Friday February 28, 2025

Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came to the district of Judaea and the far side of the Jordan. And again crowds gathered round him, and again he taught them, as his custom was. Some Pharisees approached him and asked, ‘Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife?’

They asked the wrong question. The right question is … is it lawful for a wife to divorce her husband? I kid. But I heard that over 60% of divorces these days are initiated by women. Yes things have changed. What is the teaching here when we take the historical context.

When you come to Zambia or Zimbabwe you will notice that polygamy is not a dirty word. In fact it can be seen as a sign of wealth. People with great wealth have several spouses and a ton of children. Everything is property…..sadly sometimes.

Women at this time in history and in my own time growing up in the motherland were dispensable. What our Lord says is “do not treat others as property, they have intrinsic value. This goes for both men and women and yes children too.

This was so tough a teaching that the disciples asked for clarification later on. They rarely did that. So today we check ourselves and ask. Am I the kind of person who ‘uses’ others? If so, I need to change that. Everyone has value

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Mark 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.

After 2000 years of evangelization we think this is an easy ask that Our Lord is asking of the world. But remember, the word Christian has changed. It was not always popular. Some would argue that it was a curse word. One that would bring the pain of death. The members of “the way” were a destabilizing group.

Here is a question that has been put to me. If you were arrested for being Christian Fr Chibundi, would they find enough evidence to convict you? Do you and I blend in too much that we don’t matter?

St. Francis said it beautifully “Preach always and when necessary use words.”

Love you

Monday February 24, 2025

Mark 9:14-29

When Jesus, with Peter, James and John came down from the mountain and rejoined the disciples, they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them.

Now this is one of those passages that I ask you to read in full. The large crowd was arguing with the disciples because the disciples had failed to drive out a demon. Our Lord comes and he takes over the situation healing the young man. At the end of this passage, the disciples ask Our Lord “why were we not able to cast the demon out?” His response was “This kind can only be driven out by prayer.”

Let that sink in. What in the world were the disciples doing? What are we doing when faced with a demon in our own lives? Sometimes in church we do everything else except the one important thing—- PRAY. We can be busy bodies doing other important things that need to be done but we have to remember that church is about fostering the space for prayer.

So have you prayed about your situation or have you just talked about it or built programs around it? May we remember this instruction from Our Lord. PRAY!!!

Wednesday February 19, 2025

Mark 8:22-26

Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

Have you noticed that Our Lord has a unique way of healing. Yes sometimes he heals you on the spot but other times he takes someone away from the noise. Remember how he healed Jairus’ daughter? He cleared the room. Today he takes this man away from the very people who brought him. For some people, no healing will happen if they keep the same company. Get away from negative people!!! In fact RUN, separate yourself so you can see clearly.

Think about this. If one struggles with alcoholism and wants to quit but keeps hanging around heavy drinkers it just does not help. Find new company!!

Do you need to go away so you can see clearly? I know that sometimes this is almost impossible but you may owe it to yourself.

Much love

Fr Chibundi

Tuesday February 18, 2024

Mark 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to take any food and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then he gave them this warning, ‘Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ And they said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread

Oh he must have been in a terrible mood and this was the last straw. It felt like he was leading a bunch of children.

You should be a fly in our car when we are about to leave for a vacation or when we are heading anywhere. Whenever Mary Ann says let’s go, Grayson and I go to the car and we are waiting on her. She gets in sometimes in a mood and it starts. Did anyone let the dog out? Did you all switch off the lights? Did anyone grab the pool bag? Did you do this and that? There is a whole lot that has to be done before “let’s go people.”

The disciples had one job and it felt like Jesus had to do everything. How can you be better prepared for the journey of faith. Now I know this is a misreading of this passage but I had to be creative. The real teaching is below.

Yes they forgot about the bread but they had the one bread of life in the boat, Jesus. With him in the boat, there hungers will be filled just like he fed the five thousand. It would be nice though if he did not have to do everything for them.

Love you

Fr Chibundi

I am still mad we did not get to have our 16 anniversary

Friday February 14, 2025

Mark 7:31-37

BE OPENED!!!

Returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region. And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with spittle.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you my beautiful people. I am so blessed to have an incredibly loving and forgiving tribe like you.

Hey what are you deaf to? What don’t you hear that would be helpful to hear loud and clear? We often talk about our blind spots but maybe there is deaf spots too. Maybe there are things we would have loved to hear from our parents when we were children. Maybe because we did not hear those things, it makes it a little difficult for us to speak the same things today.

On this day of love, place your hands on your chest, close your eyes and say those beautiful words to yourself. And then let something happen to you. Yes give yourself to Spirit and let Spirit open you to a new hearing. It may also be a time to forgive and let go.

Love you

Thursday February 13, 2025

Mark 7:24-30

Jesus left Gennesaret and set out for the territory of Tyre. There he went into a house and did not want anyone to know he was there, but he could not pass unrecognised. A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him straightaway and came and fell at his feet. Now the woman was a pagan…

This is one of those difficult passages to read. You would wish the gospel writers would have edited it to make Jesus look “kinder.” Our Lords response to the poor lady was “ it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.” That was tough to hear.

The woman was not offended though. She asked for the scraps. I like her wittiness. I like that she did not run off offended. She was there for a bigger purpose, her daughter. She knew she was not worthy of the Lord’s kindness, hake she was a pagan but she still knelt and begged for a healing. Thank you lady for teaching us the right posture when we pray.

Secondly our Lord also shows here that God sees no religion. Even pagans are blessed. This is breaking new grounds.

Many years ago as a young priest I often asked people if they were members of my parish before I could help. That should not even matter really. Ministry should know no boundaries.

Love you

Monday February 10, 2025

Mark 6:53-56

Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up. No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognized him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.

Pay attention whenever our Lord disembarks from a boat. It is usually followed by a great miracle. It seems like he is fond of getting in the boat or going to a lonely place to recharge. We all need those places or those people who revive us. Sunday Mass could be our boat moment, maybe Sunday family dinner could be what revives us, maybe a drive to the countryside. I want you to identify a place where you know you can meet a God who fills you up again. Oh how i wish we had a church building of our own. I remember going into church many times to sit before the blessed sacrament. Something happened to my soul with every visit. This is your moment to close your eyes and say “Lord use me accordingly to your will today”.

Friday February 7, 2025

Mark 6:14-29

King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.’

Have you ever prayed with the scriptures? It is a beautiful practice. You read the passage several times and allow it to open up. You can even go a step further and become every person in the story.

I like being Jesus in this narrative. I like to be the one through whom God’s power is striking the land. In fact we are all called to stir up goodness around us. It is not as comfortable being Herold. But I have to go there in my prayer and find times when I have tried to block God’s grace. Yes sometimes I have not been easy to work with.

Remember the beauty of Christianity is not that we become experts at catching and identifying the sin of others. We have to catch ourselves and be able to stop ourselves from being stumbling blocks.

May God bless us all.

Wednesday January 5, 2025

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?

Let’s get right to it: There are a few people in life who will always hold you hostage to what you used to be. Heck there are moments in your own life when you yourself cannot let go of who you used to be. One way of dealing with it is to make the past part of your present, to embrace and grow from it. I think Jesus connected with people because he might have spoken God’s word in carpenter language. He connected with people unlike the Pharisees and scribes.

You know I worked so hard to lose the accent, I wanted to fit in but every time I opened my mouth to speak I would be asked where I am from. At some point I embraced it and leaned into it.. So look again at your upbringing, see it as a gift.

On the other hand, give yourself the gift of growth. You can become so much more.

Now to the fun part. This passage is a problem for Catholics. St Mark says Jesus had brothers and he names them. This was not an issue. Good Catholics say they were his cousins, or half brothers. Do what you want with this information but for me, mother Mary does not become less holy because she had other children. In fact she becomes even holier. Imagine the patience that one has to have to raise a number of children. I only have one child and he gives me a full plate of challenges. I am going straight to heaven because of him.

Tuesday January 4, 2025

Mark 5:21-41

TALITHA KUM

When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him.

I want you to pay attention whenever St Mark puts Jesus in a boat. Something big is about to happen. For this passage we have two major miracles. The healing of the bleeding woman and the restoring to life of a little girl.

I actually like what I did there, instead of saying raising to life of a dead girl, I used restore. There is still some life in her in you that needs to be revived. See what Jesus does in this miracle. He sends everyone out of the room except those who want the little girl restored. Maybe for our healing to fully occur, we need to send some people out the door. I know we are trying to grow a church here and we cannot afford to lose anyone. However be careful who you have up close. Do they breathe life in you or cry you to death? With those who wished her life left in the room, Jesus said “Talitha Kim” little girl get up. He then asked that she be fed, take it easy before she re-engages with the world. Do that for yourself.

Fr Chibundi

Friday January 31, 2025

Mark 4:26-34

He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’

What is the big idea here? What is the good news? Well, he cheapens the Kingdom of God. He speaks of it as if it were a common thing. That is the problem.

See people at this time would have been impressed if he had said that the Kingdom of God is like a Lebanon Cedar. Now that is impressive!! The Lebanon cedar is majestic and frankly … rare! There is value in that which is rare. Enter Jesus and he says “no the kingdom of God is so common and can even be found in the Tavern.” There is really nothing special about the mustard tree or bush. It is actually an annoying bush that is hard to kill. It is a bush that is everywhere!!!

Think about this one and pray about it. What changes in your mind when the son of man says the Kingdom is everywhere. It is not that rare.

Fr Chibundi

Thursday January 30, 2025

Mark 4:21-25

SHINE SHINE SHINE

Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand?

Immediately my heart begins to sing my favorite childhood song “this little light of mine.”

I think we all know that we are light, that we are energy. Today for a brief moment I want to go to a time and place when my light did not shine so bright. The first time I felt that in a significant way was when as a teenager my daddy died. That knocked the wind out!! But also our little village had a way of coming together to keep my family’s light alive. They protected us.

In a very weird way I feel that our light will not shine unless we have either passed through some dark moments or we have felt what it truly feels like to lose our light.

Later on in life I was to experience some challenging times. Some brought on by my own foolishness and others by virtue of being alive. Our lord today says “remember you are light!!!” God wants us to shine. Listen I live in the real world now and I know all too well that it is challenging to keep the flame. Remember though my friend, stop apologizing for being human. In fact celebrate the challenges because then you will notice your beautiful light.

Fr Chibundi

Monday January 27, 2025

Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’

This is one of the few times we find in scripture where Jesus is hurt by the evil, nasty words of the scribes. He goes on to say in response to this slanderous statement “‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness:”

I am sure you have had some nasty untruths said about you. When someone not only attacks our character but spits on everything we are it hurts. I often replay the words in my mind and take deep sighs. Have you completely dealt with those untruths? Does it still hurt? I do not want to unearth them but you know this is something you have to take to counseling or prayer. Let us pray today for all those who hurt because of what we said or someone else said. And let us be the ones to correct the record. God bless us all.

Wednesday January 22, 2025

Jesus went into a synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. And they were watching him to see if he would cure him on the sabbath day, hoping for something to use against him.

No matter what you do or don’t do, there are people in your world who are so vain they look for an opportunity to bring you down. Isn’t that sad though? We do not see it much in church life but n our other lives it is there. The sad thing is if this attitude enters our own beloved families. So what do we do when we ever encounter such negative folk?

Know yourself, know your program. Jesus enters the synagogue and sees the man with a withered hand. Yes it is on the sabbath, yes he “should not work.” But here is a man who is suffering. He heals him and yes they unleash the law on Jesus.

Who are you in this narrative? Are you Jesus? Are you the unnamed man or the Pharisees? Maybe you are all three depending on where you are in your life? What I hear the Lord saying to me is this “do not let the negativity or the legalistic get in the way of your goodness.” Stay the course my friend.

Tuesday January 21, 2025

Mark 2:23-28

One sabbath day, Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples began to pick ears of corn as they went along.

In the past several days I have missed doing my favorite thing—- going for a run. It is terribly cold out there and my favorite route is covered up with mounds of snow. I have often said that February is my most difficult month because I cannot be outside but it seems my February has come a wee bit early this year.

Jesus went for a walk. We all need to find an activity that helps clear our minds. As part of your spiritual life daily activities are super important. So if you are still able to move, I invite you to see it as a form of prayer. If you cannot move maybe you can recapture reading a book.

Let us pray

“Gracious God through your goodness you have granted this spiritual being that is me a beautiful body. I thank you for the gift of it. Grant me the grace and wisdom to take good care of myself. Grant me the will and power to move and dance, to play and pray using the body. These things I ask through Christ Our Lord. Amen”

Take care of yourself!!!

Friday January 17, 2025

Mark 2:25-40

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay.

One thing I want you to notice in the gospel of Mark is how busy our Lord is. Wherever he goes a crowd follows. Mark wants the reader to see how this thunder of Gods power is hitting this area. This is not an ordinary preacher, this is God at work. I find it curious that the writer does not tell us what the sermon was about but what strikes him is the action of Jesus and the actions of those around him. A sermon might be forgotten but a visit at the hospital will never be forgotten, a bowl of chilli will not be forgotten.

Secondly this unnamed paralytic has the best friends in the world. I don’t know if he asked to be taken to Jesus or if they saw his sufferings and said “we will take you.” His friends were determined to place him before the Lord. May we be that church that does all it can do to bring them to him. Today say a prayer for someone in your life who needs a healing. You do not have to look far, trust me.

Thursday January 16, 2025

Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!

My first question as I read this most powerful passage is, how did he do it? How did this leper get that close to Jesus. This was a failure on the part of whoever was in charge of the security of Jesus. This leper should have been stopped 300 meters away from the Lord.

Maybe there is a teaching here for me. Do I block people from reaching the Lord or do I help them get an audience. Our call really as believers is to get as many people as we can to God. It is not our duty to vet who gets an audience. So to all clergy, to all who feel they need to protect the Lord, I say maybe we should examine our calling.

The other teaching here for me is the response of Jesus. Of course Jesus will heal the man, but does he have to touch him? Does he have to feel sorry for him? A healing without the extra stuff would suffice.

He touched him!!! Maybe hugged him, embraced him. Sometimes a lot of healing comes when we just show compassion. When we are willing to accept the pain of others, they do not feel alone. You know the pain of this leper was that he was ostracized from his family!!! In Jesus he finds a family who will love him to wholeness. Try that one. Try hugging the pain of another. It will change them but more importantly, it will change you.

Monday January 13, 2025

Mark 1:14-20

As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.

Monday of week one(1) in ordinary time we start over again. How many times in your life have you started over again? Sometimes we start over with some gusto and excitement and other times we drag ourselves to the start line with the famous “here we go again.” Today it is the latter for me. The children are going back to school after Christmas and snow break, work is well… work. I may have to be on the same path I was last year without much progress. Hake this should be happening in February not mid January. The politics are politicking. You get where I am right?

Jesus on the other hand is excited about a new ministry and he is calling people to come join him plant the Kingdom today. Today is the day he asks us to hear again our calling. Like the disciples maybe we are looking at him with broken nets, exhausted and saying…pardon? Me … become fisher of men? Today? Do you know how I feel right about now?

Yes and bring it all our Lord says. Bring your hopes and dreads to planting this new vision of God. How exciting is it that you are being asked to be an active participant in planting love, acceptance and forgiveness.

So my friend dig a little deeper and get moving. You are being called to ministry today …. Of all days, today!

Wednesday January 8, 2025

Mark 6:34-44

As Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

Here is a little tip about the Gospel of Mark that you may want to know. Whenever Mark wants to tell us something really important, he will place Jesus in a boat or stepping out of a boat. This is one of the ways St. Mark says “pay attention, something important is about to happen.” St. Matthew has a different approach. He makes Jesus go up a mountain. That is how he calls our attention to an important teaching.

So what is the imprtant teaching here? Our Lord is about to feed the five thousand from five loaves of bread and two fish.

For this reflection however I want us hear these words “he took pity on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus felt deeply, his heart was moved with compassion. The scriptures invite us to connect with this beautiful feeling. When is the last time your heart churned for another? That is a God feeling. I think we are losing touch with this beautiful feeling. I heard recently that a woman was set on fire in New York and nobody stopped. No one took the time to put the fire out. People were too busy or did not want to get involved. NO! We can’t let ourselves live in a world without compassion. Thank goodness I live in Kentucky where we still are moved with compassion. I have seen your compassion at Rabbouni in our outreach and care for one another. It is a good thing, a God thing to feel deeply for another person. Thank you for stopping and reconnecting with humanity.