What do our Eyes Reflect?

By Phiwokuhle Siyabonga Xulu – When we look at ourselves in the mirror, do we see love? Do we see mercy? Do we see hope?

On November 28, few weeks after the beginning of the Dominicans’ 800th anniversary, the friar preachers in South Africa commenced with an ordination to the diaconate of one of their brothers from Zambia, Deacon Clement Mweni.

In this special celebration full of different languages it seemed like Dc Mweni and the other eight newly ordained, clergy, religious and People of God were also being prepared for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

In his homily, Bishop Barry Wood, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate and the ordaining bishop, shared the importance of the office which these new deacons of the Church were entering: the sacredness, necessity and its institution that is still very much relevant to today’s world.

One of his main points was a challenge he posed to everyone. Bishop Wood urged everyone to show mercy to other people. Referring to the Acts of the Apostles in narrating the story where deacons were chosen for the office of bringing justice, mercy and love to all the people of God, equally.

This reminded me that as the Church we have just ended our liturgical year and we are awaiting the coming of Christ into our lives once again to be revived in our spiritual journey.

While thinking of this, I was also reminded of the movie on St Thomas Becket where he had found himself having to choose between earthly powers or wholeheartedly giving himself to God as the weapon against the injustices levelled against the society.

Indeed, to a certain extent every one of us does find him or herself having to choose between good and bad. St Thomas chose the side full of light the side where mercy flourishes more than the darkness which is a sad reality of our time.

It is thus fitting to confront ourselves with the words of Bishop Wood: What do our eyes reflect to the society.

Eyes become a very important tool in preaching both to ourselves and to others. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, do we see love? Do we see mercy? Do we see hope?

If these qualities  love, mercy, hope are absent as we behold ourselves, what contribution are we making to the society?

With the nine brothers ordained to the office of the diaconate, we are called to be merciful to our fellow men and women, bring hope to all without prejudice, show love to a world so afflicted by war; both spiritual and physical.

Most importantly, we are called to be of service to others as Christ was. We are to be the eyes, hands and image of Christ.

When the office of diaconate was established, as Bishop Wood explained, the early Christian community encountered difficulties. Customary law and tradition seemed to overshadow the message of Christ, the message of Love.

In November 2015, this particular ordination followed a series of xenophobic attacks to our brothers and sisters from other African countries. And yet the richness of our faith became more visible especially because no one from South Africa was among the newly ordained deacons.

The community of St Raphael’s in KwaMzimba in rural of KwaZulu-Natal welcomed this ordination and participated fully from the preparations to the final day of ordination.

No colour, no foreign spirit dwelt among us, only Christ’s love and mercy.