Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, 15th August 2023,
Readings: Rev. 11:19; 12:1-6, 10; 1 Cor. 15:20-26; Lk. 1:39-56.
On behalf of the family of God in Abuja Archdiocese, I heartily welcome you, brothers and sisters, to the 5th Pan African Catholic Charismatic Renewal Congress, holding in Abuja, Nigeria. I understand that this body drawing members from English, French and Portuguese speaking countries of Africa is being hosted in Nigeria for the first time. To God be glory and praise!
It is gratifying that this formidable spiritual body has as part of its aims to unite Catholics of Africa in prayer. I believe that prayer, hard work, and honesty can free Africa from the ravages of sin, criminality, violence, war, hunger, diseases, etc. While others rely on arms, money and political power, we invoke the power of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit to fight the multidimensional challenges facing Africa.
Africa has been badly wounded by slavery, colonialism, religious fanaticism, wars, famine, social vices, even as she is now the fertile ground for what Pope Francis refers to as “ideological colonization.” We believe in the healing and transforming power of prayer. Prayers can climb Mount Kilimanjaro, cross oceans, penetrate walls, shoot into the skies, and descend into the earth. There is power in prayer.
The theme of your conference is, “Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” The key word is “arise.” Jesus arose from heaven to dwell among us and rose from the dead to assure us of our resurrection. On earth, Jesus went around doing good; His light shone everywhere. Mary arose and went to see her cousin Elizabeth, indicating that from the moment she was identified by God as the vessel to bring forth the Saviour of the world, she started her mission as the bearer of the good news. Joseph on his part, rose with Mary and headed to Egypt with the infant Jesus because Jesus’ life was threatened by king Herod.
A Christian is called to rise and shine. You cannot be a Christian and remain unmoved by the invitation to preach the good news in words and deeds. St. Paul says, “woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16). Our Christian faith in Africa has been tried and tested; the martyrs of Uganda are an example, and the killing of priests, the kidnappings and bombings experienced by many Christians in Nigeria seem to confirm what Jesus foresaw when He said a time will come “when everyone who puts you to death will consider that he is offering an excellent service to God” (Jn. 16:2).
You members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal must not forget the role Africa played in the history of our salvation. Jesus took refuge in Africa; Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry the cross was said to be an African from Eastern Libya. There were Africans from Egypt and Libya among those who experienced the first Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:10). So, it is our duty in Africa to wage a war to dislodge sin, corruption, bad governance, social vices and religious bigotry in the world. These are tasks that must be done by us in living out the gospel in our homes, places of work. We are called to overcome artificial divisions imposed on us by colonial powers, living as our brothers and sisters’ keepers, because we have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all….” (Eph. 4:6).
Africans are a very religious people. Those who say there is no God, the Bible says are fools (cf. Ps. 14:1). If they are Africans, they must have been “over educated” and unduly influenced by living abroad or studying too many books that have confused them.
Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life calls us to shine so that people may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (cf. Mt. 5:16). It is not in our character as Christians to persecute or kill somebody because he or she offends our faith. We leave that to God. What is expected of us is to live as witnesses and ambassadors of Christ, always “ready to give an explanation to all who ask you the reason for that hope which is in you” (1 Pt. 3:15).
We must use our spiritual gifts to foster discipline and order in our society, not to cause disunity or confusion. Many today use spiritual gifts of prophecy, healing and speaking, etc, in tongues to attract attention to themselves rather than to Jesus, a kind of personality cult. As soon as some people discover that they have a spiritual gift, they drift away from the Church, believing they need no ecclesial authority; some commercialize the gospel emphasizing only healing and prosperity. Some, in interpreting what they call visions, have destabilized families by telling people that their close relations are responsible for the death of their loved ones or for their sickness or lack of progress in their business.
It is no coincidence that your conference is starting on the day we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, taken up by God body and soul into heavenly glory (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 966). Remember that Enoch and Elijah, in the Old Testament, stand as good examples of those who did not experience bodily corruption but were taken up to heaven body and soul.
For us Catholics, Mary is the Queen and Mother of all Christians. From the cross, Jesus told John to “behold his mother” (Jn. 19:27). In his vision of heaven described in Revelation, John sees the Blessed Virgin “clothed with the sun…and on her head a [queenly] crown of twelve stars….” (Rev. 12:1).
We are called to Marian devotion (pray the rosary daily), but any devotion that does not lead us to Christ or help us to realize our common dependence on Him is defective and a devotion to Christ that neglects Mary is not complete. Mary’s life was lived fully and unconditionally with a capital ‘YES’ to the will of God. Mary’s greatness lies in the fact that she was humble before God and surrendered herself to God. “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38).
Mary’s life had its own challenges; her heart also knew pain and sorrow, but she bore all these to the culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry at Calvary. Like a caring mother, she will always intercede for our sake, just as she did on behalf of the couple in Cana.
We ask our Blessed Mother to help us to be shining lights in Africa and indeed in the world where strife, selfishness, materialism, bloodshed and violence prevail.
Below are scenes from the ongoing Pan African CCR Conference.
