Becoming holy is a journey. It entails 'being' rather than 'doing'-or so did Fr. Ben of DBYES Karen put it on 13th July 2013 at a Prayer Group Retreat.
We are all called to holiness. Whether it is in our vocations, academics, personal or family lives.
Here at St Paul's, we are not left behind; we are called to be holy in Theatre group, Mission, YCS, CLC, Prayer group, the Choir, Prolife, Liturgical dances and the Eucharistic
ministry. In the various capacities we occupy, holiness is attainable; we can achieve it!
All that we need to do is gear our thoughts, our actions and our prayers towards it. Going for mass daily or being part and parcel of all St Paul's students' groups does not make you holy.
It may put you on the path to holiness but fail to achieve the bigger goal.
Being holy starts in our residential rooms. How do we relate with our roommates? Are we judgemental by dismissing those who don't go to church as atheists? Do we offer them
a shoulder to lean on during their down moments or do we bury our heads in the sand and mind our Ps and Qs?
The zeal for holiness does not stop in our rooms; it overflows and follows us in our academics. Are we diligent students? Do we easily get lured to the temptation to plagiarize and copy exams?
It again beats no logic to attend all masses at St Paul's and at the same time be the person causing palavers and mayhem all over the university. Spilling hatred content and writing messages that are heavily laced with ethnic undertones in Comrades Forum( University students' facebook page) makes you lose the mark. If anything, does this not sound synonymous to that proverbial chameleone that was dipped in oil only to come out dry and cracked? Yes, you are a lukewarm; you deserve prayers!
The journey is tough.It is a long voyage that we undertake. The sailing might not be smooth. Strong temptestuous storms may come roughly rocking our boats in a bid to capsize it. Sea sickness
and nolstagia may bug us to the core. We may hunger, thirst and shiver. Loneliness and despair might be our secret friends and confidants but lets always remember: a peaceful harbour awaits us in the end.
By James NJenga
No comments:
Post a Comment