The Ties That Bind Us – Your Catholic Weekly Reflection from CMMB
“For the grace of God has appeared, saving all.”
—Titus 2:11
Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. On this, the last day of the Christmas season, our Gospel reveals to us Jesus’ relation to God: the son of Mary and Joseph is also God’s own Son. Jesus’ behavior, attitudes, and expectations were governed by his identity as God’s beloved Son.
In our baptism, we were made children of this same heavenly Father. This identity shapes our family’s daily life. We are children of God and as such brothers or sisters of Jesus.
Families can take many different forms, especially in poverty-stricken areas such as Mwandi, in western Zambia, where Grandma Belita lives. The 76-year-old matriarch has been both a mother and father to her grandchildren ever since their parents died, even though she is completely blind. Brigette and Nyambe lost both of their parents due to poverty and illness when they were very young and have lived with Belita since then. Now they take care of each other.
“I would be fulfilled if my grandchildren were educated. I would be happy to see them both independent and I dream that they will become teachers to help the community.”—Grandma Belita
In Mwandi, infrastructure is poor and electricity and clean water are scarce. Most people live on less than $1.00/day. Because of her blindness, Belita struggles every day to meet the challenges of collecting water and finding food to eat. She works the field with the help from her grandchildren. “They are my eyes,” she says. Brigette and Nyambe bring their energy, love and support to Belita. They are living examples of what being a child of God means.
Blessings,
CMMB – Healthier Lives Worldwide