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NINANGARA (I SHINE!)

The readings for this Sunday of Lent still haunt me. I couldn’t help it but sing Christina Shusho’s Ninangara (I shine!). 

Christina Shusho, Artist of the song: Ninang'ara

The song sung in Swahili, is available in YouTube on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymxj9SSvgr8 and its lyrics is as follows

Refrain:
Umenifanya ning’are, umenifanya ning’are (You make me shine)
Umenifanya ning’are, Yesu (Jesus You make me shine)(Repeat)

Wewe waitwa nuru, eti nuru ya watu (You are called the light of men)
Ukiingia kwangu, mi nang’ara (I shine when you are in me)
Ndani ya hiyo nuru, eti kuna uzima (There is life in that light)
Ukiingia kwangu, nina uzima (I live when you are in me)
Uso wake Yesu, sura yake Mungu (The face of Jesus, the face of God)
Umeingia kwangu, mi nang’ara (I shine when You are in me)
Nuru ya injili, utukufu wake Kristo (The light of the Gospel, the Glory of Jesus)
Umeingia kwangu, mi nang’ara (You are in me, and so I shine)

(Refrain)

Iinuka uangaze we, nuru yako umekuja (Rise and shine, your light is here)
Utukufu wa Bwana, umekuzukia (The glory of the Lord is upon you)
Mataifa watakujia, wafalme watakuja (Kings and nations will come)
Utukufu wa Bwana, umukuzukia we (The glory of the Lord is upon you) (Repeat)

(Refrain)

In the First reading from the Book of Genesis (Gen. 15: 5-12, 17-18), God takes Abraham outside and shows him the stars. Stars are numerous but they are also luminous. H is descendants are to be as many as the stars. We who are his descendants are called to shine as the stars.

   In the gospel passage, Jesus went up the mountain to pray when he also shone. He was transfigured before the disciples. His face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. How much prayer changes us! Prayer makes us shine!

In the second reading from the Letter to the Philippians, St. Paul reminds us that we too are called to be transfigured like Jesus! We too are called to Shine. “When from the earth he will change our lowly bodies to conform to his own glorious body.” (Phil 3:20-4:1).

The saints are a perfect example of those who really shone! The shone not with their own light but with the Light that comes from God.  As we heard in the Responsorial Psalm: Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

May God’s light shine through us! May God help us to shine in virtue and holiness!

Our Mother, Mary most holy, shines like a Star! That’s why we call her Stella Matutina (Morning Star) and Stella Maris (Star of the Sea). May she intercede for us to God!

Domine, fac nobis luceat lux vestra sunt! Lord, we wish to shine with your light!

Fr. Casmir Odundo (The author is Parochial Vicar: St. Veronica Parish, Keringet, Nakuru) Email: casmirthomas28@gmail.com



Comments

  1. Mumbi IrunguMarch 17, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    tht interpretation is so spiritual.... continue with the good work

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMarch 17, 2019 at 12:20 PM

    Datz great fr,,may Gods light shines through us,,,

    ReplyDelete
  3. annahMarch 17, 2019 at 12:58 PM

    Thank you Fr. for the inspiring reflection of today's readings. May bless you for the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. StoneMarch 17, 2019 at 8:40 PM

    God bless you as you continue to feed His flock

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownMarch 17, 2019 at 10:26 PM

    An inspiring sharing thanks keep it up Fr. To enlighten us

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMarch 17, 2019 at 10:30 PM

    An inspiring sharing thanks keep it up Fr. To enlighten us

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownMarch 18, 2019 at 5:11 AM

    Thanks bro for the good reflection

    ReplyDelete

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