Martin Jumbam

Catholic Meditation: The First Sunday of Advent – Year A.

By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, December 01, 2013, as the first Sunday of Advent in the Liturgical Year A.  The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new Church’s year. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “To you, my God, I lift my soul, I trust in you; let me never come to shame. Do not let my enemies laugh at me. No one who waits for you is ever put to shame. Amen.”

What is Advent? The season of Advent is a four-week period before Christmas during which the Church concentrates her attention on our Lord’s coming, a central theme in the Church’s worship. Advent (from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming”) looks back to the first coming of Christ, when he was born that first Christmas in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago, and it looks forward to his second coming at the end of time – the Parousia -- when we will meet Him and His Father face-to-face in the glory of the heavenly kingdom.

 

Catholic Meditation: 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C.

By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, November 24, 2013, as the thirty fourth Sunday in ordinary time, year C.  It is the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year C, and is also celebrated as the Solemnity of Christ the King.  In the Entrance Antiphon we pray: “The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity, wisdom and power and honour: to him be glory and power for ever. Amen.”

The readings of this last Sunday of the Church’s year C all point to Jesus as the King of the Universe.  Over the past months, we have celebrated the mysteries of the life of Christ. Now we contemplate him in his glorified state as King of all creation and of all souls. All the readings of this Sunday center on this theme. The first reading is from the second book of Samuel in which we hear about King David, son of Jesse, who was the hope of every Israelite. For a thousand years before the coming of Christ, the Israelites saw their redeemer as the son of David, the one who was to bring about the promises of God to David that he would have a son on his throne forever. That son is Jesus Christ, our Lord. In the second reading, from Colossians, Saint Paul sings a beautiful hymn in praise of Christ’s sublime dignity as God and as man. Christ is the center of all creation and he is the heart of redemption, for God is with him. His reign brings forgiveness of sins and proclaims the era of salvation. In the Gospel, Saint Luke presents us Christ as king who reigns from the cross. At the height of his suffering the leaders of Israel mock him but his redeeming, liberating power comes from the cross and not from any earthly throne.  In the course of this Eucharist, let us make the prayer of the repentant thief ours today: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Amen.”

Catholic Meditation: 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C.

By Martin Jumbam 

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, November 17, 2013 as the 33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time in the Church’s Year C. It is the last but one Sunday of the Church's Year C.  In the entrance antiphon we pray: “The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You will call upon me, and I will answer you, and I will lead back your captives from every place. Amen.”

In these last Sundays of the liturgical year, Mother Church invites us to meditate on the last things, that is, the end of our lives on earth and the Second Coming of Christ our Saviour – the Parousia. In the first reading, the prophet Malachi speaks in graphic terms of the end of time when the evil ones will burn like an oven while the righteous ones will shine out before the Lord. Like many of his brother prophets, Malachi is loud in his condemnation of the abuses among God’s people. He attacks the common evil of his days: the oppression of the poor, the laxity of the priests, and the non-payment of the temple taxes. In the second reading, Saint Paul tries to clear the confusion among the Thessalonians about the signs of the Second Coming – the Parousia – of our Lord. Some of them are already claiming that Christ is coming soon. They have even become so preoccupied about the approaching end of the world that they have even stopped working for a living, preferring to idle around and let other people take care of them. Paul asks them to imitate him and his companions, who have always worked for their livelihood. “If anyone does not work,” he tells them, “he should not eat.” In the Gospel, Saint Luke prophesies the end of time through the description of the fall of the Holy City of Jerusalem, a historical fact that occurred in the year 70 AD. Christ warns his disciples of the dangers awaiting them as they take the Gospel message everywhere. They will have to bear witness by enduring persecutions but their fidelity, patience and endurance will set them firmly on the way of Jesus to eternal life. In the course of this holy Eucharist, let us pray for the grace to follow Christ more closely in total disregard of the hardships and persecutions we may suffer in his name.

Catholic Meditation: 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, November 10, 2013 as the 32^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time in the Church’s Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “Let my prayer come into your presence. Incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord. Amen.”

As we near the end of the liturgical year, the readings Mother Church proposes for our meditation look towards the culminating point of history, that is, the Second Coming – the Parousia -- of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In the liturgy for this Sunday’s Mass our attention is called to one of the truths of the faith listed in the Creed: the resurrection of the body and the reality of life everlasting. In the first reading, from Second Maccabees, the mother and her seven sons prefer death to betraying God’s law by eating swine’s flesh. It is their belief in the resurrection that gives them the courage to remain faithful to their God and to embrace martyrdom.  In the second reading, from Second Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul is convinced that Christ will come soon and he encourages his converts and urges them not to be discouraged by the difficulties they are facing. They should stand firm in their faith and pray for each other in anticipation of the Lord’s coming. In the Gospel, Saint Luke shows us Jesus who has already entered the Holy City of Jerusalem and has begun his mission by teaching daily in the temple. The confrontation with his opponents, which was already evident along his way to Jerusalem, is now in the open. Today, he dismisses the claim by some of the most influential Jews, the Sadducees, that there is no resurrection from the dead. But Christ tells them that the resurrection from the dead embraces those who have chosen to live with God and to obey his commandments, especially the commandment of love of God and love of neighbour. In the course of this Holy Eucharist, let us pray for the grace to follow Christ more closely as he alone has the words of eternal life. Amen.

Two Cents for Africa

Interviewed by Martin Jumbam

Mrs. Beatrice Fri Bime was in Douala recently where she launched a book entitled Two Cents for Africa. Previously known for her creative endeavours in the field of poetry and prose, she has taken bold strides into the field of economics and politics, highlighting the irony that even though Africa is the richest continent on earth, it remains the poorest. She tells Martin Jumbam what the book is all about.

Two Cents for Africa is a rather strange title for a book, isn’t it?

Not quite. ‘Two Cents for Africa’ is actually a play on words. On the one hand, it is my little contribution towards Africa's development; on the other hand, it is warning signal that if Africa continues to open its doors indiscriminately to anyone who comes knocking, as we have been doing, we might wake up one morning and find that someone else is holding the title deed to the continent and it might have cost them just 2 cents. So this is my own little way of chiming the alarm bell. I hope someone is listening.

Why do you think Africa needs this book at this time?

You see, Africa is the richest continent in the world yet ironically it remains the poorest. That’s the sad story; we’re so rich yet we remain so poor and we often wonder why. Well, I believe that if we put our heads together, using the concepts I’ve developed in this book, then we’ll lift Africa up and propel it into the realm of economic, political and social development within a short span of time.

What are some of those concepts?

We still work in Africa as if we were working for someone else. We don’t work with the deep conviction that we’re working for our people, for our continent and for our selves. We seem to be working on someone else’s plantation, not ours.  To regain that sense of self-esteem and self-worth, we need to reinstate some of the moral values we seem to have lost and work to develop Africa; our Africa, not someone else’s farm. For this to happen, we should be proud of ourselves, as Africans, and of Africa,  our continent. If we become proud of who we are, we will then see the need to develop our continent ourselves.

I’ll imagine that for a book like yours to have any impact at all, it must hold the attention of those who make political decisions in Africa. Do you see that happening anytime soon?

That is why it’s a politico-economic book. It calls for the political will that can only come from a small group of determined Africans with a mindset that is geared towards promoting change for the good of all Africans.  My interest is not on those running after charismatic leaders because once such leaders are  off the political scene, his followers just dwindle away. But if these ideas make an inroad into the minds and habits of a determined development-oriented group of people, even if they happen to be in the minority, they will eventually bring the much needed change in Africa. That’s what counts.

Has there been any reaction from the political or business elite to your book?

Oh yes, those who’ve read the book have liked it. The preface is by Mr. Christopher Cheo, a Cameroonian-American, a member of President Obama’s Committee on Jobs and Competitiveness.  Talents like his can be of enormous help to Africa. He is in an advisory position to the most powerful President in the world. There are many like him who, unfortunately are putting their talents elsewhere, not in Africa.

You‘ve been known so far for your literary creation (novels and poetry). Why this shift to the political and economic arena?

It’s difficult to pigeon-hole me in any specific genre. I write what I think, how I feel and I’m honest about what I write. I have many manuscripts of novels, poetry, short stories. So whatever I feel like writing, I just go ahead and write it. Sometimes I’m at the airport waiting to change planes and an idea pops into my mind and I jot it down; later it may mature into a poem, a short story or a novel. Sometimes it’s on a bus heading out of town, or sometimes it’s when I’m jogging. The inspiration grabs me just wherever I happen to be and I reach for a pen and paper.  I’m always carrying one in my purse.

 

 

Catholic Meditation: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C.

By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, November 4, 2013 as the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time in the Church’s Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “Do not abandon me, Lord. My God, do not go away from me! Hurry to help me, my Saviour. Amen.”  The first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, speaks of God’s goodness and love for his creatures, especially his sons and daughters that we are. Nowhere in the Old Testament is God’s love, mercy and care for his creation is so clearly seen. In the second reading, from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians, turns our attention to the second coming of Christ at the end of time. Paul has never ceased to be amazed at the fidelity of his converts of Thessalonica to Christ during persecutions and he prays in this reading for the deepening of their faith in Christ Jesus.  Saint Luke leads us smoothly from the parable of the Pharisee and the publican of last Sunday to the story of the conversion of another publican, Zacchaeus, who rejoices to welcome Jesus into his home and into his life. This is a clear example of Christ seeking out what was lost as he receives back a son of Abraham, who had strayed away from the faith.  As we listen to the readings of these days, let us pray for the grace of repentance so that we too, like the tax collector Zacchaeus, can experience the presence of divine goodness that Jesus always brings into the lives of believers. Amen.

Catholic Meditation: All Saints' Day

By Martin Jumbam 

The Catholic Church that is in Cameroon celebrates Sunday, November 03, 2013, as the Solemnity of All Saints in the Church’s Year C.  The Solemnity of All Saints' Day falls on the first day of November but since the first day of November was last Friday, the Church shifted this feast to the following Sunday.  In the Entrance Antiphon we pray: “Let us rejoice in the Lord and keep festival in honor of all the saints. Let us join with the angels in joyful praise of the Son of God.  Amen.”

 All Saints' Day is the day on which we, Catholics, celebrate all the saints, known and unknown. It is a surprisingly old feast. It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrdom increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day in order to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honored.

The current date of November 1 was instituted by Pope Gregory III (731-741), when he consecrated a chapel to all the martyrs in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and ordered an annual celebration. This celebration was originally confined to the Diocese of Rome, but Pope Gregory IV (827-844) extended the feast to the entire Church and ordered it to be celebrated on November 1.