Christian Cardinal Tumi, in his traditional New Year Homily, delivered in Douala on January 01, 2008; which was also the World Day for Peace and the Day of Mary, Mother of God, has appealed to all Christians, religious men and women, people in authority, politicians, families and children to pray and double their efforts for the spiritual, political and socio-economic development of Cameroon.
Below is the homily in its entirety.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
Today is the first day of the year 2008.
The Lord has brought us here this morning to tell us how great his love is for us. We are moving from one year to another. Over the past year, we probably lost a member of our family, a friend, or a colleague at work. We were probably ill and had to spend much time in hospital. But, we are all here this morning without any merit on our part.
Let us give thanks to God.
For my part, I take this opportunity to wish you, from deep down my heart, a very happy New Year 2008. It is a year that is beginning with joy for our Diocese of Douala, which has just been given a Coadjutor Bishop, Monsignor Samuel Kleda, who will finally arrive in Douala on February 11. On your behalf, and on my own behalf, I have already written to thank the Holy Father for giving him to us.
Today, Saint Luke, speaking about the Blessed Virgin Mary, confides to us what he must have had from the Virgin Mary herself. He tells us that “As for Mary, she kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
What are these things?
The shepherds “received” a message from our Lord, which they “made known” to others. Those who heard it were surprised. Mary, for her part, and in an exemplary manner, “kept it carefully and reflected on it”. The miraculous conception of the child, his birth in a stable, the visit of the first witnesses to this miraculous event.
These witnesses were the shepherds, people who have nothing, people who were less than nothing, if you wish. They were looked upon as dishonest and as thieves. It was even said in those days that “pagans and shepherds, who fall into a well, should be left in there” because shepherds were not worth much. Yet, they are the first companions of the Redeemer and the first visitors of Mary and Joseph!
Saint Luke focuses all our attention on the heart of this woman, a model of faith.
With all her intelligence, with all her will, with all her heart, with all her being, she strives to read “meaning” into this event that has just happened and that “speaks” to us of God. This is what is sometimes called a “revision” of life.
When I listen to this message, I wonder what God wants me to make of this monumental event at the level of my family, in my professional life, in the life of our nation and the world at large.
When I listen to it, I wonder what event was significant in my life in the past year. Did I take the time to reflect on it and draw useful lessons from it?
Around you, how was your relationship with the members of your family?; with your brothers and sisters of Small Christian Communities? ; with your employer or your employee? What significant event enabled you to enhance your relationships with others, in case they were not already good?
For my part, in the light of prophet Amos, I reflect. I always reflect on the fate of the poor and the marginalized in the Diocese of Douala, this massive city where the gap between the rich and the poor is scandalous.
I reflect on the exploitation of ordinary Cameroonians, who are only living on promises, empty speeches, and who are wondering if anything is worth the pains anymore. In the days of prophet Amos, the new moon, like the Sabbath, interrupted commercial transactions. We see that, from time immemorial, the faithful have always tried to give themselves a clear conscience by observing ritual precepts, by not working on religious feast days, while remaining keen to make a profit! This façade of piety can only flatter God! No religious act should hide the exploitation of the poor nor the embezzlement of public funds. God hears the cry of the poor. He sees the “increase in prices” and knows that it is the poorest of the poor who are the victims. Yes, that is why we should say this prayer to him: “Grant us, Lord, grant to all men and women, the sense of the strictest professional consciousness.
Help us to make our religion manifest in more concrete acts of everyday life in order to defend the poor. Help our Churches to become more committed to the fight against economic injustices that plunge over half of the world’s population into desperate hunger.” The majority of those governing us believe in God to whom every man and woman shall render account of his or her actions. It is precisely these people governing us, Christians for the most part, who embezzle public funds with impunity. What have they done with their belief, with their Christian faith, whose fruit should be their good works, the good way with which they managing the common good entrusted to their care?
It is ironic that it is Christians, who put in serious danger the economic future of our country, whereas, as Christians, they should be the light. The “day of the Lord” which prophet Amos talks about, is the day in which all forms of injustice shall be punished. The exploitation of the poor shall end. The “day of Yahve” will be the day the illusions of the rich will go up in smoke. Criminal activities, delinquency, banditry, economic pillage are on the increase. Cameroon has again taken its “position” at the head of the most corrupt countries of the world. We forget that injustice carries in itself its own punishment.
There are events that should make all Cameroonians think.
I praise government efforts in its fight against corruption and economic delinquency on the part of certain leaders who believed they were untouchable.
I congratulate those magistrates who work like the prophet, at the risk of endangering their professional progress, and even their lives, in respect of the dictates of their conscience and of the law before which all Cameroonians are equal.
But, I am still wondering about the outcome of the sanctions imposed on citizens guilty of corruption and the embezzlement of public funds. My concerns are without doubt those many of you would share. They can be summarized in the following words: “It is good to arrest and jail those guilty of embezzling public funds. But we would like to know how much has been recovered from them; or how much they have returned to the State coffers, which they looted. The Catholic Church teaches that “the reparation for injustice committed requires the restitution of stolen goods to their owner. Jesus blesses Zacchaeus for his pledge: “If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Those who, directly or indirectly, have taken possession of the goods of another, are obliged to make restitution of them, or to return the equivalent in kind or in money, if the good have disappeared, as well as the profit or advantages their owner would have legitimately obtained from them.
Likewise, all who in some manner have taken part in a theft or who have knowingly benefited from it – are obliged to make restitution in proportion to their responsibility and to their share of what was stolen.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2412). The situation is disturbing when we watch a real massacre of Cameroonian citizens charged with the responsibility of ensuring the security of the country and its borders. I wonder how long this silence that has plunged the families of the victims into anguish will last given that the truth of what happened in Bakassi has not been revealed. No one knows who the assailants were, nor their victims, with not a single corpse having been buried yet. Such shadowy events shock the Cameroonian people and intensify their worries.
It is such shadowy events that present us with major challenges to overcome in the new year as we strive to usher in a Cameroon in which all will live in peace.
That is why, in the light of the Gospel, we should fight against anti-values (corruption, impunity, mismanagement, etc), and call for justice to prevail and for reparation to be made at the national level to that section of our people whose rights have been abused.
That is why I make a call in the form of recommendations to all Christian communities that are in Douala , and in the rest of the country:
To those in positions of authority: I plead with them to do all in their power to consolidate the positive actions so far taken against insecurity and corruption. May they make it a duty to accelerate the process of recovering the country’s funds that have been stashed away in individual bank accounts wherever they may be, outside or within the country.
To politicians: true political parties should propose to the Cameroonian people realistic projects rather than small promises that have no future. For their part, the people should remain vigilant. While massively mobilizing their militants, as prescribed by law, political parties should refrain from all forms of violence (verbal or physical) against political opponents so as not to compromise government’s efforts in the fight against the ills undermining Cameroon .
To the Cameroonian people: to you, more than to anyone else, I wish to assure you that I understand your trials and I share in the sufferings you have been enduring. As I have already told you, I understand the price that you have been paying for several years now, and which you continue to pay to ensure the emergence of a better Cameroon . I, however, believe that if many politicians continue to abuse your good will, sometimes leading you into unnecessary conflicts, it is also with your complicity and consent.
Do not therefore allow anyone to mislead you, particularly into supporting politicians for the simple reason that they come from your region of the country or from your ethnic group. A brother is not necessarily a good leader. I call on you to teach each other in wisdom ( Col 3:16) and enlighten yourselves so you can better oppose all forms of injustice of which you are the first victims.
To pastoral agents: dear collaborators, priests, religious men and women, catechists; I plead with you to treat everyone equally. As for you, committed lay people, be the first to promote the culture of peace, reconciliation and mutual forgiveness.
Know how to identify those forces of evil that are sowing seeds of division among you and hindering the rise of a State of Cameroon in which all will live in peace and harmony as brothers and sisters, irrespective of origin.
Those are my best wishes for you for the year that is just beginning. That is a plea that is coming from the depth of my heart to you, people of God living in Douala. You are the light of the world. Prove to all that Jesus did not come into the world for nothing. Amen.
+Christian Cardinal Tumi,
Archbishop of Douala .
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, Even to them
that believe on his name." John 1:12
SOUL2 SMINISTRIES
P. O. BOX NO. 3. TENALI- 522 201. GUNTUR (DT) A. P. INDIA
======================================================================================
Rev. P. EPHRAIM
To,
Dear servants of God
Greetings to you in the most precious name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Let me introduce myself that my Name is Rev. P. Ephraim, We have established a Christian Organization named "Society of the Prince of Peace" with the Help of some Faithful Christians. We established this society only because that we can proclaim the spirit of God in our Area. Some of our Gospel Teams have been Distributing the Bible free Tracts and Booklets in the particular centers Hospitals, Educational Centers and some Remote villages of our Area. By the Grace of God we are running a Christian Lending Library in my town since 1997. So many people are come and search the scriptures and saved their souls to our Lord’s kingdom through these scriptures. I will be able to succeed this program. So we request you please pray for my spiritual need and send some Bibles, Bible based material to my library purpose.
We have a good team of youth 15 members, they are all involved Tracts distributions, street preaching and they are visit to some remote villages and proclaim the God’s words and distribute the free tracts and new testaments. So we need some more Gospel tracts and Library material to my area people spiritual help. Kindly consider my request and send the above material to me. We win some souls here through these materials. God bless you always. I am waiting for your kind reply.
Pls Prayer for our Need‘S: - OUR TEAMS ARE VISIT TO SOME REMOTE VILLAGES , AND SPRED THE WORD OF GOD AND DISTRIBUTE THESE TRACTS FREEIY. OUR TEAMS VISIT TO HOSPITAL EDUCATIONAL CENTRES WEEKIY ONCE I HAVE NEED OF MORE THEN TRACTS & BIBLE'S . . . OUR TEAMS NEED OF ONE MOBILE VAN PLS PRAYER FOR OUR NEED IN MY AREA
MY AREA WILL COME TO FLOOD SO KIDS LOSE OF SOME OF FATHER & MOTHER NEED OF
1 ORPHEN HOME IN MY AREA
We pray for you and you’re Family and also your ministry in my Regular prayers.
With Love and Blessings From
Rev.P. Ephraim
Pls See Our Web Site: - www.soulsaveministriesindia.blogspot.com
==========================================================================
“Leading People into a Life – Changing and Productive Relationship with Jesus Chris”
==========================================================================
PLS PRAYER FOR MY AREA MINISTRY WORK NEED'S
Posted by: P.EPHRAIM | December 07, 2009 at 12:25 AM