SHEREHE YA MARIA MTAKATIFU MAMA WA MUNGU

 

                                                  1 JANUARI  2014

UTANGULIZI

Ukweli muhimu sana kuhusu Bikira Maria ni kuwa yeye ni Mama wa Mkombozi. Ukweli huu sio heri kubwa pekee kwa Bikira Maria bali ni ufunguo wa heri nyingine. “Maria...anafahamika kuwa kweli Mama wa Mungu na wa Mkombozi. Yeye mwenyewe alikombolewa kwa ajili ya mastahili ya mwanawe tena kwa namna ya pekee. Aliangaliwa na Baba kama binti yake mpenzi, na Mwana kama Mama mheshimiwa, na Roho Mtakatifu kama hekalu lake.”  Bikira Maria ni Mama wa Mungu sio kwa jina tu bali amemzaa Yesu ambaye ni Mungu. Kuna maswali ya kujiuliza, namna gani Mungu, ambaye hana mwanzo wala mwisho na Muumba wa vyote, anaweza kuwa na Mama hapa duniani? Je inawezekanaje, Yesu ambaye ana Baba mbinguni lakini bila Mama huko mbinguni awe na Mama duniani lakini bila Baba duniani?

NAFASI YA BIKIRA MARIA KATIKA BIBLIA

Ili Bikira Maria awe Mama wa Mungu kweli mambo mawili ni lazima: Kwanza lazima awe Mama halisi wa Yesu; na Pili ni kuwa Yesu aliyemzaa ni Mungu. Kama hayo yote ni hivyo, Maria ni Mama wa Mungu kweli.

1) BIKIRA MARIA NI MAMA HALISI WA YESU

Malaika akamwambia, “Usiogope Maria, kwa maanaMungu amekujalia neema, Na hivi: Utapata mimba, utamzaa mtoto wa kiume na utampa jina Yesu” (Lk.l :30-31). “Basi, hivi ndivyo Yesu Kristo alivyozaliwa: Maria, Mama yake, alikuwa ameposwa na Yosefu. Lakini kabla hawajakaa pamoja kama mume na mke, alionekana kuwa mjamzito kwa uwezo wa Roho Mtakatifu. (Mt. 1: 18). “Hii Habari Njema inamhusu Mwana wa Mungu, Bwana wetu Yesu Kristu, ambaye, mintarafu ubinadamu wake, alikuwa mzao wa Daudi” (Rom. 1:3). “Bwana mwenyewe atawapa ishara. Tazama, Bikira atachukua mimba, atajifungua mtoto wa kiume na kumwita jina lake Immanueli” (Isaya 7:14). Hawa wote walikusanyika pamoja kusali, pamoja na wanawake kadhaa wa kadhaa, na Maria Mama yake Yesu, na ndugu zake” (Mate. 1: 14).

2) YESU NI MUNGU NA BIKlRA MARIA NI MAMA WA MUNGU

Hapo mwanzo, Neno aliwako; naye alikuwa na Mungu, naye alikuwa Mungu, tangu mwanzo Neno alikuwa na Mungu” (Yoh. 1: 1-2). “ ... naye Kristo, kadiri ya ubinadamu wake, ametoka katika ukoo wao. Mungu atawalaye juu ya yote, na atukuzwe milele : Amina” (Rom. 9:5). “Muwe na msimamo uleule aliokuwa nao Kristo Yesu: Yeye, kwa asili, alikuwa daima Mungu; lakini hakufikiri kwamba kuwa sawa na Mungu ni kitu cha kung’ang’ania kwa nguvu. Bali, kwa hiari yake mwenyewe, aliachilia hayo yote, akajitwalia hali ya mtumishi akawa sawa na wanadamu, akaonekana kama mwanadamu” (Fil. 1 :6-7). “Mitume nao walikiri kuwa Yesu ni Mungu-Mtu:” Thoma akamjibu, “Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu” (Yoh. 20:28). “Malaika akamjibu, Roho Mtakatifu atakushukia, na uwezo wake Mungu Mkuu utakujia kama kivuli; kwa sababu hiyo, mtoto atakayezaliwa ataitwa Mtakatifu, na Mwana wa Mungu” (Lk. 1 :35). “Mimi ni nani hata Mama wa Bwana wangu afike kwangu?” (Lk. 1 :43). Kristo huitwa “Bwana”Yahwe. Neno hili Bwana katika Agano la Kale lilitumika kwa ajili ya Mungu tu. Kwa ajili ya hayo, mwinjili amwitapo Kristo kwa jina la Bwana ataka kudokeza kwamba ..huyo Kristo ni Mungu. “Mungu alimtuma mwanae aliyezaliwa na mwanamke” (Gal. 4:4). Huyo Mwana wa Mungu ni Mwana wa mwanamke. Huyo Mwana wa Mungu, pia ni Mwana wa Maria.

MAPOKEO

Ingawa Kanisa la Mwanzoni katika karne ya kwanza liliamini kuwa Bikira Maria ni Mama wa Mungu, fundisho hilo lilikuwa halijatangazwa rasmi. Alitokea Askofu Nestorius mtu mwenye majivuno kutoka Constantinople aliyeanza kufundisha kuwa Bikira Maria si Mama wa Mungu Theotokos, bali Mama wa Kristu-Christokos, mtu tu wa Nazareti. Mafundisho haya yalizua kasheshe. Yalizua mgongano. Yalizua mgogoro ulioliweka Kanisa Katoliki hatarini. Mwaka 431 uliitishwa Mtaguso wa Ephesus uliopinga vikali uzushi wa Nestorius. Askofu Mkuu wa Alexander Mt. Sirilo alifungua Mtaguso tarehe 22 Juni 431, ulioitishwa kwa ruhusa ya Papa Celestine I. Katika duru ya kwanza ilisomwa barua iliyomwondolea Nestorius cheo chake. Usiku wa tamko hilo, kadiri ya wanahistoria barabara zilijaawatu waliopaza sauti na kusema “Hagia Maria Theotokos” yaani Mtakatifu Maria, Mama wa Mungu.’ Mafundisho yaliyothibitishwa na Mtaguso wa Ephesus yalikuwa katika barua ya Mt. Sirilo iliyosomwa katika duru ya kwanza. Mt. Sirilo alifundisha hivi: “Nashangaa sana ninapoona wakristu wanaogopa kumwita Bikira Maria ‘Mama wa Mungu’: Mbona Rabbi wetu YESU Kristu ni Mungu? Bikira Maria ndiye aliyemzaa. Atakosaje tena kuitwa “Mama wa Mungu”.3 Hoja iliyotolewa kupinga kuwa Bikira Maria si Mama wa Mungu ni kwamba Kristu anaitwa Mungu sababu ya Umungu wake. Lakini umungu huu haukuanzia kwa Bikira Maria. Hivyo Bikira Maria asiitwe Mama wa Mungu. Hii ilikuwa hoja ya Nestorius. Mt. Sirilo alijibu kama ifuatavyo: “Katika kila mtu kuna sehemu mbili: mwili na roho. Sehemu hizi mbili zaungana na hazitengani katika kumfanya mtu. Mwili wa mtu umezaliwa na mama yake, lakini roho haikuzaliwa na mama yake, ila ilitoka kwa Mungu, ikaumbwa naye. Japo mambo ni hivyo mama aliyezaa mwili haitwi Mama wa Mwili, ila Mama wa mtu mzima, kwa sababu mwili na roho ya mtu vikisha ungana, vyashikamana kwa kufanya mtu mmoja. Ndiyo sababu Mama, aitwa Mama wa mtu yule yule. Vivyo hivyo, ndani ya Yesu mna sehemu mbili, Umungu na Ubinadamu, kwani Yesu ni Mungu kweli na mtu kweli. Basi, wakati wa umwilisho, Ubinadamu na Umungu viliungana kabisa, vikawa MUNGU-MTU, au Mkombozi. Na Mungu-Mtu huyu akaitwa jina jipya, YESU KRISTU. Kwa hivi, Bikira Maria, aliyezaa ubinadamu wa Yesu aweza kuitwa Mama wa Mungu kwa sababu mwanaye YESU ni Mungu kweli, na kwa sababu, ndani ya YESU, Ubinadamu na Umungu havitengani, ila vyashikamana kwa kufanya Mkombozi mmoja, ndiye YESU.’’  Fumbo juu ya YESU Kristu, muungano wa Umungu na Ubinadamu ulimaanisha katika Mtaguso wa Ephesus kuwaUmungu na Ubinadamu haviwezi kutengana . Yesu Kristu ni Mungu-Mtu “Mwanga kutoka kwa Mwanga, Mungu kweli kutoka kwa Mungu kweli, aliyezaliwa bila. kuumbwa, mwenye Umungu mmoja na Baba ... ’’5

Mt. Germanus wa Constantinople (+720) alimwita Maria “Mahali pa kuishi pa Mungu” Mt. Jerome alimwita: “Hekalu la Mwili wa Bwana.” Martin Luther, hata baada ya kujiengua kutoka Kanisa Katoliki, alikiri kuwa Bikira Maria ni Mama wa Mungu. Alisema hivi: “Hakuna jambo kubwa zaidi ya hili kuwa (Bikira Maria) alipata kuwa Mama wa Mungu; ambalo kwalo zinatoka zawadi (heri) kubwa na nyingi ambazo amepewa yeye ...”

MAISHANI

1. WAJIBU WA KUTETEA UHAI

Bikira Maria ni Mama wa Uhai. Eva alikuwa kwa watu sababu ya kifo na kupitia kwake kifo kiliingia duniani. Maria amekuwa sababu ya uhai kwetu. Ni kwa sababu hii Mwana wa Mungu amekuja duniani. “Lakini pale dhambi ilipoongozeka, neema iIiongezeka zaidi” (Rom. 5:20). Wakati kifo kilipoingia, uhai uliingia, ili kuchukua nafasi ya kifo, kufutilia mbali kifo kilichotufikia kwa njia ya mwanamke. Kristu amekuja kwetu kupitia mwanamke na amekuwa kwetu uhai. Eva kwa kutotii kwake alitenda dhambi, Bikira Maria alitii. Utiifu wake unaonekana pale ilipotangazwa kuwa Mungu, uhai wa milele, atashuka toka mbinguni azaliwe katika mwili.” Kumbe hatuna budi kutetea uhai tukiiga mfano wa Bikira Maria ambaye ni Mama wa uhai, kupitia kwake uhai umeingia na sio kama Eva wa kwanza ambapo kupitia kwake kifo kiliingia. Je kupitia kwetu kifo kinaingia? Je tunatetea maisha ya watoto ambao hawajazaliwa? Mwaka 1985, mimba 1,588,600 zilitolewa huko Amerika.

 Na Canada mimba 62,291 zilitolewa.!” Hii ni mifano michache ya utamaduni wa kifo. Na Mungu hapendezwi na utamaduni huu, utamaduni wa kuua na kwa lugha ya kidiplomasia “Kutoa mimba” Biblia yatwambia “Wasio na hatia na wenye haki usiwaue” (Kut. 23:7). Watoto tumboni mwa Mama zao hawana hatia. Wana haki ya kuishi. Papa Yohane Paulo II ametunga sala ya watetezi wa uhai wa mtoto. “Ee Mama Bikira Mtukufu, uliyeonja fumbo kuu la umama kwa jinsi tofauti kabisa na akina mama wengine duniani wakati imani yako ilikuwezesha kulipokea Neno la Mungu, mwili wako ulijiandaa kuwa ni mahali penye rutuba nzuri kwa ajili ya kuuchukua mwili wake wa kibinadamu. Ee Mama ambatana nasi basi iii tuzidi kukiri heshima ya kila binadamu. Utujalie sote utambuzi wazi, lakini hasa kwao wanaume na wanawake waliopewa wito wa heshima ya kuwa wazazi, ili daima wawe ni “mahali patakatifu kwa uhai” kwa njia ya muujiza wa kuzaa, wito waliokabidhiwa na Mungu kwa msingi wa ukweli na upendo wao mwaminifu na moyo wa utunzaji mwaminifu. Amina” (Papa Yohane Paulo II).

2. UNYENYEKEVU

“Maria alimpendeza Mungu kwa ubikira wake, lakinialichukua mimba kwa unyenyekevu wake” (Mt. Bemado). Unyenyekevu umejengwa juu ya upendo. Ndiyo maana Bwana wetu Yesu Kristu alisema “Mkinipenda mtazishika amri zangu”. Bikira Maria alimpenda Mungu Ni kwa upendo huu alikuwa tayari kunyenyekea na kuchukua mimba Mkombozi. Hatuna budi kujinyenyekeza, mbele ya Bwana. “Unyenyekevu ni mama wa fadhila nyingi sababu utii, uchaji, ibada, uvumilivu kiasi, upole, amani vyatokana na unyenyekevu. Yeye ambaye ni mnyenyekevu hutii kila mtu, ni mwema kwa wote, ni mtiifu kwa kila mtu, hamchukizi wala kumuudhi yeyote”. (Mt. Thoma wa Killanova).12” .Kinyume cha unyenyekevu ni majivuno. Mwenye majivuno ni kilema hatari sana, hufikiri ameisha wasili kwenye kikomo cha safari. Na mwenye unyenyekevu hujua kuwa duniani tu wageni duniani tu wasafiri. Mambo bado. Majivuno ni kilema hatari sana “Majivuno yaliwabadili malaika wakawa mashetani. Unyenyekevu huwafanya watu wawe malaika” (Mt. Augustino)13 Bikira Maria ni mfano wa kuigwa katika unyenyekevu. Bikira Maria alimpendeza Mungu kwa unyenyekevu wake kama Mt. Ambrosio anavyotwambia “Oneni: Unyenyekevu gani: Anajiita mwenyewe mtumishi wa Mungu saa ile ile anapochaguliwa naye awe mama mzazi wa Mungu Mwana. Anapashwa habari kwamba atakuwa mkubwa ajabu, lakini hana majivuno hata kidogo.”

 

HITIMISHO

Mungu alimpa Bikira Maria wito wa kuwa Mama wa Mungu. Alimtafuta Bikira Maria, kuanza kizazi kipya, kurekebisha mambo kukarabati palipoharibika, Mungu alitaka Eva wa pili afanye kile Eva wa kwanza alichokataa kufanya mpaka kifo kikaingia. Tunapoanza mwaka mpya, tukumbuke kuwa Mungu “anatutafuta”, ili kurekebisha mambo ambayo hayakwenda vizuri mwaka uliopita. “Anatutafuta tukarabati palipoharibika. Hatuna budi kuitikia wito. Hatuna budi kunyenyekea “Bwana anataka nini kwako, ila kwenda kwa unyenyekevu na Mungu wako” (Mika.6:8). Ili kurekebisha pale ambapo hapakwenda vizuri mwaka uliopita, hatuna budi kusali sala ya Mt. Fransisko wa Asisi kila mara: “Ee Bwana, nifanye chombo cha amani yako. Panapokuwa chuki, niruhusu nipande mapendo. Panapokuwa na maumivu, iwepo huruma. Panapokuwa na mashaka, imani ipatikane. Panapokuwa kukata tamaa, yawepo matumaini. Panapokuwa huzuni, ipatikane furaha. Ee Bwana Mungu, naomba.  Nisitafute sana kutulizwa, bali kutuliza. Nisitafute kufahamika, bali kufahamu. Nisitafute kupendwa, bali kupenda. Maana kwa kutoa tunapokea, Kwa huruma tunahurumiwa,

 

KRISMASI NI VIGELEGELE SIO KELELE

 

                                                     NOELI USIKU

1. Isa 9: 1-6

2. Tit 2: 11-14

3. Lk 2: 1-14

“Wanashangilia mbele yako, kama wanavyoshangilia wavunaji” (Isaya 9: 2)

“Mara jeshi kubwa la mbinguni wakawa pamoja na malaika wakimsifu Mungu, na kusema: Utukufu kwa Mungu juu, na amani duniani kwa watu aliopendezwa nao,” (Luka 2: 13-14)

UTANGULIZI

Kuna aliyemuuliza mtoto, “je umepata kile ulichohitaji katika Krismasi hii?” Mtoto alijibu sikupata kila nilichohitaji na kila nilichotegemea. Lakini hata hivyo siku ya leo siyo siku yangu ya kuzaliwa ni siku ya kuzaliwa Yesu Kristu.”  Ni vizuri watoto watambue kuwa Krismasi siyo siku yao ya kuzaliwa (labda kama mtoto alizaliwa tarehe 25/Desemba naye atakuwa anasherekea siku yake ya kuzaliwa lakini siyo Krismasi) ni siku ya Kuzaliwa Yesu Kristu. Tatizo tunaweza kutekwa na kile kinachouzwa tukamsahau yule aliyesababisha vitu vyenye heri ya Krismasi viuzwe. Naye ni Yesu. Maneno ya kutakiana heri: Heri Krismasi. Baraka ya Krismasi. Furaha ya Krismasi yatukumbushe juu ya Yesu ambaye ni baraka kwa dunia. Kwa sababu yake kuna mabadiliko. Wafuasi wa Yesu wanafanya mengi ya maendeleo. Kuna Hospitali zimejengwa na madhehebu ya Kikristu. Kuna mashule, mazahanati, vyuo na misaada mingi kwa watu walionamatatizo vinavyofanywa na wafuasi wa Yesu. Krismasi itukumbushe wema aliotenda Yesu na awe mfano wa kuigwa.

Kote duniani madhehebu mengi ya Kikristo yanasherehekea kuzaliwa kwa Yesu Kristu. Sherehe hii inajulikana kama Krismasi, Noeli, Sikukuu ya Kuzaliwa kwa Yesu Kristu, mhasisi wa dini ya Kikristu. Krismasi ni vigelegele sio kelele. “Mara jeshi kubwa la mbinguni wakawa pamoja na malaika wakimsifu Mungu, na kusema: Utukufu kwa Mungu juu, na amani duniani kwa watu aliopendezwa nao,” (Luka 2: 13-14. Hakuna mtu anayependa Krismasi imkute kifungoni au jela. Taarifa ambazo huwa tunazipata toka zahanati na hospitalini ni kuwa wakati wa Krismasi wagonjwa wanapungua wadini. Hakuna ambaye anapenda Krismasi imkute wadini. Lakini ugonjwa haubishi hodi na hauna kalenda. Kipindi cha Krismasi ni kipindi cha kufurahi. Mtume Paulo anatukumbusha, “ Basi, furahini daima katika kuungana na Bwana! Nasema tena: furahini!” (Wafilipi 4:4).

MAHUBIRI YENYEWE

“Kwa kawaida Krismasi huonekana kuwa ni likizo yenye kelele: litakuwa ni jambo zuri kwetu kuwa na ukimya kidogo…kuwa kimya ili uweze kusikia upole wa Mungu,” alisema Papa Fransisco Kiongozi wa Kanisa Katoliki. Methali ya Kiswahili inasema yote: kelele nyingi ni makeke (vishindo). Kelele nyingi haziwezi kutimiza chochote na huwa ni usumbufu tu kwani kelele nyingi ni sawa na vishindo. Methali hii hutuonya dhidi ya kupayuka. Kelele za muziki wa kusumbua jirani nyumbani, kelele za muziki kwenye matatu, kelele za bunduki, kelele za milio ya simu kwenye sehemu za ibada, kelele kwenye sehemu za starehe vinaharibu heshima ya Krismasi.

Kelele ni uchafu. Ni uchafuzi wa mazingira kupiga kelele. “Kelele zote ni uchafu. Kuza tabia ya utulivu katika katika maneno, katika mawazo yako na katika hisia zako. Kwa kawaida zungumza kwa sauti ya chini,”  alisema Elbert Hubbard  (1856-1915) mhariri na mwandishi wa Amerika.  Kelele ni kama maji taka. Vigelegele ni kama maji safi. Ukimya ni kama maji salama. Kelele zinakosa sifa moja kubwa sifa ya utulivu na ukimya. Vigelegele ni matokeo ya ukimya na kuwaza matendo makuu. Kelele si matokeo ya ukimya bali ukosefu wa ukimya. Nyota hazipigi kelele. Ni methali ya Ireland. Watu ambao ni nyota au mashuhuri hawapigi kelele. Mama wa Yesu Maria aliyatafakari katika ukimya matendo makuu ya Mungu Krismasi ya kwanza. “Naye Maria akatunza mambo hayo yote akiyawaza moyoni mwake” (Luka 2:19). Aliyatafakari kwa mwanga wa maandiko ya Agano la Kale.

Krismasi ni kipindi cha aina yake cha kumtafuta Mungu. “Tunahitaji kumtafuta Mungu, na hapatikani katika kelele na kutotulia. Mungu ni rafiki wa ukimya. Tazama viumbe – miti, maua, nyasi vinakua katika ukimya; tazama nyota, mwezi na jua vinafanya mambo katika ukimya.. Tunahitaji ukimya kuweza kugusa nyoyo za watu,” alisema Mama Tereza wa Calcutta. Kipindi cha Krismasi unaimbwa wimbo ambao umevuta nyoyo za watu “Silent Night” ambao umetafsiriwa kwa Kiswahili: Usiku mkuu! Usiku Mtakatifu! Uko utulivu; Bikira amezaa Mwana, Mtoto Mtakatifu ni Bwana; Alale amanini, Alale amanini.” Wimbo huu unazungumzia ukimya, utulivu, ukuu na utakatifu wa usiku alipozaliwa Yesu. Utulivu huu na ukimya huo ni wito wa kuwa na utamaduni wa kuwa kimya na kutulia. Wakati wa vita ya kwanza ya dunia Krismasi ya mwaka 1914 vikosi vyote vilivyokuwa vinapigana viliweka siraha chini na kuimba wimbo wa “Silent Night.” Kelele za bunduki zilisimamishwa. Lakini pongezi ingekuwa kama kelele hizo zingesimamishwa siku zote na sio usiku tu wa Krismasi. Utamaduni wa kutochafua hewa kwa kelele lisiwe suala la Krismasi tu.

Kadiri ya Kamusi ya Karne ya 21 kelele ni sauti kubwa sana. Kelele ni hali ya kutokuwa na utulivu; fujo, ghasia, rabsha, nyange, ngenga, chachawizo. Penye kelele kuna kutosikilizana. Penye kelele kuna kutoheshimiana. Penye kelele kuna kukasirikiana. Penye kelele hakuna mshikamano. Penye kelele hakuna utaratibu. Tukumbuke methali ya Kiswahili. Kelele za mpangaji hazimnyimi usingizi mwenye nyumba. Ni kama methali isemayo: Kelele za mwenye nyumba hazimkatazi mgeni kulala. Ni ushauri kuwa mtu mwenye nia ya kutimiza jambo fulani, hagutushwi na lawama, shutuma au malalamiko ya watu wengine wanaonuia kumkatisha tamaa.

 

Kelele za mlango hazininyimi usingizi. Ni methali ya Kiswahili. Mtu anapoamua kulala hajishughulishi na mlio au kelele za mlango kufungwa na kufunguliwa. Tunapoendelea na kazi zetu tusiwajali watu wenye kutuambia maneno ya upuuzi nay a kutuharibia wakati wetu. Tunapaswa kuwapuuza watu kama hao. Macho ya chura hayamnyimi ng’ombe kunywa maji.

 Krismasi ni kipindi cha kupiga vigelegele na si kelele. Kigelegele ni sauti ya kushangilia inayofanywa katika arusi kwa kuchezesha ulimi mdomoni. Lakini ulimi lazima uwekewe utaratibu usije ukachafua mazingira kwa kelele. Mbwa anapendwa na wengi sababu muda mwingi anatingisha mkia badala ya ulimi. Kupiga kelele na kusema kwa sauti ya juu ni ushahidi tosha kuwa mtu hana pointi au nguvu ya hoja. Nakubaliana na  mwanafalsafa wa Kifaransa na mwandishi Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) aliyesema: “yeye anayejenga hoja yake kwa kelele na amri anaonyesha kuwa hoja yake ni dhaifu.” Kuna watoto wawili ambao walikuwa wanajidai juu ya uwezo wa mama zao. Mmoja akasema: mama yangu anaweza kutoa hotuba bila kusoma karatasi. Mwingine akasema: mama yangu anaweza kutoa hotuba bila kufikiria. Kutoa hotuba bila kufikiria ni kupiga kelele. Ukweli unabaki Krismasi ni vigelegele si kelele.

 

 KRISMASI NI KUTAJIRISHANA

 “Yeye amejitoa mwenyewe kwa ajili yetu” (Tito 2: 14)

Hakuna ambaye ni maskini kiasi cha kutokuwa na chochote cha kutoa na hakuna ambaye ni tajiri kiasi cha kutohitaji lolote. Krismasi imepambwa na ukarimu. “Krismasi, mwanangu, ni upendo kwa vitendo. Kila mara tunapopenda, kila mara tunapotoa, ni Krismasi,” alisema Dale Evans. Sura ya Krismasi ni sura ya ukarimu. Kutumiana zawadi. Kutumiana kadi za heri ya Krismasi. Watoto kununuliwa nguo. Watu wazima kununuliana nguo. Watoto wawili wadogo walikuwa wamemtembelea babu yao siku tatu kabla ya sikukuu ya Krismasi. Usiku walipiga magoti upandeni mwa kitanda kusali sala za usiku . Mdogo kiumri alipaza sauti kadiri ya mapafu yake yalivyomruhusu “Naomba nipate baisikeli mpya. Naomba nipate baisikeli mpya. Naomba nipate baisikeli mpya. Naomba nipate baisikeli mpya…” Kaka yake alimwambia mbona unaomba kwa sauti ya juu sana Mungu sio kiziwi anasikia. Mtoto mdogo alijibu. Mungu anasikia lakini babu yangu atakeyeninunulia baisikeli anajifanya kutosikia. Kipindi cha Krismasi ni kipindi cha kuwasikiliza watoto. Tutajirishane kwa kusikilizana. Kuna methali ya Nigeria isemayo: “Sikiliza na utasikia sauti ya hatua ya mchwa.” Sikiliza mwili wa mwenzako unaongea. Hasira, upendo, huruma vinaonekana kwenye mwili.

 Itakuwa makosa makubwa kuadhimisha Krismasi bila kumtaja Kristo, kuuza kadi za Krismasi bila kuandikwa jina Kristo. “Nilifunga zawadi zangu za Krismasi kwenye karatasi za kufungia zawadi lakini nilitumia karatasi ambazo si sahihi zilikuwa na meneno: Heri ya Kuzaliwa. Sikutaka kuzipoteza nikaongeza neno Yesu,” alisema Demetri Martin. 

Jina hilo Kristo wakati wa Krismasi linatajirisha wengi. Biblia yasema “Katika Kristo Yesu mmetajirika katika yote, katika kila neno na kila utambuzi” ( 1 Wakorintho 1:5). Yesu alikuja kututajirisha. Ikumbukwe vipimo vya utajiri si pesa tu. Yesu anaitwa mshauri wa ajabu. Ametutarisha kwa maneno ya ushauri katika Biblia. Nawe toa ushauri wa kutajirisha wengine. Tusitoe ushauri ambao hauwezekani. Hapo zamani kadiri ya hadithi za Aesop panya walikuwa na mkutano namna ya kumkwepa paka. Panya mmoja akatoa wazo kuwa tumfunge kengele shingoni paka akikaribia tutajua kuwa anakaribia. Panya huyo mdogo kwa umri alipigiwa makofi nakushangiliwa. Panya mkubwa akauliza. “Hilo ni wazo zuri lakini nani atamfunga paka kengele?”  “Inawezekana tatizo la paka kwa panya lingekwisha kama paka angefungwa kengele. Taabu ni kumpata panya wa kuifanya kazi hiyo. Na panya watakuwa wajinga sana kama watadhani kuwa paka watajifunga wenyewe kengele shingoni,” alisema Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere aliyekuwa rais wa kwanza wa Tanzania.

Ukarimu uonekane katika kurudisha wema. Ukitendewa wema rudisha wema hili kama au mnyororo wa wema usikatike. Mtu akiokota kitu chako akakuletea mpe zawadi. Mwanamke mmoja alipoteza begi lake wakati ananua vitu vya Krismasi. Mvulana mdogo mwaminifu aliokota begi hilo na kumrudishia mwanamke huyo. Alipotazama kwenye mfuko wake alisema: Kuna jambo la kushangaza katika begi langu palikuwepo noti moja ya shilingi elfu moja ya Kenya sasa nakuta noti 20 za shilingi hamsini hamsini.” Mtoto huyo alijibu haraka. Hiyo ni kweli. Niliwahi kuokota begi la mwanamke mwingine lakini hakuwa na pesa ndogo ndogo ya kunipa zawadi kama shukrani hivyo nimeamua kupata fedha ndogo ndogo wewe utaamua unanipa kiasi gani.  “Krismasi ni kufanya jambo la ziada kwa ajili ya mwingine,” alisema  Charles M. Schulz

Krismasi sio kipindi cha kuwaibia wengine ni kipindi cha kuwapatia wengine. Jaji aliyewatembelea wafungwa siku ya Krismasi alimuuliza mfungwa: wewe ulifanya kosa gani? Mfungwa alisema Nilifanya manunuzi ya vitu vya Krismasi mapema sana?” Jaji alisema hilo sio kosa. Lakini mapema ya saa ngapi ulifanya manunuzi hayo?” Mwizi huyo alisema: “Kabla duka alijafunguliwa. Huyu alidokoa. Huyu aliiba.

“Krismasi ni kipindi cha kuwasha moto wa ukarimu katika ukumbi, na miale ya joto la ukarimu moyoni,” alisema Washington Irving.  Wanafamilia wape muda wako. Muda ni mali. Kuwa nao. Siku hizi muda wa baba na mama kukaa na watoto wao ni mdogo. Wanakuwa shuleni. Wakienda likizo za Krismasi wanawekewa mwalimu wa kuwafundisha. Wape muda watoto wako. Krismasi sio kipindi cha kutapanya hovyo. Wengine wanatapanya hovyo mpaka wanatumia karo za watoto wao. Krismasi sio mwisho wa maisha kuna kesho.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TUONGEZEE IMANI

                                                       Jumatatu ya Juma la 32

 

                  “Mitume wakamwambia Bwana, ‘Tuongezee Imani” (Luka 17: 5)

 

Imani kidogo yaweza kufanya mambo makubwa. Ni ukweli unaoendana na ujumbe wa methali ya Kiswahili, Kidogo kidogo kamba ukatika. Nguvu ya mbegu haitegemei ukubwa au udogo wake inategemea uhai uliofichwa katika mbegu hiyo. Kuna nguvu ambayo imefichwa ndani mwako. Yesu aliwaambia mitume: “Mngekuwa na imani kiasi cha punje ya haradali, mngeuambia mforsadi huu, ‘Ng’oka, kapandikizwe baharini, nao ungewatii” (Luka 17:6). Kama ni hivyo unahitaji kujiamini kuwa utaweza kufanikiwa katika maisha. Kwa imani na kujiamini ndege imevumbuliwa. Kwa imani na kujiamini simu za mkononi zimegunduliwa. Kwa imani na kujiamini utalaamu wa kutengeneza runinga umefunuliwa.

 

Mitume walipoomba kuongezewa imani, Yesu hakusema nimewaongezea imani. Hakuahidi kuwaongezea imani. Ni kama aliwaambia anza na mlicho nacho, kidogo huvuta kikubwa, kidogo huzaa kikubwa, laini huzaa ngumu. Walikuwa kama mfanyabiashara asemaye nina pesa kidogo sana ngoja iwe nyingi ndipo nianze kufanya biashara. Je, itaongezekaje bila kuzalisha, kuuza na kununua? Walikuwa kama mkulima asemaye nina mbegu lakini hazitoshi nitalima nikiwa na mbegu za kutosha. Anza na ulicho nacho. Hawezi kusema sina pesa yote ya kujenga na kumalizia nyumba. Anza kujenga na pesa uliyo nayo. Ili kuwa na zaidi anza na ulicho nacho. Aliyenacho ataongezewa ndivyo  Bwana Yesu alivyofundisha.

 

Mitume walitaka imani yao ikomae na iwe thabiti. “ni kwa kuamini peke yake ndiko imani hukomaa na kuwa thabiti,” aliandika Baba Mtakatifu Benedikto XVI katika kitabu “Mlango wa Imani.”  Mitume wengi walikimbia Yesu alipokamatwa. Huu ni ushahidi wa imani ambayo si thabiti na ambayo haijakomaa. Imani ambayo si thabiti inakuwa na mashaka mengi wakati wa shida na matatizo.  Ni katika msingi huu mitume waliomba waongezewe imani. Baba anapomchukua mtoto wake mdogo wa kike na kumzungusha hewani, mtoto anacheka na kufurahi kwa vile anaamini na ana  imani katika baba yake. Ingawa anajikuta katika hali ambayo si ya kawaida kama miguu kuwa juu na kichwa chini umbali wa futi nne kutoka sakafuni. Haogopi kwa vile anamwamini baba yake. Hii ndiyo imani ambayo ni thabiti na iliyokamaa ambayo hatuna budi kuwa nayo kwa Baba wa mbinguni.  J. Hudson Taylor alimwandikia mke wake wakati mgumu akiwa anafanya kazi ya China Inlanda Mission, “Tuna centi ishirini na tano na ahadi zote za Mungu.”  Ni maneno ya mtu mwenye thabiti katika shida.

 

COMPARISONS BREED CONTEMPT

 

                            THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings

1. Sir 35: 12-14, 16-19
2. II Tim 4: 6-8, 16-18
3. Lk 18: 9-14

 You are incomparable. You are unique. Don’t kill your joy by comparing yourself to other people. “Comparison is the death of joy,” said Mark Twain. Moreover, comparisons are odious. They inspire hatred, contempt, holier-than-you attitude, and offensive words. “When the Lord makes it clear you’re to follow Him in this new direction, focus fully on Him and refuse to be distracted by comparisons with others,” said Charles R. Swindoll. Dillon Burroughs put it nicely: “The problem with comparison is that you always feel either better than someone else or worthless compared to someone else.”

 Throw away a stone of comparisons. Comparisons are extremely unpleasant. They cause and deserve hate. Your yardstick should be Jesus not human beings. The Pharisee in the parable of the tax collector and the pharisee compared was a man of comparisons. “The  Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18: 11-12).  On comparing yourself to others Michael D. Yapko had this to say in his book Free Yourself from Depression, “You are unique, trite as that may sound, and measuring yourself against others distracts you from the more immediate tasks – identifying specific experiences you need to have and skills you need to learn to move forward with your life. There will always be people a little better and a little worse than you; the most important task you have is to develop yourself as fully as possible.”  “Comparison is an act of violence against the self,” said Lyanla Vanzant.

 

Directing our attention to the Pharisee we discover a number of stones he needed to throw away. The first stone the Pharisee was holding is a stone of contempt.  Saint John Chrysostom had this to say: “To despise the whole race of man was not enough for him; he must yet attack the Publican. He would have sinned, yet far less if he had spared the Publican, but now in one word he both assails the absent, and inflicts a wound on him who was present. To give thanks is not to heap reproaches on others. When you return thanks to God, let Him be all in all to you. Turn not your thoughts to men, nor condemn your neighbor.”

 

The second stone the Pharisee was holding is the-holier than you attitude. He said I am not like other men. This can be put in other words “I am righteous, the rest are sinners.” The third stone the Pharisee was holding is the stone of insult. He insulted the one who asked.  On this St. Augustine had this to say, “If you look into his words, you will find that he asked nothing of God. He goes up indeed to pray, but instead of asking God, praises himself; and even insults him that asked.”

 

The fourth stone the Pharisee was holding is the stone of comparison. In life there is no mathematical equality but proportional equality. The fingers are not equal. A certain man was complaining about the cooking. He said to his wife, “You don’t cook well like my mother.” The wife responded you don’t earn a lot of money like my father.” Comparisons are extremely unpleasant. “Envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man’s self; and where there is no comparison, no envy,” said Sr. Francis Baconn(English lawyer and philosopher). Comparisons breed jealousy. “Jealousy is the fear of comparison,” said Max Frisch.

 

 

KEEP YOUR LAMP BURNING

 

Tuesday of the 29^th Week in Ordinary Time

“Let your loins be girded about and your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35)

“We hold burning lamps in our hands, when by good works we show forth bright examples to our neighbour,” said St. Augustine. If you do right you spread the light. If you forgive a wrong doer you teach him to forgive, that way you spread the light. Keep your lamp of good example burning. It may be your place of work is plunged into darkness of discouragement, keep a lamp of reassurance burning. It may be you are in the dark days of pessimism after someone has made you feel a failure, keep a lamp of optimism burning for failure is never final. Where there is a slight mistake, excuse. Where there is a serious mistake, forgive. Where there is a great offence pardon. Do everything to keep the lamp burning with might and main-with full power.

Make sure your lamp is burning. A blind man visited his friends. It was dark when he left and they gave him a lantern. “Thank you, but I don’t need it. Light or dark it’s all the same to me.” His friend replied, “yes, but carry it anyway so people won’t bump into you.” Off he went, but soon someone collided into him and shouted, “why don’t you look where you are going?” The blind man replied, “why don’t you see my lantern?” “Sorry, brother,” the other said, “your candle went out.” Make sure your lamp is burning. Stress the positive. Say only what is good of the dead.

Prayer for Today

God thanks for the burning lamps around us, the redeeming brightness around us for nothing is wholly dark. Every cloud has a silver lining. God teach us to keep our lamps burning. Help us to hold the burning lamps by the light of example, contemplation, encouragement, hope, sacrificial love, gratitude and forgiveness. Amen.

YOUR SORROW WILL TURN INTO JOY

                     

                                      Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter

                                                May 9, 2013

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16: 20)

Nothing dries faster than tears. Short sorrow can bring infinite joy. For the businessman the heartache of investing will soon give way to joy. As you start a business there can be lots of problems from the outset. Time will come when you will milk money from the business. For the farmers who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. For a student thrown into a state of anxiety, burning the midnight oil in order to study, his or her efforts will bear fruits. His or her sorrow will turn into joy when the transcript will be coloured by “As.” There is no Good Friday without the Easter Sunday. The example from nature tells it all: A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour has come; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for there is joy that a man is born into the world. There is no sweet without sweat.

Are you sorrowful? Hold on what Charles H. Spurgeon said, “There is a sweet joy that comes to us through sorrow.” Are you suffering?  “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars,” said Edwin H. Chapin. Is your heart full of pain? “Pain insists on being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world,” said C.S. Lewis. Are you laid off as a worker? It is no good crying over spilt milk for so long. As you hunt for a job God will open new doors. By the way God wants you to tread on new avenues. Whatever is happening to you may be due to God’s artistic skills to make your story interesting. Your sorrow will turn into joy.  

To help Jesus help the needy

Monday - Lenten Weekday  18^th February 2013

Today’s readings

Leviticus 19: 1-2.11-18

Psalm 18: 8-9.10-15

Matthew 25: 31 – 46

“Though we do not have our Lord with us in bodily presence, we have our neighbour, who, for the ends of love and loving service, is as good as our Lord himself,” said St. Teresa of Avila. In the life of a beggar there is Jesus Christ. In the life of a prisoner there is Jesus Christ. In the life of someone who is thirsty there is Jesus Christ. In the life of a naked there is Jesus Christ. In the life of a hungry person there is Jesus Christ. Jesus is travelling incognito. He goes around with a disguised identity as the needy. Jesus’ identity is hidden in the needy. If you help the needy you are helping Jesus. He will say to you: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25: 40).

You can help the least brothers and sisters of Jesus by giving alms. Remember, charity is a virtue of the heart and not of the hand. On this St. Leo the Great had this to say: “We know that, before the merciful God, the generosity of alms exceeds fasts, as the Lord says: ‘Give alms, and all things will be clean for you’ (Luke 11:41) from sordidness of our sins, let us not deny alms to the poor, so that on the day of retribution, in order to gain the mercy of God, we might be helped by our works of mercy” (Matthew 25: 34 – 40).

BE GOOD

                                          

                    Memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr

                                           Tuesday of the 4^th Week

                                            “Agatha means good”

1. Heb 12: 18 – 19. 21-24

Psalm 47: 2-4.9-11

3. Mk 6: 7-13

Today we are celebrating the memorial of St. Agatha. “Good is the force and meaning of her name, Agatha in Greek, for she has been granted us, given as a gift, by God himself, the very fount of goodness...Agatha, her goodness fits both her name and her reality. Agatha who has won her good name by her noble deeds, and in that very name proves that her deeds were noble. Agatha, who even by her name so draws men, too, by her example, so strive with her without delay towards the true Good, who is God alone.” Agatha was a good woman. She shared in the goodness of God. She is good to us. The word good means: morally excellent; exemplary; upright; obedient; humane; admirable; commendable; virtuous, righteous, pious; well-behaved; hounourable; compentent and skillful. We can rightly say: a good name; a good manager, a good man; a good woman, a good girl; a good boy.

In being good remember these principles. The first principle is the golden mean: virtue is in the middle. Virtue is a mean between the defect and the excess. This view is partly captured by the Haitian proverb: “The man who is too good is a fool.” The golden mean is again enshrined in the following proverb: “The man who is all honey flies will eat him.” To cite an example generosity is a mean between extravagance and selfishness.

The second principle is the principle of the “Other.” Your goodness is not for yourself but for the other. “To the good I would be good; to the not-good I would also be good, in order to make them good,” said Lao-tzu.  If there is the “I” there is the “Other.”

The third principle is the principle of visibility. “In a place where good is done, bad deeds are seen at once” (Swahili proverb). Be good.

Prayer:  

God help me to hate the bad that I may not be bad. Help me to do the good that the good may follow me.  In short, help me to be good. Amen!