UNDERSTANDING HUMAN COMMUNICATION

The word “communication” is one of todays most widely used terms. We hear people talking about it in so many ways and even engage in it, yet, people invariably take communication for granted. Also, we are daily confronted with mass communication media as radio, television, newspaper, magazine, internet etc., but are only worried about the negative effects of the media especially on children/youth not thinking of how to channel it to be able to enhance human communication, growth and bring meaningful contribution to the society at large.

Communication is derived from the Latin verb “communico”, which means to share, to make common. The prefix “co” is a synonym for “with” while the morpheme “communi” is related to another Latin word “communis” meaning common. Communication can therefore be understood as the process of sharing information, ideas, attitudes or emotions from one person or group to another, primarily through symbols. It is a process whereby human beings collectively create social reality. When we communicate, we make things common and as such increase our shared knowledge. Communication helps human beings to understand themselves, to keep in touch with other people, to understand them and to predict their response to situation. Communication in and by the Church is essentially communication of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Communication is basic to human beings. It is as necessary as the air we breathe in and our hearts beat. We are human when we are in touch with other people. It is our being in touch with others that make us human and open up the possibilities of developing our humanity. Human being is a social being who lives within a community, without communication no human can live and no human society can exist. Communication touches every sphere of human activities. It informs all of human’s actions because it is occasioned by his/her need to interact with his or her fellow-human beings. It is therefore a means of controlling one’s environment. People use communication strategically to manipulate situations and gain control for a variety of purposes. The question each of us must therefore answer is “what do I communicate?”

Sr. Eunice Olusola Ikufisile OSF

St Patrick's Catholic Church

Ojo-Alaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

THE URGENCY OF GOD’S CALL

Third Sunday in Ordinary Year B

(Jon 3:1-5.10, 1 Cor 7:29-31, Mk 1:14-20)

1.0. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was a great city, so large that it would take 3 days to move from one end of the city to the other (Jon 3:3). Jonah made only a day’s journey and the whole city was converted. That means it was not by the power of the prophet, it was God who inspired the people to repentance through the proclamation of Jonah. So, when we hear the call to repentance, both the preacher and listener must not forget that it is God’s call.

What did the prophet say that inspired them to repentance: “Only 40 days more and Nineveh will be overthrown” (Jon 3:4). Out of fear for their lives, they repented and proclaimed a fast. Of course, God was pleased with their effort at repentance.

By saying, “only 40 days” Jonah was warning them that there is not time; they must repent now! The people of Nineveh accepted both the call to repentance and its urgency. Repentance must be now: the call to repentance and the urgency of the call always go together.

2.0. This urgency is further elaborated in the 2^nd reading. The Good News needs urgent expression in every minute of our lives. The time is limited. Therefore, we must detach ourselves from all forms of earthly attachment in order to create an inner space for the Gospel to take root, and thus, be expressed in every minute of our lives. The world as we know it is passing, even too quickly, but the word of God endures forever.

3.0. In the Gospel, Jesus began His ministry by announcing that “the time is fulfilled” and “the Kingdom of God is near”—hence, today is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2)—so “repent and believe in the Gospel”. This message carries both the call to repentance and the sense of urgency that Jonah proclaimed.

This urgency is once more exhibited in the call of the first apostles. Jesus saw the fishermen casting their nets, He called them and they followed Him at once. This immediate response comes at a great price: they left behind their business and their father...This price is greater than that which the people of Nineveh made in response to Jonah’s preaching. How possible is it that such quick response can be made to the call of Jesus and at such a great price? We find the answer in the nature of Jesus’ call.

4.0. Jesus calls with authority, almost as a command: “Come after me...” And all who hear Jesus’ call will always feel this impelling force pulling him/her from within, such that answering the call becomes, in a way, subjecting oneself to His authority. If one subjects him/herself to this authority, it becomes easy for him/her to make this immediate response, leaving behind any other attachments. The authority of Jesus’ call comes with a sense of urgency, and the response, which is a ‘bowing’ to that authority, must follow suit.

Repentance is always the first step. Jesus calls for repentance, but in the call of His apostles He calls for something more; He calls for discipleship—to communion with Him. Jonah called the people of Nineveh to abandon their evil ways. But the apostles were doing something good when Jesus called them—fishing! Still, the call to discipleship demands detachment from what in the eyes of the world is a necessary pre-occupation. Hence St Paul says “those who have spouses should live as though they have none...this world as we know it is passing away” (1 Cor 7:29). We see here that the demands of discipleship go deeper. It may be easier to “declare a fast” or “put on sackcloth” (Jon 3:5) than to leave one’s earthly “fishing nets” at once and follow Jesus (Mk 1:18).

Further, the people of Nineveh responded to the prophet’s call out of fear—fear of destruction. Now, the call to discipleship comes even within our rightful engagements. So, our response will no longer be out fear but out of love. It is only when we respond in love can it be possible to leave behind immediately our fishing nets, boats, parents, etc to follow Jesus. But this love-response is possible only because Jesus Himself calls out of love: “Come after me and I will make you into fishers of men” (Mk 1:17). The tone of the call underlies His love—His personal commitment, His self-outpouring to the one He calls. The love of Christ overwhelms us...(2 Cor 5:14). Therefore, the call to discipleship is embedded with Jesus quick, immediate and total love. This is where the urgency of the call takes its root. The one who answers this call “at once” becomes the one who has come in contact with such love. In other words, the authority with which Jesus calls becomes the authority of His love.

“...Something greater than Jonah is here” (Mt 12:41). The Kingdom of God has come close to us. “...the time has come...our salvation is nearer than when we first began to believe” (Rm 13:11). If we have heard the call to be part of God’s Kingdom, our response must be now!

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

St Anthony Catholic Church, Jabi,

Abuja, Nigeria.

Sunday, 22 January, 2012.

FOUNDATION TO AUTHENTIC RESPONSE

2^nd second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

(I Sam 3:3-10.19, I Cor 6:13-15.17-20, Jn 1:35-42)

1.0. The sanctuary is a special place where God manifests His presence in an extraordinary way. Being in the Sanctuary becomes a sign of being close of God. So we go to God’s temple like Hannah (I Sam 1:9-20) to receive God’s favours, and to hear what the Lord God has to say (cf. Ps 85:8), just as it happened to Samuel who was lying in sanctuary when God called him (1 Sam 3:3ff).

2.0. In the 2^nd reading we hear about a different notion of sanctuary. St Paul tells us that God had instituted us as a sanctuary where He comes to dwell. In the 1^st reading, the sanctuary was a building where Samuel went to encounter God, but now, we are God’s living temple where He Himself comes to dwell, encountering us from within. In other words, our body is God’s dwelling place; the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). From within He impels us and, we thus “mediate” His presence to others. Therefore, the body must be kept pure since nothing impure dwells in God (cf. Rev 21:27).

Since we have been given the Spirit of adoption (cf. Rm 8:15), we no longer belong to ourselves but to God. So the body must not be subject to any form of sexual impurity. Such sins are highly destructive of the spiritual life because they attack us from within the place of encounter between us as human persons and the Holy Spirit (cf 1 Cor 6:18). And that is why they are the most difficult sins to handle since they try to quench the fire of the Holy Spirit impelling us to holiness and piety. The human body is now endowed with dignity because it belongs to God as His temple; “it is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body” (1 Cor 6:14).

3.0. In Gospel, John the Baptist pointed Jesus to his disciples just as Eli directed Samuel to God.

Meeting Jesus, He entered into “dialogued” with them. Through the Incarnation, God has entered into “dialogue” with humanity. Jesus’ “dialogue” with those disciples is not one of mutual compromise, but one which leads them to a free, deeper and more personal response. At this point their response is no longer by the witness of John the Baptist but a response to the invitation by Jesus Himself: “Come and see” (Jn 1:39). In this way, their response becomes a ‘personal encounter’, which establishes an interpersonal relationship with Christ. The result of this encounter is this: “they stayed with Him” (Jn 1: 39). At this moment of staying with Him, the invitation and the personal encounter meet. This meeting point is where the interpersonal relationship is actually born.

4.0. At this point of staying with Him, one submits himself totally to this communion; offering his whole self, heart desires, brothers and sisters, friends, work—every part of the body (Rm 6:13) to Christ. This is where Andrew brought His brother Peter (Jn 1:40ff). Encountering Jesus through submitting to His call—the call He makes from within us—we become “other Christ”, inviting people to Christ through our words and actions. Hence we live but it is Christ dwelling in us as in a temple. The life we live, though subject to the temptations of human nature, we live in faith in Jesus, who loves us and gave Himself for us (Gal 2:20). Once we have responded to this initial call to submit ourselves—offering our bodies as God’s temple—then we are ready to render a spirit-filled service to the larger Body of Christ i.e. the Church.

Therefore, in other to give authentic response to God’s call, we must prepare our bodies as a living sanctuary for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. It is in purity of heart that we hear God calling and can give free and whole hearted personal response.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

St Anthony Parish, Jabi, Abuja. 15/01/12

ARISE AND PAY HOMAGE

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 2012

(Is 60:1-6, Eph 3:2-3.5-6, Mt 2:1-12)

1.0. The term Epiphany is derived from the Greek word, epiphania, meaning “manifestation”. Today, we celebrate the manifestation of the new born King, Jesus Christ, to the whole world. Through this celebration, we recall that the saving mysteries of Christ are made available to peoples of all nationalities, races and cultures. All are summoned to pay homage to the new born King.

2.0. The first reading from Isaiah was written after the exiles returned to Jerusalem and discovered the harsh realities on ground: everywhere was looking unkempt and unattractive (like the manger where Jesus was born). It was as if “...night still covers the earth and darkness the peoples” (Is 60:2). It was within this pitiable condition that the Prophet announces “Arise, shine out, for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen on you” (Is 60:1).

We recall that while foreigners took Jews to exile, they looted their treasures and took away their gold, silver, etc (cf Dan 5:2). But at this new dawn Isaiah announces, foreigners will come to Jerusalem, bringing gifts of Gold, frankincense, etc to worship God. Thus, people from every corner of the earth will experience this light as they come to worship God in Jerusalem (cf Is 60:3). Thus, the city would be a sort of point of contact for all peoples.

3.0. Unlike in Isaiah where the city of Jerusalem is the meeting point between pagans and Jews to receive the glory of God, St. Paul tells us that the Gospel is now the meeting point through which both Gentiles and Jews form one body and receive one inheritance (cf Eph 3:6). He says this mystery of the Gospel is entrusted to the apostles i.e. the Church (cf Eph 3:5).

The Church, in proclaiming the Gospel, manifests the new born King to the world. Since the life of the Church is formed by the Gospel, the Church becomes, as it were, that “New Jerusalem” to which people from every corner of the earth gather to pay homage to Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Himself working in and through the proclamation of the Church that draws people to Himself. Therefore, the Church, in announcing the Gospel, is like that shining star in the world that wise men follow to meet Jesus.

4.0. The wise men, we were told came from the “East” (How many were they? We were not told. But from the number of gifts we presume three). The “East” implies from the rising of the Sun, which represents the ends of the Earth. This points to how the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ draws us from every corner of our being; from the depths of our heart, “so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare (Lk 2:35). It summons us to surrender totally to Jesus.

5.0. Hearing this proclamation, let us not be like Herod who was afraid of losing his authority. Of course, if we do not subject ourselves to the rule of the new born King, Jesus Christ, we will be living in fear. This fear led Herod to destroy many lives. And many today, living in this kind of fear, are destroying themselves and others.

6.0. The wise men followed two signs to reach Jesus:

a) A natural perceptible sign in the form of a star. Such perceptible signs are given to us today in the Sacraments of the Church. They are effective means through which Jesus Christ continues to manifest His saving mercy and love. In the sacraments we pay Him homage and acknowledge His sovereignty over us. There He shines His light on us—a light that dispels all darkness.

b) They followed the interpretation of the Scriptures given by the Chief priests and Scribes. Jesus reveals Himself through the Scriptures. The word of God is a light (cf Ps 119:105) that enlightens our lives and leads to Jesus. So we search the Scriptures, and meditate on them to discover Jesus.

Jesus Christ manifests Himself to us through the Sacraments and the proclamation of the Word. Let us be wise, arise, follow the signs and pay Him homage.

Fr. Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

St. Fabian’s Cath Church, Mbora, Abuja

8/01/12