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“Generosity is a sacrifice,” Kenyans Urged to Live the Jubilee of Hope through Self-Giving

Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya of Bungoma. Diocese Credit: Amani Catholic TV

Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Bungoma has challenged Kenyans to embrace sacrificial generosity, gratitude, and moral integrity as concrete expressions of hope, saying that true giving is never about abundance but about self-donation.

In his Tuesday, January 6 homily during the during the closure of the Jubilee Year of Hope at Christ the King Parish of Bungoma, Bishop Kadima reflected on the Feast of the Epiphany, encouraging the people of God to emulate the Magi who gave their best sacrifice  to the Lord,  urging them to give the most expensive gift to  God wholeheartedly.

“Some people think generosity is because you have more. Even if you have more, it will always be a sacrifice,” the Bishop said.

He noted that some people are mean, preferring to give the Lord so little, while pointing at others who have more to give, instead of giving their best.

Bishop Kadima urged the people of God in his Episcopal See to not only give their best but also to create hope in the world by remaining committed to the Lord fully, describing hope as the greatest gift.

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“Our hope is when we find Jesus, we serve him with all we have. All that we have is for him. We give him the best of ourselves,” he said, adding, “That is how we create hope. When we create hope, we  serve others with all we have, with all the strength, with all the wealth, that everything is given  for the Lord and the good of others. That is all for the glory of God.”

Bishop Kadima also called upon Christians “especially those who are older, who are more talented, who are given offices like mine” to be guiding stars to others, saying, “You have to guide others to reach Jesus, to reach God, to reach the success of their lives, and to reach their happiness. Someone following you will not be misled, and he will not be lost.”

He said that reliability is required of those who guide others, adding, “We have to be reliable stars to be looked at to bring hope. People look at us that each one of us leads others. Most of us are family people here. We have to give direction.”

Bishop Kadima urged Christians to lead by example, noting that authentic witness is itself a source of hope. “People who are fake, who are liars, who don’t keep promises, mislead others. Hope is the example that all of us have to live. And that example is the hope that people look at, that is the star,” he said.

The Catholic Church leader highlighted gratitude and contentment as hallmarks of hopeful people. He warned against constant complaining and entitlement, encouraging believers to recognize when they have received enough and to take responsibility by producing more in their lives.

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“People of great hope are grateful. They are happy, satisfied. No more questions, no more complaints,” he said, and added, “A hopeful person is one who says thank you. You have done for me, now its me to work. It is me now to produce, let me go back and work.”

Sabrine Amboka is a Kenyan journalist with a passion for Catholic church communication. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from St. Paul's University in Kenya.