Bishop Montfort Stima of Mangochi diocese says the word of God is not mere history but “rather alive and active, prophetic and contextual” such that it is speaking to people today as it has done throughout the span of human life.
The prelate said this in a homily of October 23, at St. Montfort (Chinguwo) Parish on the National observance of Mission Sunday and Four Missionary Jubilees. On this day, the Catholic Church appreciates Mission work and missionaries who have and continue to spread the Gospel.
The bishop cautioned Malawians against turning backs against God because of problems of corruption, hunger, cholera, poverty, chaotic leadership at various levels and many more.
“The problems that we face should help us to be united with God. Do not kill your conscience. Are we not doing evil thinking God has deserted us? We must not desert eternal principles because of what we are passing through”. He continued, “The problems Malawians are facing might force them to ask ‘God where are you”? Problems will always be there. Some of problems, such as corruption and material longings at the expense of the poor are a result of killing the conscience. We must train ourselves to have conscience that is alive,” he said.
Bishop Stima, who is vice president of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi(ECM) then called on Catholics and people of good will to stop complaining about present-day challenges but rather act and “pray for leaders and ourselves to be transformed. ”Prayer is key to self-inflicted suffering”. He said.
The prelate observed that in prayer people find the meaning of their suffering and as such, they must search why, as a nation, Malawi is regressing daily.“God is there. In good, in bad; He is with us,” He added that Malawians must begin to be willing to share resources at their disposal and not being “stingy and self-centered” to the extent of victimizing the voiceless” such as the elderly falsely accused of witchcraft and other superstitions.
The Bishop said the poverty in Malawi is also because the nation has neglected justice.“How come that in a nation where the majority of the people are stuck in poverty, some people have become rich overnight. In a nation where the youth are not sure of their tomorrow, some people have the audacity and luxury of boasting their ill-gotten wealth,” he said stressing that the best way to preach the Good News is to keep God’s commandments and letting each day be a testimony that people are witnesses to the triune God through their professions and through their various vocations.
Bishop Stima continued that when Israelites were coming out of Babylon they “were promised good life, life of happiness and overflowing, yet to their surprise, they met huddles and hustles. They met corrupt people, the gap between the rich and the poor was widening. The Israelites lost hope in their homeland”.
“What can separate us from the love of God?” he asked, adding “Is it hunger, poverty or corruption, unemployment or death? Jesus did not come to serve only Catholics, only jews, only Christians. He came to save and give liberty to everyone. Yet for all to be saved they must know God and do what God expects,” he said in reference to readings from Isaiah 55:1-7 and the Gospel of John 17:11-23.
This year’s World Mission Sunday was celebrated under the theme “you shall be my witnesses to the ends of the world” Acts 1:8