The Memorial of Blessed Iwene Tansi

Heb. 7:1-3.15-17, Mk 3:1-6. The author of today's first reading places Abraham as a peace-loving one. He was drawn into action in order to rescue his relative from the violence of marauding local warlords and was blessed by Melchizedek on his return from this righteous intervention. We always need to remember our Lord’s warning that “those who take the sword shall perish by the sword” (Mt. 26:52) and His explicit ruling out of violence, even in self-defence as a wrong move for Christians (Mt. 5:39). The thrust of these texts is for the triumph of life over the forces of death. The author concludes that like the "Mysterious Priest-King Melchizedek" - Jesus is a Priest forever, with a power of life that cannot be destroyed. That is why in the debate about what is permissible on the Sabbath as recorded in today's Gospel, Jesus makes clear that Sabbath is above all a day for life-giving activities. He stresses, indeed, the contrast between “good” deeds that preserve life, and “evil” deeds, that destroy it. For God is the Lord of life, not of death; peace, not of violence; and justice, not of oppression.

However, we must continue to speak out against evil and injustice, even at the expense of our lives. Jesus could have side-stepped the issue of keeping the Sabbath regulations, by healing the sick man in private, but He chose to confront the issue squarely and publicly and cured the man in full view of all. In all circumstances, genuine compassion must move beyond conventional practices. Jesus declares that works of love and mercy should be done on the Lord’s Day. Blessed Iwene Tansi whose memorial we celebrate went about the work of mercy and love at a time when living out the Gospel was of a great challenge. He was a native of Aguleri, Anambra State, Nigeria and born in 1903. Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was nurtured and trained as a catechist by the Spiritans missionaries. Move with zeal to continue the work of mercy, he joined the Seminary and in 1937 was ordained a priest. In 1950 he left his Diocese in order to go to England where he joined the Cistercian Abbey of Mount St. Bernard, near Nottingham. Like Tansi, we are invited to be humble and work in the side of integrity. If we return to the part of integrity in obedience to the will of God, we have life once again.

May the Lord help us by His grace to always promote in one another healthy, salvific human-focused projects that will help us to conquer violence with peace! Amen!! Stay safe, it is well with you!!!