water. You and I will do well to remember that nothing is guaranteed when we walk on water! Keep the faith my friend!!!

Wednesday April 30, 2025

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.

For God sent his Son into the world

not to condemn the world,

but so that through him the world might be saved.

Well here is the good news:God is working overtime to Save not condemn. Somehow I thought his natural inclination was to condemn. I was led to believe that a good Christian, indeed a good Catholic is one who punctuates his life with Penance. We actually had a guy who was sent away from seminary because he was always happy and cracking jokes. He was considered not serious enough. Frankly he pushed the limits too but you were almost guaranteed a good laughing time when Michael Maganga was around. We, the seminarians, very quickly got the message. Look sad and miserable and they (The Priests in seminary) will consider you holy and serious.

Did you know Pope Francis asked the major seminaries why they were producing little monsters as priests. He seriously was concerned that the younger priests were little monsters terrorizing the people of God who are simply trying to get by. Not all the young priests of course but enough to concern the Pope.

Anyway back to the message: Jesus is saying to Nicodemus that if only the scribes and Pharisees could see that he is not the enemy here. There was so much opposition to Jesus and the whole place was so toxic that they eventually killed in the name of God. Meet the good in people and you will most likely lead them to God. But if you always condemn, well it either drives them away or you create holy monsters. I can’t stand the latter.

Tuesday April 29, 2025

John 3:7-11

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘Do not be surprised when I say:

You must be born from above.

The wind blows wherever it pleases;

you hear its sound,

but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit.’

Are you born again? That question used to make me very uncomfortable as a young Catholic boy. I just did not know how to answer it. I would point to my baptism but it was not enough for the born again Christians. They would fire back “But have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour?” Ahhhh yes … maybe… I don’t know. Listen I go to church, I don’t hang out with weed smoking boys and I am in seminary. These are good indicators that we are good here.

I still don’t like that question. So what is our Lord talking about here. Well I think he is asking Nicodemus to be open to change in his life. As you grow things change and you change. There is no way I could understand then what I understand now. Now I understand myself as a spiritual being having an earth experience. This earth experience is but a moment of my life. I am part of the Church Pilgrim and someday I will no longer be here and will join the Church Triumphant! Am I born again… I am constantly being born into who God wants me and sometimes this birthing process sucks and many times it is a joy.

Incidentally Mary Ann is cleaning out Grayson’s bedroom since we have a teenager now and we found a book we used to read to him. The title made me stop and I teared up as I was flooded with emotions “Oh the places you will go” by Dr Seuss.

Friday April 25, 2025

John 21:1-14

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’

Those early days after the resurrection were not easy for the disciples and for the Risen Christ. See we have the luxury of knowing how this story ends or rather grows but I bet it was incredibly confusing for the disciples. Imagine the uncertainty of the who affair. Imagine the fear and the tension in Jerusalem.

Peter and the disciples went back to fishing. The dream had come to an end and maybe they had given up. Has your dream ever been dashed? Have you ever worked so hard only to find yourself back where you started? Listen you are not the same person you were when it all started. It may seem as if you have not made progress but you have. So what seems like a set back may actually be a moment for you to “reload” a moment for you to look at everything and get back to your calling.

Jesus after his resurrection is running around consoling and encouraging his friends to press on. He comes to us today and says “I understand your discouragement but dig deep within and get back ministry”.

Thursday April 24, 2025

Luke 24:35-48

The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread.

Tradition has it that these two disciples, Cleopas and his wife, were Jesus uncle and aunt. I find the involvement of our Lord’s family in his ministry very interesting. I grew up thinking his family was not involved at all except for his mama. But, James the Bishop of Jerusalem was his brother or cousin and these two disciples heading to Emmaus were family.

Oh Family, it is the sacred place where again and again God leads us to hear his word. So today we take a moment to thank God for all those he carefully chose to be our family.

The disciples recognized our Lord as he broke bread. Apparently he did it the very same way before his death and after his resurrection. He took bread in his sacred hands, looked up to heaven and broke it. He then took the wine, looking up to heaven, blessed it and said “take and drink. Sisters and brothers you and I recognize the Lord everyday in the Eucharist when the priest standing in the person of Christ and does the same thing he always did. No matter what is going on in your life, come to Mass!!!!

Easter Monday April 21, 2025

Matthew 28:8-15

Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples.

We woke up today with terrible news of the death of Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome. What a breath of fresh air he was for the church. I dare say, the 88 year pontiff has changed the direction of the church. What we remember of him are the words “who am I to judge?”

Who was Pope Francis really? He was a friend of Christ, a good friend. Today’s gospel passage we meet the very first true friends of our Lord, the women. These ladies dared to go to the tomb. Maybe the culture of the day allowed them to go to the tomb while the men were in hiding. But I think it is their true friendship with the crucified and they wanted to honor his body. So they dared to go out and found the tomb empty.

Friends on this solemn day may we too be true friends of the messiah who will brave all fears and go search for him.

Tuesday April 15, 2025

John 13:21-33

While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’

Have you ever been betrayed? Has someone ever hated your guts that they wanted to destroy your whole life? Most people who suffer this curse are blindsided by it. We wake up one day and wonder why we did not see it at all. But imagine seeing it all along and keeping your calm.

Today we meet a Jesus who sits down and has a meal with his betrayer. This person will not change who Jesus is at his core. This brethren takes a lot of spiritual stamina.

Let us pray this day for all those who have been turned into someone they don’t like because of betrayal. I pray you find your way back to your beautiful spiritual soul. Who said Christianity or spirituality is for the weak?

Friday April 11, 2025

John 10:31-42

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’

These guys are quick to pick up stones. Just the other day they had stones in their hands to throw at a woman. No one is safe with this many stones in that land.

Sometimes we get the impression that Jesus simply let things happen to him. That like a sheep he let them drag him here and there. No actually, to be a man of God you have to be tough and fight back…… well push….back even when the stones are in the hands of the accusers. He was not going to let them push him around. He was going to challenge them.

Two things to think about today. What “stones” do I easily pick up? Remember scripture is about digging deeper and deeper in our own lives and ridding ourselves of vice. Am I quick to judge? Am I quick to blame others? Am I short sighted? Blessed is the one who knows the stone in his hand for they can drop it.

Secondly, like Jesus can I find ways to challenge the false narratives and be a self advocate?Someone once told me a long time ago to stop explaining myself. They said, “let your actions speak…” Well, that is tough sometimes because the news travels faster than actions these days but point to your work. Your good works will outpace any false narrative.

Fr. Chibundi

Thursday April 10, 2025

Genesis 17:3-9

Abram bowed to the ground and God said this to him, ‘Here now is my covenant with you: you shall become the father of a multitude of nations. You shall no longer be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I make you father of a multitude of nations.

This is a powerful reading but I will pivot and write a bit on part of my homily this past Sunday. I cannot shake it off for some reason. At mass we read the story of the woman caught in adultery and part of my reflection was this: In the Bible especially the New Testament, words matter a lot. Almost every word is counted and opens the door for a theological concept. I remember being given the assignment to count how many times the word “must” appears in the gospel of Mark and explain it. That ended up in a 10 page paper on the “imperative must.”

Anyway Jesus says to the woman, “woman, has no one condemned you…? Jesus useds this word “woman” or “Gunai” two other times in this gospel. At the wedding in Cana he says to his mother “woman” or “Gunai” what business is this to me? And at the cross before he breathes his last he says “woman” or “Gunai” behold your son and to the disciple he loved, behold your mother.

Why would he use the same word for his mother and this woman brought before him? Maybe he used this word as a sign of respect to the woman. This woman who had been called many names is now looked at and respected by Jesus. Or are they trying to accuse his mother? I am sorry my mind goes there. Did they just do what I think they did to embarrass him?

I have a lot more to write about this but I am sure you have things and places to go. Think about this and ask the 4 important questions I suggest Jesus wrote down:

1. Is this true

2. Is this Kind

3. Is this Necessary

4. Is this the whole story?

Monday April 7, 2025

John 8:12-20

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

‘I am the light of the world;

anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark;

he will have the light of life.’

At this the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.’

Jesus replied:

‘It is true that I am testifying on my own behalf,

but my testimony is still valid,

because I know

where I came from and where I am going;

I really like a confident person. Someone who knows who they are and whose they are. Today in this short reflection we meet a very confident Jesus who will not give ground to those who have nothing going for themselves and meddle in the affairs of others. He refuses to let them through him off his game. There will come a time when you my friend will have to claim your truth. I want you to do it like Christ. Claim your truth without being bitter towards those who meddle.

Wednesday April 2, 2025

John 5:17-30

Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only made them even more intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he spoke of God as his own Father, and so made himself God’s equal.

You know why all this scuffle is all about right? Jesus healed someone on the sabbath. This was considered work on a Holy Day and therefore sinful.

Sometimes I bury my head in my hands when I hear what church folk fight about. I wonder quietly if this is real life. When I was in seminary there was saying which went like “the only difference between a terrorist and a liturgist is that you can negotiate with a terrorist.”

Anyway back to the teaching. God the father is at work!!! Have you ever waited with anticipation to see what a great writer, or artist or distiller is working on? Have you ever stood in line for it? God is working on you today, this will be his greatest work and even as he works on you, even when you are not fully finished, you are a masterpiece. Here is the trick. So is the other person who is giving you a headache.

Be patient today, God is working on it. Maybe we can assist??? Maybe!!

Tuesday April 1, 2025

John 5:1-16

There was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem there is a building, called Bethzatha in Hebrew, consisting of five porticos; and under these were crowds of sick people

Something had happened at Bethzatha. This was a place of healing which was slowly turning into a place of chaos and selfishness. Whenever the waters rose it was every man for himself. Yes these were all sick people wanting a healing but they cared. For no one but themselves. I do not think they became selfish people but maybe they were just tired of being sick and wanted to take care of themselves first.

No matter how big our pain is, we are encouraged here to take care of others. Do not let your pain turn you into a monster. In fact many times we find healing when we can look out and find someone who needs help. It is in helping others that our healing happens.

Our Lord brought compassion to this place of healing. May he continue to bring it into our churches and homes.

Friday March 28, 2025

Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’

To my brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith I want to wish you a blessed Eid this coming Sunday. May Allah bless you abundantly.

Do you know which has become the greatest commandment? The unspoken commandment known by every Jew. “Listen, Israel, there is but One God and it ain’t you!!” I think this has humor but it drives home the point. Stop making gods of yourself or other things.

However I want to be clear, I would not dare add or subtract to what our Lord is saying here. It got confusing. My understanding is that by the time this question was asked, they had over 633 commandments. You would sin if you got out of bed the wrong way. Jesus says today, remember what is important. Love God, love neighbor, everything else is commentary. This actually does not over simplify things. On the contrary it becomes super tough. All the wars have been started because we did not see God in the other. You will do well to remember that God is other!!

Thursday March 27, 2025

Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.

We pick up two themes from this beautiful passage. First Is that Our Lord was working on a project of casting out a demon. I often say of myself that I am a working project. God is always at work within me, driving out those things that prevent me from becoming more like him. Identifying what God is working on in me means that I am almost done. It means that I can cooperate with the grace of God to finish the work. I want to pray for those who are fighting big battles of the spirit. Those who are struggling psychologically and emotionally. God is at work in you and he will finish this work.

Secondly find a way of silencing in your own life the voices of destruction. The Pharisees always criticized Jesus. This time they call him the devil. I have said that self criticism can be constructive but too much of it is not from God. I am my most severe critic and it has taken me a lifetime and many mistakes to realize that God loves me as I am. Listen, you are GOOD!!!