“Faithful in That Which is Least”
Luke 16. 1-13

An elderly disabled widow had a son and a daughter. When their father died, Alfred the boy was only fourteen years old and was attending primary school while his sister Katarina never went to school. Years passed and Alfred had serious difficulties to keep going to school but fortunately one of his uncles decided to help him. Katarina as for her was condemned to stay at home, illiterate for ever, helping mum with everything.

Alfred was studying civil engineering and when he graduated from university, he was hired at a renowned international road construction company in the Eastern Congo region with a very high salary. Alfred never forgot his mother and sister who lived in Bujumbura the Capital of Burundi. As he was paid with his salary at the end of every month, he crossed the border and came back home to Burundi to see his poor mother with many gifts bought for her and for Katarina. Furthermore, he left mum with enough money to help her survive for another month.

A day came and Alfred’s mother got sick. Katarina had no access to a telephone to call Alfred and even if she had had a possibility to do so, she didn’t know the number to dial to reach him over in the Congo. Consequently, she struggled alone to have her mother taken to hospital where she died two weeks later. The neighbors helped with the funerals costs. Katarina was now alone at home waiting for Alfred who arrived three days after the burial of his mother.

Katarina had a tremendous deeply moving secret in her heart. So when her brother arrived home, she took him in her late mother’s room and moved the pillow from her bed and removed a bag that was under it. She opened it and poured on the floor numerous five thousand-Burundi francs notes.
Alfred surprised asked his sister: “Where did you get all this money from?” Katarina in tears answered:
– Brother, It is not my money. It is a legacy from mum! When she knew she was to pass away, she told me that all the money you had given her during months was hidden under her pillow and that she had saved it for you and for me because she had no other legacy to leave with us.
–
Alfred fell in tears and together with his sister Katarina, they were moved by their mother’s faithfulness. Hence they also decided to use the money to help two other widows in their village and pay school fees for one orphan there too. Alfred promised that he would build a new house for Katarina and buy a big land for her and dairy cows to help her become a farmer.

Yes, dear brethren, some stories may teach us something extremely important just as Jesus also taught people from moving parables too. And I believe that one day in the future, someone will tell the story about you or your neighbor being “Faithful in That Which is Least” despite the recession and several big storms that would have tried to stop you to keep on loving and serving the poor and the needy. Amen!

PRAYER: Father, may you bless abundantly, spiritually and physically, those within your Holy Church willing to serve and assist the poor and the needy.

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“The Precious Sheep”
Luke 15. 1-10

I remember teaching about this same story of the lost sheep at a child evangelism Vacation Bible School. To end the lesson, I fixed on the board a picture presenting the rejoicing shepherd carrying the found sheep laying on his shoulders, and said : « You see, dear children, this is how Jesus rejoices always while carrying everyone of you laying on his shoulders. »

All the children laughed happily but one of them asked me :
– Why do Dad and Mum beat us while Jesus, as for Him, is taking care of us in a so lovely way ?

My answer was : « You know, my little angels, when Dad or Mum beat you, it is because each one of you is The precious sheep Jesus is looking for and so, they are trying to push you on his way so that He can see you and take you and lay you on his shoulders, and kiss you eternally ». All the kids shouted with joy and danced while another one came to me and said :

– Teacher, tell me how I can also become the lost sheep because I want Jesus to come after me and find me and lay me on his shoulders forever ! »

I answered : « Oh, Darling, didn’t you know that you are already on Jesus’ shoulders ? That is the reason why you always hear the birds singing from early every morning and all day long, because they are so glad to see Jesus carrying you on his shoulders day and night ! »
– And why doesn’t He take with Him a bird which sings so wonderfully, the boy continued ?

And I replied : « No, my love, don’t you know that Jesus is the Only begotten Son of God the Creator of everything and of all the birds in this world? If He decides to take only one bird with Him, the millions other birds would weep and never sing again for you!»

Dear Brethren, why couldn’t we also feel like being « The Precious Sheep » that Jesus went after until He found it and laid it on His shoulders ? In our Burundian tradition, sheep were looked at as being sacred animals, the reason why people didn’t eat mutton but kept them to be offered to the ghosts and to Almighty God. Hence, when a woman was found sterile, a traditional rite was organized where the family offered a sheep in sacrifice and beseeched God to bless them with children. When people needed wealth or any other blessing in their life, there was also a special traditional rite called « Ukubandwa » that was conducted to implore « Kiranga », the Burundian ambassador of Almighty God, to provide the blessings after sacrifices with sheep were offered, too. But also sheep in the Burundian tradition are the symbol of highest humility and obedience and full submission.

But I know of another Sheep, the Holy Sheep, the One about whom Prophet Isaiah said :
« He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth ;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a SHEEP before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53.7, KJV).

And I remember a certain humble man of God telling us that Heaven will be filled only with « Precious Sheep » who shall look like the Lamb of God as they will have accepted to keep silent in all the trials they encountered in this world just as Jesus did, and thus « become men and women of sorrows and familiar with suffering » as Jesus was, giving joyfully to those who ask from them, feeding the hungry and assisting the poor and the needy without hindrance.

Yes, « They are blessed as they are THE PEACEMAKERS ; for they shall be called the children of God »(Matt. 5.9)

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for takimg care of all the PRECIOUS SHEEP that follow you in this world. I love You, Jesus!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com