Don’t let fear drain your peace – archbishop
By Mast Reporter
LUSAKA Archdiocese Archbishop Dr Alick Banda has urged Zambians to resist fear and anxiety amid organised crime, economic hardship and the erosion of the nation’s social fabric.
Archbishop Banda said faith in God remained the only antidote to the despair threatening to overwhelm communities.
Archbishop Banda made the remarks during his homily at the 5th Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Cross Parish in Lusaka West.
“It’s easy to be fearful when challenges become deafening, such as organised crime, subversive conspiracies, economic downturn and the spiral adverse effects of policy manipulation. It’s easy to be fearful when we are faced with insecurities such as financial loss, health issues old age, broken relationships and dissipated and degenerated behaviours,” he said.
“In such an environment, how quickly do we find ourselves worrying about those we love and ourselves. As a result, anxiety and fear creep in and drain out our peace,” Archbishop Banda said.
He warned that if left unchecked, fear had the power to corrode human dignity and communal bonds.
Archbishop Banda said irrational fear drove people to spread falsehoods, innuendos, and even destroy the lives, dignity, integrity and property of others.
The prelate anchored his message in the story of the early Christian community, which faced its own internal tensions when Greek-speaking widows were neglected in the daily distribution of food.
He said the episode revealed timeless truths about inequality, cultural division, and the danger of silent grievances that festered into open complaint when people had no safe space to voice their pain.
He noted that the apostles’ response offered a powerful model of leadership which was rooted not in control, but in trust when they invited the community to choose seven men of good reputation and filled with the Spirit to serve, while they devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.
Archbishop Banda assured the faithful that God had not abandoned them.
He read from Deuteronomy 31:6 which stated that the Lord would never leave nor forsake his people.
He said God who had brought Zambia this far would preserve the nation in its moment of need.
