The last time I was in Kenya, I think, was around 2011, and it is a blessing to be back. And I thank the Augustinians here in Kenya for inviting me for this ceremony.
I'd like to begin this brief reflection with the words that we repeated, first reciting and then singing in the Responsorial Psalm, and perhaps you can join me: Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life…
It is indeed with the Word of God that we find our spirits enriched, blessed, filled with life, because in the Word of God we find true life; we find the source of all life and of all joy.
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The three readings that we listened to, which I've chosen especially for this beautiful liturgy, the ceremony of the blessing and dedication of a new church, speak to us in a particular way about the importance of the Word of God.
In the first reading from the Prophet Nehemiah, we heard, the people listened to the law, God's Word. They listened attentively and opened their hearts. And we can recognize once again, that in the Old Testament, when the people of God wanted to find the Lord, looked for a place to know, where they could understand what God's will was for their lives, they looked (for) the Word of God, the law of the Lord. And so, the Word of God was a very special place for them, as it is for us even today.
And we heard in the reading: this day is holy to the Lord; do not mourn or weep. And in fact, this day is holy to the Lord, a joyful day, when we dedicate and bless this new place of worship, this new house of God, a house of prayer, which will be particularly used by the Augustinians in this formation community of St. Augustine Friary; a house dedicated to Mary, our mother, our mother of Good Counsel, a place of gathering together in communion to be the one people of the Lord.
And in the second reading, we heard that the stones that build up the church, the living stone, is Jesus Christ. And it is in Jesus Christ that we find true life; it is in Jesus Christ that the Church is built; we are His people.
We are the church that is built on that true cornerstone, which is Jesus Christ, our Savior. And so, it is so important to recognize that the Church, which is a building, which is made out of stones, which is made out of material, really has its meaning only when we are all members of the Church, those living stones upon which the people of God is built and all of us together become witnesses, become that true place where others can see the presence of God. They see the presence of God in our lives, in our witnessing, in our faith, in our faithfulness.
And then in the gospel, the word so important to us of Jesus, who calls the first of the apostles, Peter, and he says to him, ‘You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.’ And for us as Catholics, it is so important to remind ourselves frequently that we are united as church and the representative of Jesus Christ in the world, who is the successor of St. Peter, our Holy Father, Pope Francis.
Only when we are united as Church, only when our church is built upon that rock that Jesus left for all of us, that visible presence, that faith in the Gospel, that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, can continue through the ages. Only when we are united will we really be faithful to what the Lord has asked of us. So, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church. This chapel, this church is built on the rock which is our faith, and the faith of each and every one of us is important as we live in unity.
In a few moments, we will continue the rite of blessing and consecration of this chapel. At the beginning, with the blessing of water, as the doors were opened and holy water was poured out upon each one of us and upon the walls of this church, a reminder of our baptism. But before we came in here, there was the little rite at the door of the church.
The doors were closed, and the keys were presented, and we heard the words, Open the doors of the church. Some of you may have seen the ceremony in Paris, France, last week, when the newly restored cathedral of Our Lady, Notre Dame, was once again blessed and consecrated. And the bishop there actually picked up his crozier and pounded on the door and said, Let the doors be opened.
Christ is the door through which we all pass to find salvation. The door of the church is opened so that all may find a place. All will be welcomed, and all will form a part of this great community, brothers and sisters in Christ.
And we too must learn to open the doors of our heart in charity, not closing ourselves to anyone, especially those most in need, opening our hearts, opening the doors of our hearts to truly be members of the church. And in a few moments, we will have another step in this celebration, the rite of the blessing of this church, where holy chrism will be used to consecrate this altar. Chrism is used for all Christians in our baptism.
We are anointed with oil. And again in the sacrament of confirmation, when priests are ordained, their hands are anointed with chrism because their hands will become that instrument through which the body and blood of Christ is made present in his community. So this altar which will be consecrated is also a reminder to us that we are all called as God's holy people.
And we must live in faithfulness as members of God's holy people, faithful to our baptismal commitment, faithful to that call which we have all received. We do that giving thanks. There are so many things that we are thankful for on this day.
Twenty years of history. I had the pleasure of being here in the year 2004 when this project was born. You'll see some photographs in different places when we had the possibility of placing a first step of creating a community which from the very beginning was foreseen as international.
That is with the wide variety and the gifts of the church in that particular moment with the presence of members of the order from Kenya, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, later from Tanzania, from Nigeria, one of the formators was from Nigeria, and from Ireland. And this community was therefore a shining light of the diversity, the richness of the church in the many gifts that God has given us. And it is called to continue to be that light as we as brothers and sisters all are called to be a light in the world so that we can proclaim our faith and give witness to others.
The Lord has indeed blessed us today. He calls us to celebrate in joy. And in a special way, he calls this Augustinian community under the patronage of St. Augustine and in this chapel dedicated to our mother of good counsel to be always that shining light which will give forth to others the witness of communion; the witness of service; the witness of love; all united in Jesus Christ.
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Credit: Augustinian International House of Theology Karen/Nairobi
Credit: Augustinian International House of Theology Karen/Nairobi
Credit: Augustinian International House of Theology Karen/Nairobi
