KENYA: Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis at the University of Nairobi
Thursday, 26 November
2015
2015
God’s
word speaks to us in the depths of our heart.
Today God tells us that we belong to him. He made us, we are his family, and he will
always be there for us. “Fear not”, he
says to us, “I have chosen you and I promise to give you my blessing” (cf. Is
44:2).
word speaks to us in the depths of our heart.
Today God tells us that we belong to him. He made us, we are his family, and he will
always be there for us. “Fear not”, he
says to us, “I have chosen you and I promise to give you my blessing” (cf. Is
44:2).
We
hear this promise in today’s first reading.
The Lord tells us that in the desert he will pour forth water on the
thirsty land; he will cause the children of his people to flourish like grass
and luxuriant willows. We know that this
prophecy was fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But we also see it fulfilled wherever the
Gospel is preached and new peoples become members of God’s family, the
Church. Today we rejoice that it was
fulfilled in this land. Through the
preaching of the Gospel, you too became part of the great Christian family.
hear this promise in today’s first reading.
The Lord tells us that in the desert he will pour forth water on the
thirsty land; he will cause the children of his people to flourish like grass
and luxuriant willows. We know that this
prophecy was fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But we also see it fulfilled wherever the
Gospel is preached and new peoples become members of God’s family, the
Church. Today we rejoice that it was
fulfilled in this land. Through the
preaching of the Gospel, you too became part of the great Christian family.
Isaiah’s
prophecy invites us to look to our own families, and to realize how important
they are in God’s plan. Kenyan society
has long been blessed with strong family life, a deep respect for the wisdom of
the elderly and love for children. The
health of any society depends on the health of its families. For their sake, and for the good of society,
our faith in God’s word calls us to support families in their mission in
society, to accept children as a blessing for our world, and to defend the
dignity of each man and woman, for all of us are brothers and sisters in the
one human family.
prophecy invites us to look to our own families, and to realize how important
they are in God’s plan. Kenyan society
has long been blessed with strong family life, a deep respect for the wisdom of
the elderly and love for children. The
health of any society depends on the health of its families. For their sake, and for the good of society,
our faith in God’s word calls us to support families in their mission in
society, to accept children as a blessing for our world, and to defend the
dignity of each man and woman, for all of us are brothers and sisters in the
one human family.
In
obedience to God’s word, we are also called to resist practices which foster
arrogance in
obedience to God’s word, we are also called to resist practices which foster
arrogance in
men, hurt or demean women, and threaten the life of the innocent
unborn. We are called to respect and
encourage one another, and to reach out to all those in need. Christian families have this special mission:
to radiate God’s love, and to spread the life-giving waters of his Spirit. This is especially important today, for we
are seeing the growth of new deserts created by a culture of materialism and
indifference to others.
The
Lord makes us another promise in today’s readings. As the Good Shepherd who guides us on the
paths of life, he promises to make us dwell in his own house for days unending
(cf. Ps 23:6). Here too, we see his
promise fulfilled in the life of the Church.
In Baptism, he leads us beside restful waters and revives our soul; in
Confirmation he anoints us with the oil of spiritual joy and strength; and in
the Eucharist, he prepares a table for us, the table of his own body and blood,
for the salvation of the world.
Lord makes us another promise in today’s readings. As the Good Shepherd who guides us on the
paths of life, he promises to make us dwell in his own house for days unending
(cf. Ps 23:6). Here too, we see his
promise fulfilled in the life of the Church.
In Baptism, he leads us beside restful waters and revives our soul; in
Confirmation he anoints us with the oil of spiritual joy and strength; and in
the Eucharist, he prepares a table for us, the table of his own body and blood,
for the salvation of the world.
We
need these gifts of grace! Our world
needs these gifts! Kenya needs these
gifts! They strengthen us in fidelity
amid adversity, when we seem to be walking “in the valley of the shadow of
death”. But they also change our
hearts. They make us more faithful
disciples of the divine Master, vessels of mercy and loving kindness in a world
wounded by selfishness, sin and division.
These are the gifts which God, in his providence, enables you, as men
and women of faith, to contribute to the building up of your country in civil
concord and fraternal solidarity. In a
particular way, they are gifts which must be shared with the young, who here,
as elsewhere on this great continent, are the future of society.
need these gifts of grace! Our world
needs these gifts! Kenya needs these
gifts! They strengthen us in fidelity
amid adversity, when we seem to be walking “in the valley of the shadow of
death”. But they also change our
hearts. They make us more faithful
disciples of the divine Master, vessels of mercy and loving kindness in a world
wounded by selfishness, sin and division.
These are the gifts which God, in his providence, enables you, as men
and women of faith, to contribute to the building up of your country in civil
concord and fraternal solidarity. In a
particular way, they are gifts which must be shared with the young, who here,
as elsewhere on this great continent, are the future of society.
Here,
in the heart of this University, where the minds and hearts of new generations
are being shaped, I appeal in a special way to the young people of the
nation. Let the great values of Africa’s
traditions, the wisdom and truth of God’s word, and the generous idealism of
your youth guide you in working to shape a society which is ever more just,
inclusive and respectful of human dignity.
May you always be concerned for the needs of the poor, and reject
everything that leads to prejudice and discrimination, for these things, we
know, are not of God.
in the heart of this University, where the minds and hearts of new generations
are being shaped, I appeal in a special way to the young people of the
nation. Let the great values of Africa’s
traditions, the wisdom and truth of God’s word, and the generous idealism of
your youth guide you in working to shape a society which is ever more just,
inclusive and respectful of human dignity.
May you always be concerned for the needs of the poor, and reject
everything that leads to prejudice and discrimination, for these things, we
know, are not of God.
All
of us are familiar with Jesus’ parable about the man who built his house on
sand, rather than rock. When the winds
came, it fell with a mighty crash (cf.Mt 7:24-27). God is the rock on which we are called to build. He tells us this in the first reading, and he
asks us: “Is there a God besides me?” (cf. Is 44:8).
of us are familiar with Jesus’ parable about the man who built his house on
sand, rather than rock. When the winds
came, it fell with a mighty crash (cf.Mt 7:24-27). God is the rock on which we are called to build. He tells us this in the first reading, and he
asks us: “Is there a God besides me?” (cf. Is 44:8).
When
the Risen Jesus says, in today’s Gospel, “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me” (Mt 28:18), he is telling us that he, the Son of God, is
himself the rock. There is none besides
him. As the one Saviour of mankind, he
wishes to draw men and women of every time and place to himself, so that he can
bring them to the Father. He wants all
of us to build our lives on the firm foundation of his word.
the Risen Jesus says, in today’s Gospel, “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me” (Mt 28:18), he is telling us that he, the Son of God, is
himself the rock. There is none besides
him. As the one Saviour of mankind, he
wishes to draw men and women of every time and place to himself, so that he can
bring them to the Father. He wants all
of us to build our lives on the firm foundation of his word.
That
is why, after his resurrection and at the moment of his return to the Father,
Jesus gave his apostles the great missionary mandate which we heard in today’s
Gospel: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to observe all that I have commanded you”.
is why, after his resurrection and at the moment of his return to the Father,
Jesus gave his apostles the great missionary mandate which we heard in today’s
Gospel: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to observe all that I have commanded you”.
And
that is the charge which the Lord gives to each of us. He asks us to be missionary disciples, men
and women who radiate the truth, beauty and life-changing power of the
Gospel. Men and women who are channels
of God’s grace, who enable his mercy, kindness and truth to become the building
blocks of a house that stands firm. A
house which is a home, where brothers and sisters at last live in harmony and
mutual respect, in obedience to the will of the true God, who has shown us, in
Jesus, the way to that freedom and peace for which all hearts long.
that is the charge which the Lord gives to each of us. He asks us to be missionary disciples, men
and women who radiate the truth, beauty and life-changing power of the
Gospel. Men and women who are channels
of God’s grace, who enable his mercy, kindness and truth to become the building
blocks of a house that stands firm. A
house which is a home, where brothers and sisters at last live in harmony and
mutual respect, in obedience to the will of the true God, who has shown us, in
Jesus, the way to that freedom and peace for which all hearts long.
May
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the rock on whom we build our lives, guide you and
your families in the way of goodness and mercy all the days of your lives. May he bless all Kenyans with his peace.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the rock on whom we build our lives, guide you and
your families in the way of goodness and mercy all the days of your lives. May he bless all Kenyans with his peace.
“Stand
strong in faith! Do not be afraid!” For you belong to the Lord.
strong in faith! Do not be afraid!” For you belong to the Lord.
Mungu awabariki! (God bless you!)
Mungu abariki Kenya! (God bless Kenya!)
Source: Holy See Press
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