Never sell faith for wealth, favours – Archbishop Banda
By Mast Reporter
NEVER sell your faith in exchange for worldly favours and riches, Archbishop Dr Alick Banda has urged Catholic Church priests, deacons and holy men and women.
Archbishop Banda, the head of the Archdiocese of Lusaka, said in a broken world of inequality, exploitation, violence, disease, hunger and hopelessness, the Church could not remain silent.
He was speaking during the Chrism Mass -2025 Tuesday for the renewal of vowels by priests, deacons and holy men and women.
Archbishop Banda said in a society where sponsored propaganda, misinformation, intimidation and deliberate lies and double standards were the order of the day, the Church should be concerned.
“Jesus’ language is urgent as he intimates that the time for God’s mercy is now. In our society, where the majority remain under the weight of sponsored propaganda, misinformation, intimidation, and deliberate lies and double standards, we must be concerned and ask ourselves: how are we living out this Scriptural passage today?” he said.
Archbishop Dr Banda wondered whether the poor majority should only receive gifts without offering them the dignity they deserved.
The Church should stand up against any form of oppression.
He said the Church should be the agent for genuine healing and hope for many people.
“To the poor, do we simply offer them material aid without offering them the dignity of encounter? To the captives, do we stand before systems of oppression, intimidation, greed and complacency? To the blind, do we boldly bring light to reality, even when it is uncomfortable and daring? The oils we are blessing today do challenge us to action. They remind us that the Church is not for herself, but rather for the world. We, as the Church, ought to be agents of healing and hope; instruments of liberation and God’s favour; and servants of all, regardless,” Archbishop Dr Banda said.
He urged the priests, deacons and holy men and women to always keep their promises of defending and speaking for the weak in society.
Archbishop Dr Banda reminded them of the sufferings poor people were going through, which the Church should never ignore or back down to speak about.
“My dear brother priests, today, as you reaffirm your promises, remember that your hands will anoint; your hands will bless; and your hands will absolve. Let those hands never grow weary of serving the people of God, and especially those in need. May your hearts never grow cold to the plea of the poor. The poor cry out day in and day out for shepherds who walk with them, for shepherds who reek of the sheep. It is only then you will know what ought to be done,” Archbishop Dr Banda said.
“My dearest, the lay faithful. Grasp your baptismal anointing! You are the ones who can forcefully bring Christ into homes, workplaces and public places. Thus, do not underestimate the power of your witness. You have the numbers to make the difference.”
