On October 18, 2022 the Diocese of Manzini and the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales came together for the unveiling of Fr Alwyn Zothansanga's tombstone at St Joseph's cemetery. Below is part of the homily on the feast of St Luke
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If we would continue reading Luke 10 we will come across the following statement: “The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’” It was a very joyful and successful mission; even in this we can see a parallel with their presence both at St Phillip’s and at the birth of the new parish of St Ignatius of Loyola.
Thank God, the first reading from 2 Timothy complements it with a different picture: Paul, in prison, is basically alone, experiencing betrayal and being abandoned…
- Demas deserted me for love of this life
- Alexander has done me a lot of harm
- In my first defense no one supported me, everyone deserted me
There are though, some good news: "only Luke is with me" (maybe the reason to include this passage) and the reference to Mark who Had been the reason why he separated from Barnabas after the first mission. Reconciliation had taken place.
Our call has both dimensions: a joyful one as we journey together and an amount of loneliness (and frustration?!) experiencing that things are not going the way we expected them to be.
Thinking of today’s passage I wondered about Fr Alwyn and the time he had to face COVID. Like any other person infected with COVID, he had to be alone, isolated, being reached on the phone or through messages.
Though I was in touch with him daily, I personally do not know how he went through it, what was in his heart, his faith, his fears… Could he feel and experience our love and prayers? Was he ready for the final journey?
The questions are appropriate because it is exactly the context of today’s passage as the verses that precede it says:
“As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:6 - 7)
Today’s unveiling gives us the opportunity to remember him once again, to pray for him and to thank God for the generosity with which he lived his priesthood among us (and his good singing!)
It is also an opportunity to look at our ministry, to the joys and struggles, to the community experience and the one of loneliness, to the importance of being close to each other now because our tomorrow is never guaranteed and in everything making sure that we can say with Paul:
“the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”
Click below for photos of the event
