Malawi Catholic Members of Parliament recently ended their budgetary seating session with a holy mass presided over by Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Coordinator, Fr. Henry Chinkanda.
The mass which was also attended by some Catholic members of staff was held in parliament buildings under the theme “That all may have life and have it to the full” taken from the book of John 10:10.
In his homely which was also based on the first reading which was taken from the book of Revelation 3: 19 – 22 in which Jesus is depicted as knocking at a door, Fr. Chinkanda said there is a ‘Door of Opportunity’ in life for everybody.
“The Risen Christ once said to his followers: “I have set before you an open door” Rev. 3: 8. This is a door of opportunity by which the Gospel could be preached to all including to Parliamentarians,” said Fr. Chinkanda
He said God sets before everyone a door of opportunity and the Members of Parliament were elected to the August House through this door of opportunity.
Fr. Chinkanda observed that the reading also referred to the Door of the Human Heart’.
“Christ says, ‘I stand before your door and knock’. This is a door that can only be opened from within and it is up to each one of us to open ourselves for Christ to find space and dwell in us with his graces” he said.
According to Fr. Chinkanda, the last door is the door of Revelation – the door of the Gospel that leads one to our heavenly destiny and salvation.
He said by being enlightened by this door of the Gospel, we shall be able to see Christ who is sick in our society and be ready to assist, we shall also be able to take note of those who are hungry and provide something for them to eat, we shall also notice the poverty that prevails in our society and be able to advocate pro-poor policies as Members of Parliament.
According to Fr. Chinkanda, this was the general outcry and hope of the citizenry of Malawi that the Parliament Session should come up with a pro-poor budget. He said it is only when there is equitable distribution of the resources in the country that all can have life and have it to the full.