The BEC's Guests Welcomes Reverend Father Lawrence Murori Muuna
The Roman Catholic native of Africa reflects on events and culture in New Orleans
Father Lawrence reflects and responds to the issues of crime and violence in New Orleans as recently reported in The Times-Picayune …
Growing up in a Meru town suburb in Kenya, a nearby church bell rang every hour from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. I became used to the sound of this bell and paid little attention to its sound and the meaning it conveyed. Coming to New Orleans, the sounds of the church bells around the City reminded me immediately of the environment I grew up in and the kind of peace that I enjoyed as I was growing, every hour reminded by the sound of that church bell that time and moments belong to a richer reality greater than myself.
Reading “The Times Picayune” brought to my mind my growing-up experience, opening me further to the contemporary reality of the growing conception of the meaning and value of human life. Of course, as a Christian and a Catholic priest, a meaningful concept of human life has constantly been nourished by my religious tradition. Sadly today, some aspects of contemporary culture deny this understanding, attempting to advance the interpretation of life’s meaning and value of human life through the lens of relativism and the views of evolution.
We live in a world of free-floating concepts empty of human life's true meaning and value.
Contemporary culture is entirely replacing Christian concepts with new meanings, which regrettably is part of creating a big puzzle such as the one on the front page of the paper, which reads, “Increasing Number of Interstate Shootings Sows Alarm in New Orleans”
The solution to the puzzle of the growing fear in New Orleans calls for a public policy by local leaders but also a rediscovery of the true meaning and value of human life that is rooted in the Christian concept of a richer reality outside of ourselves that can effectively impact and transform our view of one another, city life, diversity, culture, and peace through the lens of love.
Letting again the sound of the church bells around our city ring with the sound of the Christian faith, we will frequently be reminded that time and moments belong to a higher and richer reality outside of ourselves and an integral part of our lives if we are to live without fear but only redemptive love which is also creative love that can only free us from the drama of evil that is causing growing fear in the city of New Orleans.
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Murori Muuna is the Parochial Vicar at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Practical Theology and Public Administration. He has research interests in Theology, leadership, public policy, and administrative law.
The BEC extends our gratitude to Fr. Lawrence and welcome him with open arms!
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Excellent article about the importance of recognizing God as our Creator which should lead to our following His Laws. A brief review of God’s laws demonstrates that following them promotes the good of mankind while violating them is detrimental to a good life. If one realizes the purpose of our lives is eternity with God in heaven, one finds it easier to adhere to them. Man thirsts for God and, as St. Augustine said, will not be satisfied until he rests with God in heaven.