Focus, not on the world, but on the Lord

The end of the year is approaching, and we have entered the Advent season. The current pandemic, COVID–19 has amplified fear among the elderly as they are the most affected. Many elders are sick or have died; others facing very hard economic life. In some other places (not in Tanzania) there were wars, political revolutions, catastrophes, and people have been subjected to all kinds of suffering. Injustice has become common in every society and culture and there is no value for virtues and good works.

All the evil deeds around us are the signs of the end of the World. However, despite all these happenings, I call upon the elders to ‘focus, not on the world, but on the Lord’, and to be well routed on the fact that ‘gratitude leads us to more closeness with God’. Let us thank God for his care and love to this date, for the celebrations during the year, among them being the July 25 event ‘the elderly day’ and the current inauguration of the Synod for Bishops (2021-2023). 

The nativity celebration of our Lord is underway. We should not lose hope in Him as he is our peace and appeasement. Jesus is coming to heal us on three levels: to heal our weak body, to heal our broken or languishing spirit, and to heal our relationships so that we are reunited with each other as missionaries of the Church. The leaper who recognized these different levels of healing, and consequently healed (Lk. 17:12-19), realized that Jesus had given him new life and a new purpose. What is this new purpose? His new purpose was to let his life be a light to others. He begins with coming back to the source of healing and purpose.

Let us all live in hope that the new creation is already among us although its realization is slow, laborious and painful. Furthermore, we should focus our attention on his victorious cross and his plans for us and for the world, instead of the happenings around. This will help us be prepared to welcome him now, during Christmas and in life. Through the comfort of St. Augustine, may we seek to focus on Jesus, encounter him, let us thus nurture the gift of faith we have, by seeking a closer walk with Jesus. Merry Christmas.

Fr. Gregory Mashtaki

Anglo-Africa Spiritual Advisor