Recollection by Bishop Rodrigo Mejia SJ
The global young member’s meeting started on a high note on the first day with Holy Mass presided by the General Superior, an introductory session by the facilitator Fr. Raphael Sankhulani SPS and a recollection preached by Bishop Rodrigo Mejia SJ. To emphasise the importance of ongoing formation programs such as young members’ meeting, Bishop Rodrigo started by saying theology has two eyes. One eye on the back and another on the front. The back eye is to see the past i.e experience/tradition and the front eye to see the present then the two together influence how we look at the future. He hence challenged participants to look at the past not just quantitatively counting how many years in mission but rather how much they have grown spiritually. Basing on the theme, Spiritual Maturity, he emphasized unity as a symbol of spiritual maturity.
To further explain unity, bishop Rodrigo quoted 1 Thessalonians 5: 23, where Paul prays to God, “May God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your entirety, spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord”. Building on this, Bishop Rodrigo contrasted philosophical anthropology with biblical anthropology. Whereas philosophical anthropology views the human person as a duality of body and soul, biblical anthropology views the human person as a Trinitarian unity of body, soul and spirit. Body refers to the physiological, soul to the psychological and spirit is that part that connects a person with God respectively. Spiritual maturity is therefore when the three dimensions of the human person is in union. To become an adult in Christ is to achieve unity of body, mind and Spirit as this was the prayer of Jesus, “…may they be one.” (Jn.17:21) On the contrary the devil is divided as seen in its response, ‘we are a legion’ when Jesus asked, “what is your name?” Division is therefore a sign of the devil as manifested in a baptised Christian who attends Mass, receives holy Eucharist daily but it is the same person who is corrupt and divisive. One who is divided in himself cannot unite others. Bishop Rodrigo recognized that it is a struggle to bring the three entities, body, soul and spirit in harmony. It takes time and needs the grace of God.
Mark Owor, MHM
