Thursday July 4, 2024
Matthew 9:1-8
he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men.
A very happy and blessed Independence Day to you. One of the blessings that I have enjoyed is becoming an American. This is a beautiful and blessed country indeed. Those of us who are first immigrant Americans sometimes can see the blessing that our country is more clearly than natural born Americans. This is not a criticism but an observation. Sometimes you need to live somewhere else so you can recognize the blessings of running water and warm showers.
With regards to the gospel passage. I wonder what he did with his bed, his mat!! We are a people of ritual and we need it to remind us of our journeys. Maybe he took it home and burnt it. Maybe he framed it!! How about you? What have you done with your troubled past? If we do not have a ritual, our troubled past has the possibility of haunting us. Yes sometimes it helps to forget it completely and other times we need to remember it so that we do everything in our power not to lay in that thing ever again.
I have a scar, a very big scar from having cancer. Sometimes I look at it and say thank God it’s over. Other times I look at it and say thank God for the people of clementsville who helped me during this most difficult time.
Monday July 1, 2024
Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw the great crowds all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
I don’t know if you ever had this feeling that Jesus expresses. The feeling of not being at home, of arriving, of being completely understood. At this point yes he was surrounded by people but he never really felt like he had a home. Those of us who have traveled to other lands or left home have asked this question in our growing up. Where do I belong, with whom do I belong. I want you today to extend an invitation of friendship to someone you knew 10 years ago. Out of the blue, give them a call. Something remarkable will happen.
I remember laying my head in mama’s lap years ago as she brushed my hair or worked that dandruff. It was the most peace I ever had as she patted my hairs and worked that comb. The feelings of being loved still come back though. Lay your head in someone’s lap and you suddenly become a child again.
Wednesday June 26, 2024
Matthew 7:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits.
A lot has been written about false prophets so I will go another way here. There is an exercise we did when I was in seminary. It is a form of prayer and we simply called it praying with the scriptures. We want to personalize the word of God.
Remember this always, scripture is not written for us so that we can become experts of the sin of others. It is written for our own growth, that with it we may strengthen the voice of God within. So, are there any inconsistencies in your life? How do you reconcile that you can be both good and bad (not intentionally of course). My suggestion….. don’t stop doing the good. And on the last day, if you are 86% good and 14% shady, it may be ok. We shall call it the human factor.
Yes yes I still say and repeat the words of our Lord “beware of false prophets and confront them head on.” Let us examine our conscience everyday.
Tuesday June 25, 2024
Matthew 6:7,12-14
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.
Holy things to the Holy folks!!! What does our Lord mean by these words? What prompted them. Friends, part of your spiritual journey is knowing when you are spinning your wheels with some folk. You are worth too much to spend your precious time on people who have already made up their minds about you or frankly people who refuse to see anything new. The Pharisees and scribes were so set in their ways that no matter what Jesus and the disciples did, there was no winning. So our Lord says to the disciples…. Move on!! Do not throw what is holy to people who don’t know its value.
The holiest thing you have really is your time and energy. This is a tough one for people pleasers like myself. I wish I did not care what others think! I wish I did not have a need to be accepted and understood! But we are who we are. The calling here is to show or know the value of yourself and your energy. You are the prize my friend, yes you are!!
Friday June 21, 2024
Matthew 5:19-24
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Tell me, without blinking an eye say it. What are your top 3 priorities? Most of us will say, Family, Faith, Friends. Then where does the bulk of your time go?
Listen, I am not naive at all. I know that you have to work to make a living and that takes the bulk of our times. Trust me, having two jobs the past 15 years has taught me that life is not black and white. This reading however asks of us to reflect on how much we invest in the things of heaven. And by the way, heaven is: Family, faith, friends no matter the fights and disagreements.
Love you
Fr. Chibundi
Thursday June 20, 2024
Matthew 6:7-12
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:
‘Our Father in heaven,
may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test,
but save us from the evil one.
This is a long one, but I had to put the entire reading because it preaches so beautifully for me today. Do you know the big difference between the disciples and us, at least in my opinion. We think reciting the prayer is the same as praying it. I don’t know how many of the 12 knew the prayer by heart but I know they knew the heart of the prayer. Do you? Or should I explain?
Monday June 17, 2024
Matthew 5:35-41
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance.
Is this just some general instruction to the disciples? I want to think it is not. Who earned himself the title “wicked man?” What is it that he did that was evil? I bet there was someone specifically who harbored evil intentions for Jesus and his friends.
Here is the deal. Don’t feed into it. Don’t waste your breath at all. Continue thriving and let that person spin themselves into a tizzy. It takes too much precious energy sometimes to deal with drama. Offer no resistance or disengage!!!
Wednesday June 12, 2024
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved
What do you think would even given them the idea that he came to abolish the law? Many years ago I lived with a master chef. Fr John Judie is probably the best cook i know. His foods were delicious. However the man never measured anything. He cooked great feasts by paying attention to the smells. So it was a little bit of this and a little bit of that. The end result was not always the same but delicious.
I see our Lord practicing religion the very same way. He knows the law, he knows the pain of people, he understands the culture and listens to his spirit. That’s a free man!
We have a lot more to use now for our spiritual journey. Go where you are fed.
Tuesday June 11, 2024
The Feast of St Barnabas the Apostle
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again?
What do you know of St Barnabas? Did he leave behind an epistle? Did he say anything at all in the scriptures? Frankly I know very little of the man except that he was one of the 12. And actually that is exactly what I love about the quiet disciples. They went on every day spreading the gospel in little, ordinary acts. Yes we need the Peters and the Pauls of this world but so do we need you. You who raise children and care for the sick. You who is rarely thanked for all you do in the background to make God present.
Our Lord says of you “you are salt of the earth.” You draw out of people the flavor of life. You make a difference. I have started believing this about myself. Yes it’s one thing to be told that you matter, it is a completely different attitude when you begin to believe it. This beautiful quote comes to mind…”Lord, let me accept the truth about myself no matter how good it is.” Now that is an empowering prayer.
Love you
Fr Chibundi
Monday June 10, 2024
Matthew 5:1-12
THE BEATITUDES
How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
A brief reflection on this beautiful passage. Several years ago, I lived at Mother of Good Counsel church here in Louisville with Fr John Judie. Whenever I would greet him in the morning, his response was “I am blessed.” Well on the other hand I always seemed to have 99 problems. How was this man blessed all the time?
Fr. John had trained his mind to not only see the blessings but search for them. He often preached about an attitude of gratitude. Today’s readings invite us to take this practice and make it our own.
I want to look at myself as blessed in every situation I find myself. Are you mourning? Blessed are you. Has your heart been broken? Blessed are you. Are we a small church struggling to make ends meet? Blessed are we.
I know sometimes it is difficult to see the blessings but promise me that you will search for them during those difficult times. God is with you!!!!
Love
Fr. Chibundi
Thursday June 6, 2024
Mark 12:28-34
'You are not far from the kingdom of God'
What if those who walked with Jesus were to tell you that he was the funniest and silliest man they had ever known, would you believe it? This funny human side of the Son of Man has escaped us and everything, well almost everything, has become super serious. When I was in seminary we quickly found out that the sadder you looked the holier the priests thought you were. We became masters of the “serious face.”
Recently I watched an episode of ‘The Chosen’ I have to tell you it was refreshing to see a playful happy Jesus.
A serious question is posed in today’s reading concerning the greatest of commandments. Jesus answers with … love God and love neighbor, everything else is commentary. And for a moment there, the Pharisee agrees, there is nothing greater than this. Then his humor comes out. At least I see his humor “you are not far from the kingdom.” Can I translate this in American? Jesus with a wink says to his greatest critic “You are not as bad as they say.”
Do you get the humor?
Wednesday June 5, 2024
Mark 12:18-27
Jesus said to them, ‘Is not the reason why you go wrong, that you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God?
As young students/seminarians, we loved the scripture above. I would look at Brother Kennedy and say “ you are so wrong because you don’t know the scriptures nor the power of God.” Fun brotherly fights did we have as Passionists.
Anyway, do you know your scriptures? I understand that not all of us have had the pleasure of studying the word of God in detail but there is great joy and confidence in knowing the mind of God. I want you to find yourself several passages that will serve you well when you are in doubt, find a passage that helps you when the waves of the sea of life are beating on you relentlessly. For me Psalm 139 is it!!! “O Lord, you know me and you search me…” Read it someday. Read it for years, you can thank me when we get to heaven.
Tuesday June 04, 2024
Mark 12:13-17
Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God!
There is an inscription written on your soul, an inscription that was put in place before the foundation of the world. Whenever we find out what it is, our lives change. I sometimes call it finding our purpose or living our lives with intention.
Let us pray today for all those who cannot see or sense the beautiful image of God reflected in their lives due to the curves life has thrown at them. Today I feel the words written over my soul are “born of my born and flesh of my flesh.” You and I belong to God through and through.
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Mark 10:32-41
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. Once more taking the Twelve aside he began to tell them what was going to happen to him: ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over.
In many ways it is easier to explain to total strangers the decisions you make. Family can be a little tough. It is not that they don’t love or support you but they like steady. Things are going great let’s stay here. Why would he even want to head into hostile Jerusalem?
Have you ever had to bring people along with an idea? An idea you are also not so clear about? Your heart suffers as well. You too spend sleepless nights thinking how you would tell mama.
Let us pray today for all those making difficult decisions. If you have prayed about it and spoken about it with your best friend, go on. They will come along.
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Mark 10:28-31
At that time Peter began to tell Jesus, ‘What about us? We have left everything and
followed you.’
So they did think about it. They thought “what do I gain from this?” This somehow became a terrible question through the years but it is one that is quietly asked by most individuals. I love that the gospels bring us to this very human moment in the lives of the disciples. I cannot wait for you to read the answer that our Lord gave to St Peter.
What have I gained from following Christ? I have gained this beautiful knowledge that my life is not my own. God made a plan for me and is leading me and teaching me how to say YES to this plan. You my friend are in the plan of God and that should give you peace. The God if glory will take care of the little details and the big plans. Just trust that your path is guided and blessed.
Never, never in a million years did I ever think I would be this blessed with a loving community like ours. Every single day I spend as a priest here is a God wink. As if God was saying “we are not done here pal.” So my friend, TRUST GOD!
Love you
Friday May 24, 2024
Mark 10:1-9
What God has united, man must not divide
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 were testing him. He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ ‘Moses allowed us’ they said ‘to draw up a writ of dismissal and so to divorce.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘It was because you were so unteachable that he wrote this commandment for you.
Should I even go there? This is a tough one for our day and age and a lot of harm has been done by the church to many people because of a poor translation of this scripture. No one in their right mind enters into a marriage to have divorce. But we know that life happens and more than a fair share of people have been touched by this experience.
Listen, everything you have gone through in life can be used to start afresh, to learn from. Maybe today we simply recognize and pray for those in difficult relationships with no easy answers. To them we say “I see you.”
Thursday May 23, 2024
Mark 9:41-50
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off
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.
This may seem like it does not connect with the gospel but hear me out. I have never seen a group of people get so excited and freaked out like Africans when someone screams SNAKE. We don’t like them at all. With us all snakes are king cobras. Imagine my shock when at a pet zoo, my Grayson put a python around his neck/shoulders. Am out!!!! Nope nope, that is clearly from his mama’s side of genes.
The Irish priests on the other hand in my African experience did not mind the snakes. They freaked out with SPEED. We loved driving fast and Fr Patrick would yell, watch your speed!
What freaked out Jesus? Anything that endangers your soul. Anything that seeks to crowd out the fire of God in you. Jesus was dramatic about it. If your hand causes you to sin, get rid of it! Seriously! Yes it is that important. If you have a friend who brings out the worst in you, end it.
Only do things, be around people, invite in your life what is of God. Your soul will guide you to those things.
Fr. Chibundi
Wednesday May 22, 2024
Mark 9:38-40
John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’
For those who do not know, today is my anniversary for the priesthood. Archbishop Kelly ordained me on this day 20 years ago. Little did I know I would be doing this today. You just never know how life develops. One thing I have known over the past 20 years is God is always there. God is there with me during the great moments and through difficult transitions. But God is not only there in a passive way, no. For me God has worked overtime to protect the gift he has given me. Miraculously, out of nothing he has given me Rabbouni so I can continue to be a priest. Thank you Lord.
I sure hope you find your vocation and see for yourself how God protects that calling. So for my anniversary, think of Rabbouni in your monthly budget. A happy anniversary ride Dan Whelan and Fr Tuang Do my brother priests.
Monday May 20, 2024
John 19:25-35
Feast of Mary Mother of the church
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.
I remember it like yesterday. We were standing before the pieta in Rome when it suddenly hit me. No mother should have to bury their son. There was the lifeless body of Jesus in the lap of his mother. It is a powerful piece of art and does not even come close to the actual incident.
In reflecting on Mary, I am fascinated how our Blessed Mother let it all happen. I doubt she understood it all and at one time came to take him home but by and large, she let it happen. I struggle with that one. Let it happen!
She let the Holy Spirit overshadow her, she let Jesus find his own way, she let herself be taken into another disciple’s house. Maybe this is my prayer today. Lord may I be caught up in the movement of your spirit today.
Love you
Wednesday May 17, 2024
John 17:11-19
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
‘Holy Father,
keep those you have given me true to your name,
so that they may be one like us.
While I was with them,
I kept those you had given me true to your name.
I have watched over them
How do you really know that you have adequately prepared your children for this big world. I thought mama worried about unnecessary things when I left home for boarding school. I could not wait to go but on her face was every worry known to any mother. I will not be there as I always have … she worried. And for good reasons too. Boarding school is tough, you get more freedom than you have ever had in your little life but it can be brutal. No one goes into boarding school and comes out the same after several years. You sink or you swim….quickly. Quiet boys find their voices in that place. Anyway back to the scriptures.
Jesus prays for his disciples because he knows the struggle ahead. Maybe he doubts a little that he has adequately prepared them. Did you ever feel completely prepared to be a parent? A teacher? Most of us are prepared as much as we can until life punches us in the face. Know this though, you are being prayed over. So get up, readjust and re engage.
Love you