by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
“From the very beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 787).
In today’s Gospel (Matt 4:12-23) we see Jesus calling His first four disciples – ordinary fishermen –two pairs of brothers: Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother, Andrew, and James and John, sons of Zebedee.
I wonder if they really understood what Jesus meant when he said that if they follow Him, He would make them “fishers of men”? What is of note, though, is their response to His command; they left what they were doing “at once” and followed Him.
Of note also in this Gospel is Jesus’ message when he began his preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” As baptised Christians, each of us should respond to Jesus’ call to follow Him. But to do so with pure hearts and minds, we must act on His message to repent. We cannot follow Him and proclaim the Good News effectively if we ourselves live in a way that is contrary to Christ’s teachings.
Pope Francis has told us that “We need to proclaim the Gospel on every street corner, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing…” Let 2017 be the year in which each of us will step up to the plate and live our faith unconditionally.
Preparations for Carnival 2017 are in ‘full swing’ as the saying goes, and the lyrics of some of the calypsoes continue, this year, as they have done in the past, to challenge us as a people to take stock of who we really are.
Recently I read a post on social media that states: “When de music take mih soul, decency is put on hold.” Each year around Carnival time CCSJ makes a plea to the nation to help lift our people to a higher, more noble place (Martin Luther King Jr). This year, we repeat our plea in the face of some of the inappropriate lyrics that are being sung.
I urge you to read Dr Kwame Nantambu’s 2008 article: ‘Soca Music and Moral Decadence.’ (http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog/?p=477).
The points he makes and the questions he raises are as important today as they were in 2008. Inter alia, he asks: “Does soca music represent any modicum of progress in TnT’s musical repertoire? This question must be couched within the context of human behaviour and values. It must also be clearly understood that music not only represents a people’s module for entertainment but, most importantly, it also reflects their values and moral codes/standards of behaviour in every sphere…
“In the final analysis, it seems logical to conclude that in its present lyrical format/structure, soca music is the overt transmission belt and/or medium of exchange for the ubiquitous existence and prevalence of sexual promiscuity and moral decadence in TnT….The responsibility now rests squarely and directly on the shoulders of all soca artistes to turn this immoral, decadent values clock back in a moral direction—young people, albeit children, are looking, watching and imitating. Show them that you care, please.”
How can we proclaim the Good News in our current culture? Do we just go to Church and pray that somehow we will move from a culture of death to a culture of life? We know that we must do more than this.
Pope Francis himself guides us by giving us sound advice. In his World Youth Day homily in Rio in 2013, he said: “We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, in our parish or diocesan institutions, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel…To go out as ones sent—it is not enough simply to open the door in welcome because they come, but we must go out through that door to seek and meet the people…
“Be servants… of the culture of encounter! …. Be so without being presumptuous, imposing ‘our truths’, but rather be guided by the humble yet joyful certainty of those who have been found, touched and transformed by the Truth who is Christ, ever to be proclaimed (cf. Luke 24:13-35)”
In their article: ‘Fishers of men: Our calling’, Sara and Justin Kraft said: “A Dominican sister once shared her secret for being fishers of men. She called it the SEW principle which stood for Subtle Evangelical Witness. She explained that there is no need to impose our beliefs. Rather, we must lead our lives in ways that makes others curious. Planting small, visible signs…”
During this Carnival season, let us continue planting small, visible signs that the gift of the Good News is for everyone.
