5th SUNDAY OF EASTER: SPECIAL HOMILY TO THE KENYAN MEMBERS OF PERLIAMENT

“It’s difficult to be quiet if you have nothing to do”
-Arthur Schopenhauer-

Dear brothers and sisters, elected parliamentarians, I would like to say thanks for all you are doing to our country and for your work in representing your constituencies, where you stood and came out victorious. For each of you belong to a specific religion and for that is an inner conviction of who God is in your life.
You went around thanking people who voted for you. But it was also important that you thanked God for the gifts and life he gave you to crisscross your constituency. I do not know whether you did it or not. For those who did thank God, God bless you.

1. It’s recorded, let’s say it’s written, in the first chapter of Job that “His sons used to take turns giving feasts, sending invitations to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when each feast had run its course, Job would send for them and sanctify them, rising early and offering holocausts for every one of them. For Job said, ‘it may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts” (Jo 1:45)

This has been the first act in our celebration. An act of repentance, in case in the heat of your campaigns, in the excitement in celebrating your victory, you may have offended God, and you may have done wrong to your neighbour.

2. The second act that you did was celebrations in thanksgiving. In his first letter to the Corinthians St. Paul says “do you know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race fo a prize, but only 'one' wins the prize?” (1 Cor 9:24). Who does not know that in the political arena all “run”. Do you know how many were competing with you? Have you forgotten the sleepless nights you spent, puzzled about what to do the next day? Have you forgotten the many odds which, stood in your way and which at times seemed insurmountable? Have you forgotten the wise advice from a friend or inspiration, of which you cannot explain the source, which enabled you to go over those odds? “They all ran, but only you won”. Congratulations!

You, surely, have already thanked your campaigners, your supporters; some of them may even have suffered hardships because of you. May be the best way to thank them was simply “thank you” and they can do more.

3. The third act of celebration was dedication. We, who have welcomed you, arch dedicating you, but more so you yourselves are dedicating yourselves in Christian and Islamic leadership even traditional chiefs and elders to the service of your nation. You will remember the story of Adam’s sons Cain and Abel. They both used to bring offerings to God. God, it is said, that: “God looked with favour on Abel and on his flock” (Gen 4:3-5). We draw inspiration from Psalm 15 (14) on which we reflect by the psalm asking a question “Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?”

I address this question to you our delegates. What Christian leader should be at the top of politics? What Christian leader should be in parliament? What Christian leader should be in that “August House?” what Christian leader should we dedicate, what Christian leader should dedicate himself or herself to the service of this nation? God, through the prophets gives us the answer in this psalm:

Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from his heart; who does not slander a neighbour, does no harm to another never defames a friend; but honours those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent, whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.

Dear brothers and sisters. I am sure you realize that our main reason of coming together in this country at this time is not to congratulate as the best Kenyan but one who shares our destiny and you are our spokesman. The main reason is to enable you brace yourselves for the task ahead. The dilemma of the moral man in an immoral society is well-known to us all. The picture of an ideal Christian leader, who should be at the top. To be in the August House is clearly painted for you by the psalmist:

• One who walks without blame
• One who does what is right
• One who speaks the truth
• One who does not slander his neighbour
• One who does no harm to another
• One who does not defame a friend
• One who keeps an oath despite the cost
• One who is not corrupt
• One who practices no usury
• One who does not accept a bribe
Such a man was Thomas More. His story is known to each of one you and if you have never heard it read him in “Man of All Seasons”. He was all that; this is how he became a Saint. He is your patron He is your role model. He is a hero, worship him, and imitate him.
“To go up alone into the mountain and come back as an ambassador to the world has ever been the method of humanity’s friends”. - Evelyn Underhill-
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Padre Joseph Nyamunga Mubiru
P.O.BOX 15318-00509
NAIROBI-KENYA
BLOG: http://nyamusus.blogspot.com
Mob. +254-722-585-329