Reflections on the Church - Daniel Kassim 11022

REFLECTION ABOUT RESPECT FOR CREATION AND THE ECOSYSTEM

In Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus, his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, reflects quit well as on respect for creation and the ecosystem. According to him every member of the Church should be be aware to care for the poor and be just in the society. This is because the pope is aware of the resources present in Africa that they are enough for all Africans but some people in power exploit others and exploit them. This means that the exploitation and embezzlement of funds in Africa comes from both Africans and non-Africans. So it should be understood in the conscience of everybody that this is not good because God meant human beings to use their resources for the common good. It is better that every member of the Church to be an ambassador of economic, social, political, and spiritual development in his or her personal level, family level, small Christian level, an outstation level, parish level, diocesan level, community level, and at the level of the Whole Church at large in union with Rome (Cf. A.M. 79).

Most business people, governments, and financial groups are involved in programs of exploitation which pollute the environment and cause unprecedented desertification. Serious damage is obvious to nature, to forests, flora and fauna, and countless species risk extinction (C.f. A.M. 80).   This is a call to every human being especially members of the Church to be stewards of the creation and dot treat it as if it is not a sacred thing created by God. It is good to appreciate the creation even by seeing the divine glory and human dignity with a psalter: When I see your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and stars, ocean, mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, dry lands and all creatures are less than human being (C.f. Ps 8:4). This means that it is a human being who is reasonable to take care of God’s creation. Today there are many immoral actions done human being to the creation as if it is human person who created it. So it is the mission of the church to be the salt of the champions in defending the creation and ecosystem against destruction. Even if there are also many scandals within the church they should not hinder the faithful members to do the will of God.

The church on earth is the pilgrim church and so it is imperfect church. But this aspect of the church being imperfect should not be a loop hole over weak members of the church to continue sinning because as far as one is aware that the church is imperfect s/he has to avoid all the chances sin coming any sin. That is why to pray before doing anything is very important because in prayer God is called to witness whatever is done but it does not mean that when one does something without praying before doing it God does not see. In few words, the respect for creation and ecosystem brings about peace, reconciliation, and justice to the entire universe with God. So, let every human being be aware that the world in which we live in is divine and not like an object of experiment. Treating the world like an object is not only a threat to living things but also a grave sin.

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REFLECTION ON THE EUCHARIST IN RELATION TO AFRICAE MUNUS, 2011 (A.M. 152-154).

In his Africa’s Commitment, Pope Benedict XVI says “The most effective means for building a reconciled, just and peaceful society is a life of profound communion with God and others”. (A.M.152). This means that when the faithful receive the Holy Communion they become one on Christ even if they are of different originalities. The faithful are commanded to love one another and serve each other like what Jesus Christ did by giving his life for many. Christians are ought to offer themselves for the sake of others. This self giving for others can be witnessed to Christians by application of the beatitudes in the Gospel attributed to Mathew: to be poor in Spirit, to comfort those who morn, to be meek, to be righteous, to be merciful, to be clean in heart, and be peacemakers (Cf. Mt 5:3-10, AB).

During the celebration of the Eucharist each faithful is expected to celebrate it with dignity and beauty, in compliance with the established norms (Cf. A.M. 153). The postures are very important signs which show the unity in showing the dignity of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Actuosa participatio (active participation) and the reception of Holy Communion by every faithful shows unity and one bond among the Christians. It seems to be very beautiful if you find all the Christians are singing and dance together in the church and not only the choir, when it comes time for kneeling it is also beautiful if all of then do so and other liturgical actions during the celebration of the Eucharist.

“The Synod Fathers recalled that churches and chapels are sacred places, to be used solely for liturgical celebrations, avoiding to the extent possible that they become simply places for socializing or cultural places” (A.M. 154).  The Church leaders especially bishops, priests and the Church Council should work in collaboration to and make sure that the Churches are built in such a way that when the faithful come to pray they can feel the atmosphere of God’s presence and say like Jacob, “Truly, the Lord is in this spot…How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway of heaven”. (Gen 28:16-17). That is why today the churches are decorated by flowers and most of time the windows are put with beautiful translucent mirrors.     

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AFRICAE MUNUS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.

In his Africa’s Commitment Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Africae Munus, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed that the members of the Church include: Bishops, priests, missionaries, consecrated persons, seminarians, catechists, and lay people. The commitment to the service of the Church has to be carried by each member in his or her position in the Church so that every Christian is salt of the world (Cf. Africae Munus 99-131). The fully members of God are fully incorporated to the Church. Faith is a necessary element of a member of the Church. A faithful member of the Church will be able to believe what the entire Church teaches and live according to the will of God which is taught by the Church. This is so because the sources of the teachings of the Church are Bible, Tradition, and Experience.

The reception of sacraments is used by the Church to make people members of the Church. Here we mean specifically the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation). When one is baptized s/he gains new relationship with God and the Church because the original sin and other sins are removed. So to become a member of the Church is to become a special son/daughter of God. However, in reception of confirmation one gains strength in faith the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are infused to him or her. Eucharist gives the recipient an invisible grace and become Christ-like.

The member of the Church respects the hierarchy of the Church and is responsible of the services of the Church as far as the position where one is concerned like: Bishop, Priest, Missionary, Religious, Seminarian, Catechist, or lay. If every member of the Church will be aware his or her responsibilities in the Church there will peace, reconciliation and justice in the entire society and even non Church members of the Church will be tempted to join the Church. The Holy Spirit is working with the Church and that is why the Church despite of many times of crisis it survived. And even today it is surviving although there are some scandals, and then, it will survive up to end of time. That is why every faithful member of the Church believes that the Church is One, Catholic, Holy, and Apostolic, and at the end of time the member of the Church who are in purgatory and the members of the pilgrim Church on earth will join the Church in Heaven with angels and saints.

The faithful members of the Church are the salt of the earth, in that; they are example of virtuous life. These people, when they live with the people outside the Church such are the Protestants, orthodox/oriental, muslims, hindus, and all others will have something unique because of their special relationship with God. They live according to teachings of Christ who excluded no body but drew all people to him so that the reign of God is realized. Non members of the Church, in most cases live in seclusion and think that other people are not people of God. (Cf. Class Notes page 64).

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By Shemweta Daniel Rogate Kassim, O.S.B. 11022T

SHEMWETA  DANIEL  ROGATE  KASSIM - OSB, 11022T

HOW IS MY PERSONAL HOLINESS DEPENDENT ON THE HOLINESS OF THE CHURCH?

Personal holiness means a state of an individual to be sinless because s/he lives according the will of God. To live according to the will of God is to keep the 10 commandments of God and the 6 commandments of the Church which are summarized by the commandment of LOVE (Cf. Ex 20) and for a religious we add to live according to the rules and constitutions of respective congregation as well as the charism of the founders. However, to keep all these commandments without detaching oneself from the worldly things especially wealth, women/men who are immoral, and wine (alcohol) in excess, I will not attain my personal holiness.  

The Church in which I believe in is One, HOLY, Catholic, and Apostolic (Cf. Creed). In this reflection I am interested to reflect on the aspect of HOLINESS. The Church is Holy because it was founded by Jesus Christ who is Holy per excellence. Because I am the follower of Christ (Christian) so my personal holiness depends on the holiness of Christ who is the founder of this Church.

The Church draws me to holiness through the prayer and work, Scriptures, 7 sacraments, monastic vows, attending the Holy Eucharistic celebration, and doing charitable works. When the Church prays it draws me near to holiness because I have to pray with the Church. When the Church works it I through her holy people I am also moved to imitate their good deeds. When the Holy Scripture is proclaimed or lived by the holy people of God I am moved to imitate them and do the same. When the Church celebrates the sacraments I become one among the recipients of these sacraments which draws me to holiness.

However, as a religious, when I put my monastic vows (stability, obedience, and moral conversion) I also experienced the holiness of life in because the Church has put these for holistic purposes. So when I am stable and obedience to my abbot in the monastery and obey him and his council when they send me for the mission of the Church wherever, the moral aspect in me will be in the side of God’s will and wherever I will be in mission of the Holy Church I will work as a Holy Monk.

By attending the Holy Eucharistic Celebration, more especially on Sundays and recommended Feasts of the Church I can be reminded where to I have gone astray and where I am dong fine as far as my relationship with God is concerned. That is why I respect very much the Advent and Lenten seasons because the actually remind me about the cost my salvation and so to try my level best to live holy life. The lives of saints also teach me a lot because these people have really tried to live like Christ. Nevertheless, the Church encourages me to do charitable works like visiting the sick, feeding the poor, widows and orphans (Cf. Mt 5:3-10).

By concluding, I think that if anybody wants to be saved s/he must deny himself or self and follow Christ (Cf. Lk 9:23). To follow Christ means to follow what the Church teaches because the teachings of the Church draw its origin from Christ. That is why I insist that my holiness depends on the holiness and teachings of the Church.  And when I become unholy the Church remains Holy because Christ is Holy all the time.