KENYA: Pastoral Letter of John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi
To all Christians and people of good will in the Archdiocese of NairobiBe reconciled to God; now is the favorable time (2Cor 6:2)
My dear Christians and all the people of good will in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, the peace, the peace, the peace of Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
As we start this graceful moment of Lent, we have an opportunity at hand to reflect on the main truth of our faith and how we put it in practice. This is time set apart to prepare for Easter using the sacrament of reconciliation as a sure way to receive true life. Lent is a period of renewal for one’s life supported by prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Through prayer we beg God for the force of conversion and determination to believe in the gospel. Almsgiving is meant to challenge us to think about the essential needs of others, to control our passions and selfishness. Fasting instead prepares us for self sacrifice and surrender to our likings.
It is not fasting as such that pleases God but the love towards our brothers and sisters. In his first letter St John reminds us that: Who ever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. 1Jn 2:10. In fact that is why Christian fasting and charity are linked to one another.
I as your Shepherd and priest call upon you to take an extra step forward to reflect deeply on the Word of God our heritage and apply it on the current situation so that the mystery of salvation we are to experience in these forty days may assist us to be reconciled with God and one another.
In the past weeks our country has experienced bloodshed, destruction of property, displacement of its sons and daughters which has led to suspicion and mistrust. This situation reminds me of the words of Prophet Jeremiah: Thus says the Lord; In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning, of bitter weeping! Rachael mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more Jer. 31:15. We as Christians have the responsibility and obligation to actively participate in reconciliation and healing process.
When we are baptized we form one family of the children of God. Looking at what is happening, we have to seriously question ourselves where our Christian values have disappeared to. The aspects of Care for others, solidarity, warmth in human relations, acceptance, dialogue and trust are demanding for an answer.
I am encouraged by positive aspects that are being fostered by the various parishes, institutions and individuals in caring for the needy in the current situation. But are we all testifying to our call to be witnesses? I kindly urge you to use this favorable time of Lent to participate actively in restoring faith, hope and charity among us in order to salvage our beloved nation from the misery in which we now find ourselves.
To bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth, we need to honestly question ourselves if this crisis of killing innocent lives, burning and destruction of property are compatible with Christian life. I am convinced that you will agree with me that they are not, you have the answer deep in your heart. This destruction is not surely the work of pagans and strangers. I call upon the perpetrators of this crisis to feel remorse, come to repentance and make restitution for the damages done.
In our context, reconciliation means to become friendly with each other after estrangement and to re-establish cordial relations between us all. It means to settle quarrels amicably that are causing conflicts. As we search for peace and justice we must emphasize reconciliation so that the three aspects become a means of growth and not of revenge and stagnation.
The experience of violence is still live and counting its victims day in day out. We are encouraged by the mediation talks that are currently under way and I urge you to participate actively by contributing to it by way of prayer and restrain from utterances that jeopardize the good end. St Paul recommends this: I urge, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. 1Cor.1:10. If God is always willing to give us a chance every year to reconcile with Him, why can’t we do it among ourselves?
Our ethnic origins are a gift from God who created us for Himself and allowed us the beauty of diversity. We are like a mosaic on God’s Crown, yet that has not been respected. With these same sentiments, we have held our nation at ransom. The internally displaced brethren, those who have lost their lives and property, in fact innocent blood is crying to God like in the time of Cain and Abel: What have you done! Listen: Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil. Gen. 4:10.
My dear people, think about the eviction of people by force from the place they once considered home and have no where to go to: that is when they have not been wounded, robbed and on some occasions killed. The informal settlements of Nairobi which are the most affected have become ghettos under war masters. The mobile phones are beings used to command attacks. A building structure may look like a house outside but inside they are burnt down shells. The water pipes and electricity have been disconnected (where they were present). The garbage is littering the areas and what used to look habitable now is a place of ghosts and gangs armed to kill. The small streets that give access to the shanties have been shared among the gangs. This scenario reminds me of the words of Prophet Jeremiah: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day and let them not seize, for the virgin daughter of my people is smitten with a great wound, with a very grievous blow. If I go out into the field, behold, those slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold the diseases of famine! For both Prophet and Priest ply their trade through the land, and have no knowledge. Jer.14:17-18)
In some areas where peace seems available, the truth is that at night the majority prefer to spend in the open fields or by the neighbors because emissaries pass during the day promising to return for revenge in the dark. There is hardly peace, food, water, security and trust in one another.
Our hearts move towards all those who are suffering especially the women, children and the disabled. This is the group placed between the rock and the hammer. They are lucky to be alive in makeshift Camps, at police posts, church compounds and on verandas of people of good will. Families are continuously breaking down because of this conflict.
Many people have lost jobs; shops and kiosks have been burnt down after looting them and others have shut down because of fear; this has tremendously hampered business and normal living and is still causing several economic problems. Consequently, in some areas the schools have not been spared the brunt of destruction. The pupils and teachers have been put in disarray. Those who have seen the animosity of tribalism have decided to quit these areas, affecting the normal running of schools. Where shall we go without education?
In several areas insecurity has made it impossible for the people to access church for prayers and other pastoral activities. In any case the Church is the sign of hope at all times in all places, and this church is you and me. To remain faithful to our Christian calling, this is the favorable time that we should reconcile and turn to God.
The people who were once friends have now become tough enemies. Kenya is a wounded people and divided nation. The values of society are now destroyed and even lost. This trend could continue indefinitely unless we utilize this Lenten period to regain the lost glory. We need to use all good and reasonable means available to stop this violence; to dialogue, to avoid both national and international misunderstandings.
To stop the continuous suffering of the poor especially women, children and the disabled, let us feed the hungry who are facing crisis, rebuild Christian communities and uphold the values of honesty, trust, care, forgiveness and above all love: If I have the eloquence of men or of angels but speak without love I am simplify a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. 1Cor 13:1.
In thanksgiving for the gift of our faith, I encourage you to make the prayer of St Francis of Assisi your own during this Lenten season.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and truth’s sake.
O Divine master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love,
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
With the above reflections in mind I wish you a fruitful period of lent in preparation for a meaningful celebration of Easter 2008
I impart on you my apostolic blessings,
Your shepherd, John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi
Given at Nairobi on 6th February Ash Wednesday 2008
Published by CISA http://www.cisanewsafrica.org/
