Lumen TV-Z

27/12/2023

By Fr. Matthews Tembo
Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

1 John 1:1 – 4
John 20:1a, 2 – 8

The Church celebrates the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist (d. 101). Born in Bethsaida, he was called while mending his nets to follow Jesus. He became the beloved disciple of Jesus. He wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Apocalypse. He is the evangelist of the divinity of Christ and His fraternal love. At the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusts His Mother to his care. John's pure life kept him very close to Jesus and Mary in years to come.

The readings today highlight the curious fact that: from his birth, to his death, to his ongoing Presence with us in the Eucharist, we seem to keep offering our King linen and gold. The wise men recognise the infant king wrapped in swaddling bands, lying in a manger. They fall on their knees and offer him precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The apostles recognise Jesus’ new mode of Presence with us through the resurrection when they find his linen burial cloths abandoned in the tomb. They offer a gift more precious than gold—their faith.

Today's first reading and the Gospel stand in contrast in an intriguing way. The contrast relates to vision or sight.

In the First Reading, John states that “the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us“. The divine Word becoming Flesh and dwelling among us—the very mystery at the heart of Christmastide—is what makes it possible to see this divine Word. The spoken word cannot be seen, but the Word made flesh can.

Today’s Gospel, which is set on Easter Sunday morning, there is a literal lack of sight. The Word made flesh, risen from the dead, is nowhere to be seen. Mary Magdalen ran to St. Peter and today’s saint, “and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.’” These two apostles enter the empty tomb and see the burial cloths. The beloved disciple “saw and believed”. Contrast St. John here with St. Thomas the Apostle. St. Thomas would not believe until he saw the Risen Jesus and His wounds. But the Beloved Disciple does not see the Risen Jesus and yet believes. What Jesus said a week after His Resurrection after appearing to St. Thomas applies to the Beloved Disciple, and hopefully also to us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

26/12/2023

26/12/2023

Pope Francis ' Angelus

26/12/2023

Announcement of Grade 7 and Grade 9 Examination results

https://fb.watch/pae-D7iyaK/?mibextid=UyTHkb

25/12/2023

By Fr. Dr. Leonard Namuhumba

Reflection on the Martyrdom of St Stephen
“Father, forgive them …” (Acts 6: 8 – 10, 7: 54 – 59)

“You will be hated by all men on account of my name but the [one who] stands firm till the end will be saved,” (Mt 10: 17 - 22)

Before he gave up his spirit, Stephen prayed for his enemies and executioners asking God to forgive them. He chose to pray for them rather than curse and insult them. It is hard to pray and bless our enemies. We would rather oppose, curse, beat and kill them, or simply wish that the worst happens in their lives. Enemies seem to have power to bring out from us hatred and desire for revenge. But hatred is a kind of poison which can cause us harm and not its object – enemy. Stephen’s way is better. Why? Our hearts thrive well and produce the best with love and not with hatred. “Our hearts are made to love, and not to hate. Hate poisons the heart, love purifies it.
To love an enemy is a challenge. It demands that we die to certain needs and desires and rise above petty concerns. To love one’s enemy, your own executioner, or a slanderer, demands a certain spiritual martyrdom which can force the heavens open. It is like passing through the narrow door. Stephen endured human violence in order to teach his persecutors the better side of life. The destructive tendency to silence all those who oppose us is there in all of us. If they oppose you, kill them, throw stones at them! Get rid of all opponents by any means! This is there in our society. But where is it coming from?
Jesus was born among us to show us the best way to live with others and the best way to work with those who have different views. He came down to earth so that we go up to heaven, like Stephen. He came to be born here on earth so that we are born there in heaven. He came to dwell with us here on earth so that we dwell with him in heaven. He came to make our life his own so that we make his life our own. This way, like the way of Stephen, demands that we let-go all our attachments and defences so that we begin the journey back to God.

Our life here on earth is not short of tragedies, challenges, great discomfort and hatred. Jesus invites us, as he did to his disciples, to stand firm till the end. Let us fight all forms of discouragement and pessimism, trusting in the support of the Lord.

Merry Christmas, and may St Stephen intercede for you. Amen.

25/12/2023

Gloria in Excelsis Deo! Merry Christmas, Family!

25/12/2023

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi blessing for Christmas 2023

25/12/2023

By Fr. Matthews Tembo

SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS)

Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

Today is the great solemnity that shows the world that the Word incarnate, the Savior of mankind, is finally born. God becoming truly man is an enormous event. Something truly happens that goes beyond any evolutionary process: the fusion of man and God, the creature and the Creator. It is not the progression of another step in the evolutionary process, but the eruption of a personal action, founded on love, that from this point forward reveals to men new space and possibilities.

In the first reading (Isaiah 52:7-10), the prophet Isaiah assures Israel that Yahweh will restore them to their homeland after the Babylonian exile. esus, the Savior, will restore mankind to the kingdom of God.

The second reading (Hebrews 1:1-6) gives the clear, definite and emphatic declaration of the divinity of Christ. The baby who was born in a stable in Bethlehem, lived and died in Palestine, rose the third day from he grave and ascended to heaven forty days later, was also God, equal to the Father in all things. This is a mystery beyond our human comprehension, yet it is a fact, stated by Christ himself, believed and preached by the Apostles and accepted by the Church.

The gospel (John 1:1-18) gives us Johns Christmas story, which is about LIGHT, WORD, and LIFE. This story begins with LIGHT. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” Light shoves back hopelessness, light shoves back despair, light shoves back lost-ness, light shoves back all darkness days. How the light of a candle can push back the darkness is a remarkable sight, one we seldom witness in these days of electricity.

Johns Christmas story also about THE WORD.
God speaks a word and creation comes into being. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of [God’s] mouth”. Word has substantial impact on us: a single Word can become a dividing line between life as it once was and life as it will never be again.

Johns Christmas story is Light, Word, and it is also Life. Life is given to the poor those who have no food, roof over their head. Life is given to the disabled, those who grieve, the saddened, the broken, the lonely. Life is given to those who for many years have walked in darkness, their light has come. Life is given to those who have heard the Word.

Christmas is not the feast of a Child born long ago and far away. Christmas is the feast of the God who loved us so much as to take our human nature upon Himself so that He might in that human nature impart to us Himself and thus a share in His unending life.

Light is a wondrous gift – a gift we often take for granted. Ask yourself: what difference does light make in your life? It may be the light generated by the sun or light generated by a lamp or light fixture. Just imagine what would life be like without any light. Light can make all the difference in the world. As light makes a difference in our lives, likewise, Jesus the Light is with us each moment of every day. Today and every day may we open our eyes, minds and hearts and expect to see Jesus, the Light!

24/12/2023

Christmas Vigil Mass

24/12/2023

By Fr. Matthews Tembo
The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Vigil Mass

Isaiah 62:1-5
Acts 13:16-17. 22-25
Matthew 1:1-25

The Christmas feast is a festival full of joy. The Eternal Word has become Man and dwells among us. The longings of the patriarchs and prophets are fulfilled. With the shepherds we hurry to the manger and adore the Incarnate Son of God, who for us and for our salvation descended upon earth. Today's readings focus on focus on the fulfillment of the prophecies about our merciful God who sent His own Son to save a sinful world.

In the first reading (Isaiah 62:1-5), the prophet Isaiah speaks of the coming of Messiah who would inaugurate a new reign of justice and integrity. The prophet, however, describes this hero figure not in conventional terms of power and dominance. The Messiah will be manifested as a Prince of Peace who will restore the exiled and dignify the oppressed.

The second reading (Acts 13:16-17. 22-25) recounts the history of God’s mercy to Israel. God showed His mercy to His chosen people of Israel by fulfilling the prophecy about His long-awaited Messiah. He sent His Son as the Saviour and the descendant of David.

The gospel (Matthew 1:18–25) recounts the birth of Jesus through the eyes of Joseph. First, Joseph was reminded that he was a royal descendant, a “son of David.” Second, the angel commanded him to “not fear” and to “take Mary as your wife.” This was a direct change of course from what he had planned to do. Third, the angel reoriented Joseph’s thinking as to how Mary became pregnant—“that which is conceived in her from the Holy Spirit.” The explanation for her pregnancy was an amazing act of God, not an adulterous act of Mary. Fourth, Joseph was told the gender of the child—“She will bear a son.” Knowing the gender ahead of time of a child was only for a few people up to this time and always by the promise of God and somehow related to redemptive history (e.g., the promise of Isaac, John the Baptist). Fifth, the angel commanded Joseph to “call his name Jesus,” which means “Yahweh saves,” which ties into the angel’s reason for the name— “for he will save his people from their sins.”

The joy of Christmas is that God is with us! God is here! And this truth which is the reason of our joy and hope, should pervade every moment of our existence, convinced that God’s Immense Love for each one of us is ever-ready to do what is necessary to lead us to never-ending happiness and to eternal life. He is with us always and He will never abandon us.

All of us have families, none of them are perfect all of them are dysfunctional. And you know even the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have had aunts and uncles and cousins who were not perfect. Even they knew what it meant to live among imperfection. So this Christmas let us all take a deep breath and remind ourselves how holiness makes its home in humanity. Just like God did at Christmas, in the person of Jesus.

24/12/2023

Recitation of the Angelus with Pope Francis