October 8, 2024
Luke 19:38-43
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking.
So our Lord had friends he could visit and simply be. In this space they probably gave him a friendly name and were most accommodating. We all need spaces and people who allow us to unwind. Hopefully most of us get that at home but it is probably better to find another space where we can refuel.
The danger comes if we do not learn and always end up in the house of a one upper. In those cases we leave exhausted and wonder why we come back for more punishment. Today may you let your Martha and Mary that you find their company refreshing.
Monday October 7, 2024
Luke 10:25-37
There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
Today we celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of The Rosary. This feast brings back memories of my life at St John The Baptist in Kafue, Zambia. It was a custom at this church to arrive 20 minutes or more before Mass and the whole church would recite the rosary. The practice of praying and meditating on the different mysteries I believe was the bedrock of my early spirituality. Pray the Rosary folks!!
This lawyer wanted to know what he should do and how he should behave in order to inherit the kingdom. Our Lord responded by asking him to be a good neighbor, to be a like a Good Samaritan. This Samaritan saw someone in need and he responded with kindness no questions asked. Listen if our religion makes us unkind to anyone maybe we need to rethink it.
Peace and courage be with you.
Friday October 4, 2024
Luke 10:13-16
Feast of St Francis of Assisi
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Today we celebrate the feast of a spiritual giant who won the world by giving his whole to the Lord. St Francis of Assisi has influenced millions of people to try simplicity as we follow our Lord.
I love that he related to everyone in life. He called water, sister water, brother fire, mother death. My prayer to you is that you too become one with all.
Today do an act of kindness in honor of this great saint.
By the way we have an outside mass this coming Sunday. You are encouraged to bring your pet with you for the blessing of the animals. Mass is at 12:30
Wednesday October 2, 2024
Matthew 18:1-7,10
THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
A very happy Wednesday to you. Today we celebrate the feast of the holy guardian angels. A while back I was working in a very tough place here in Louisville. I remember an interaction I had with one of our beautiful citizen in the midst of a chaotic scene. He remarked and said “Officer, I don’t worry about nothing coz I am watched over.” I smiled and said thank you for reminding me.
I am a firm believer that God has more than one angel to the Lawman Chibundi detail. I mean, there is no person who has been watched over like I have been. And so today I want to thank the celestial beings assigned to my care but I also want to recognize my guardian angels here on earth. My most fierce one is mama. God chose her for this mission and sometimes I even pity her. I know….. I am a lot! And so today if you are able please turn to the angel next to you and say thank you. I told my lovely Mary Ann Schaffer the other day that she is the angel who has given me a place of quiet and peace. I mean this woman is no drama even when the ceiling is falling.
And to you my angel reading this …. I see you
Friday September 27, 2024
Luke 9:18-22
One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’
When I was in seminary, we used to do an exercise called praying with scripture. We would read a passage and let it simmer. We were invited to pay attention to our souls’s reaction!response to the reading. I used that exercise on this passage. It felt warm, sweet. The thought of Jesus praying (which I knew he did) gave me reason to find or rather make the time to pray. What was he praying for?
He needed clarity!!! There were so many people needing him to be this and that. His heart was troubled he was about to disappoint them and nobody enjoys that. His path was going to look like failure, he was going to embrace the cross. Non of the disciples liked the idea of a suffering messiah. So he prayed about it!
Although it makes me feel warm and sweet that he was a praying man, I also know that these were trying times. May you find or rather make time to pray. I miss having a church where people can come in at any time and sit before the blessed sacrament. Some day folks, some day we will have that. In the meantime, go into any church, especially those with kneelers and pray.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Luke 9:1-6
Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
You my dear friend have the power!!! You have the power to confront anything in your life that comes to challenge you. One thing I have learned over the years is that I can do difficult things. Now this may sound simple but if you tell yourself over and over again that “I can do difficult things”, it really changes our approach. Of course I would rather not do difficult things but life has a way of bringing them to my door step. And so I have to make a choice to succumb or fight.
So whatever challenge you face today, please know that the Lord has given you what you need to rise. And also find comfort in this: He is praying for you through it all and sending you the Holy Spirit to help you figure it out.
Monday September 23, 2024
Luke 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowds:
‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in. For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret but it will be known and brought to light. So take care how you hear; for anyone who has will be given more; from anyone who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.’
Well friends, not even God would bring a life with its special light to have it hidden. Today yet again I am asked to love every part of my life even those parts others and myself may not appear appealing. This does not mean that some days the light of our lives may be deam. Sometimes that light is only believed to be there because the winds of life are too strong. Whatever stage you are, remember you are light!!
Wednesday September 18, 2024
Luke 7:31-37
For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’
The journey of life is really about knowing who we are and why we were breathed into existence at this point in time. This is a journey that each one of us must take. We all should ask, why me, why at this time, why this fate. If we do not find that calling then every Harry and Tom out there will want to define us, to tell us who we are.
Jesus was his own person. He established the kingdom of God in his own unique way. That way was very much questioned but he listened to the voice within. Yes sometimes I wish he was like John The Baptist, but I find John too much sometimes… Listen grow the kingdom of God with your flavor. Those who are enlightened will nod you on. And those who want to change you are fighting a losing battle. Yes be unique because you are uniquely created for this time, for this age.
Tuesday September 17, 2024
Luke 7:7-11
Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said.
What does it take for you to notice the pain of others? In our busy world, we usually do not slow down enough to learn about the struggles of others. Frankly we ourselves have enough of our own struggles to stop and notice. Our Lord asks us today to slow down and make eye contact. He asks us to inquire about what is going on in the others life. “What’s the story here?” Jesus must have asked.
Our Lord went a step further in this story. He touched the dead man and brought him to life. I want to commend all those who work in subsidence abuse recovery. Do you know that you take broken people, yes dead people and through hard work bring them back alive to their families? You do this!!! But this work is done whenever all of us give hope to another.
STOP, BREATHE, LET GOD!!!
Friday September 13, 2024
Luke 6:39-42
How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’
These are some very tough words coming from our gentle Jesus. Looking at scripture we can very quickly find out some of the things that frustrated him. Certainly using religion as a weapon to punish others was one of them. I want to think that our Lord asked this question of himself often “how could I have done better in that situation?”
An adult spirituality is really one that seeks to improve the self. There is so much we do not know about other people. We do not know what trauma has shaped their lives or why one would act this or that way. When I was in the minor seminary with the Jesuits they invited us every evening before night prayer or as part of night prayer to do an examination of conscious. That is a great practice.
Fr Chibundi
Thursday September 12, 2024
Luke 6:27-28
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic
The older I get and the more my ego finds its rightful place, the words of our wonderful parishioner Suzanne ring even truer”Father, what people think of you is non of your business.”
Jesus says to his disciples and to us to please mind our energy. Do not give your energy, your power to certain people. Sometimes they may be looking for a reaction…. Well… just take note and move on. I know this is a tough one but truly life is too short for you to dwell on past hurt. Now if the same person hurts you twice…. We gotta talk. Why are you even providing them an opportunity. It should be a Bye Felicia after the first slap. That’s my version. Our Lord says turn the other cheek. I ain’t got time for more pain.
Monday September 9, 2024
Luke 6:6-11
On the sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him.
Imagine working with people like this or worse still living with someone this negative. They were waiting for the “misstep.” There was no regard here of the person who Jesus healed anyways. They just wanted to catch Jesus.
Have you noticed that our Lord gets in trouble almost always when he is among religious people? I am invited in this reading never to forget why I go to worship. If being religious makes me blind to the pain of others but scrupulous to the dos and don’ts then I have lost my way.
May we all have the courage of Our Lord Jesus and reach out in ministry with or without the authority of the captains. Listen to your heart.
Fr. Chibundi
Thursday September 6, 2024
Luke 5:7-11
Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
I will start this reflection with an outlandish statement. I know how ridiculous it is to say something like this but the shock of it is what actually preaches. Some people find God in church. You may ask, but father where else can they find God? Don’t we all go to church for that reason?
Read the passage above again. Here is Jesus, Son of God, preaching and people pressing on him except the fishermen. They would care less what is going on. They were washing their nets. They were up in their daily grind probably talking about the biggest fish the caught. “I ain’t gonna lie, it was the biggest fish I ever saw..” Then Jesus approaches and asked to use their boats. Bet they charged him a rental fee.
Anyway, a friendship began with that request. Before you know it, they were his disciples.
You are most likely to encounter God during your daily grind when you least expect it. You may have a God experience at the grocery store, or while watching your favorite show, or at the tavern. God could be in the Great Out Doors. And it may all start with “excuse me, could I please …..”
I think God never misses an opportunity to strike a friendship with you.
Fr. Chibundi
Tuesday September 3, 2024
Luke 4:31-37
In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?
In the charismatic renewal movement we did a lot of exorcisms. Yes I am well aware how that landed with you. It is a topic that has been taken into the movies and I need you to know and understand that the movies have captured a fraction of the truth. There are people who are possessed by unclean spirits. In the west we are uncomfortable with that language and we have found ways to talk about it. We can say that someone has a split personality or they are having hallucinations. Yes all that is very true. But it is also true that some types can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.
I once said to someone I care for very much “I am not talking to you but to the demon that has possessed you!!” It totally heard me.
Anyway my prayer today is to allow our Lord into my own life so he can destroy anything in me that is not of God. I want to be so good at catching myself when I let destructive forces to take over. We have to know our demons guys so we can allow the power of God to drive them out.
On the other hand, we are god. We are a spark of the divine that has been summoned to our age and time. Today this is your prayer “ I have heard your summons O God of creation. Here I am.”
Fr. Chibundi
Monday September 2, 2024
Luke 4:16-30
The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour
Happy Labor Day weekend to you my friend. This beautiful passage comes about when Jesus went back to Nazara his hometown. He went into the synagogue and he was handed a scroll to read. The passage above was it.
It was not a sermon, it was a passage from Isaiah. However it rung true to who he was, he made it his own, his compass. I am sure many a time our Lord said to himself “the spirit of God is on me.”
How many times have you second guessed yourself? How many times in your life have you questioned whether you are anointed? Today I want you to think of moments in your life when you have known that it was God alone who spared you or blessed you. Think of those moments especially when you are no longer sure. I wonder sometimes if he felt anointed on the cross. Or if his friends thought he was the one when he lost it all.
No matter the season of your life, God has willed you into existence now.
Friday August 30, 2023
Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
I have told this story a number of times. Actually it is not a story but a seminary experience. As a young passionist seminarian I grew accustomed to people leaving the monastery. Some left willingly and others were asked to leave. We quickly learned that if you were a happy looking seminarian who loved life, chances of you being asked to leave were high. So we mastered the sad (supposedly) holy face. The sadder you looked, the holier you were. Ever wonder why some parishes have the heavy look? They are led by a well trained priest.
Imagine the joy of 10 bridesmaids! I hear that it is an honor to be asked to be a bridesmaid and it is filled with joy! The shopping of the dresses, the anticipation of the big day. Imagine all the preparations that come with it. That is how a people of the kingdom are to be. Full of joy!! Yes life is tough, yes finding a dress that fits perfectly can be a nightmare and yes the weather can spoil it all. But we are bracing for the most fun.
I want you today to fill your life with the joy of a bridesmaid.
Fr. Chibundi
Wednesday August 28, 2024
Matthew 23:27-32
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Ever wonder why they went after him? This kind of talk will get you killed. You know it is easy to sit back and cheer Jesus on as he goes after the Pharisees and Scribes. The more courageous thing I think is to ask how this applies to us. As I have often said, we don’t go to church so that we become experts at identifying the sins of others. We go because we want to improve our lives. So is what our Lord says true about me?
We are invited here to let our spirituality go deep. Playing church is easy, being church on the other hand requires a lot of inner work. May we all become experts at catching ourselves when our actions and inner thoughts do not represent the God we serve.
Monday August 26, 2024
Matthew 23:13-22
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.
I just don’t understand how it is already August 26th. I tell these days are moving faster in my opinion. For our spiritual practice today I want us to draw our attention to self awareness. Following the spiritual practices of many leaders I do have to say that the more we are aware of ourselves the holier we become. Now if you are a good catholic you are already thinking of your deficiencies. What can you do better? How about we change it up. Are you aware of the good news about yourself. I heard this prayer a long time ago and I have returned to it many a time. “Lord help me accept the truth about my life no matter how good it is.” Try that one and see how the divine begins to shine in you.
Fr Chibundi
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come.
Jesus really had a difficult time with the Pharisees and Scribes. They, for some reason, never warmed up to his message. It required a massive move from their preconceived ideas of the divine to this God who was very comfortable living right next to the mess that touches people’s lives. They just could not get on board with this.
Today let us think of the Pharisee within. What is too much or too far for you? I remember years ago when a Jesuit priest stood up in church and preached that God loved us as we are. But he took it too far. He said “you do not even have to change anything…”
See for years we were told we had to change everything about us. We were told our African names had to be changed and we had to adopt “holy names.” Our customs had to be abandoned and we were to adopt European ways… Then this Jesuit showed up and declared “ your names are beautiful, your customs are a gift to the church.” Imagine the shock!!
Let us pray today for those who will not come because of how the message was presented or because of some events in their lives that makes them feel unworthy. Just come as you are!
In the passage above, the king later sent messengers to everyone. He wanted the banquet hall filled.
Tuesday August 20, 2024
Matthew 19:23-30
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’
I wonder what he would say about a rich church? Is it hard for it to recognize the coming of the kingdom?
There is another passage that comes to mind here for me. Remember these words “come to me you who have heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Today I think we are invited to become aware of the “other stuff” we carry around. If we look close enough in our own lives we all need to let go of stuff and be filled only with God’s presence. The rich young man went away sad for he had many possessions he could not let go. Do you think it is time to put the hurt down? Do you think it is time to let go of self obsession? What is your “thing” that you are rich in but robs you of life?