By Paschal Norbert
ELDORET, MAY 31, 2024 (CISA) – “Being a bishop is demanding. It is surely a privilege, but it is also a challenge. As St. Paul adds: “Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God”… It is about hardship, about challenge,” said Archbishop Hubertus Maria van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan during the episcopal consecration of Rt Rev John Kiplimo Lelei, as the auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret.
In his homily at the ordination of Bishop Lelei, which was held at the Mother of Apostles Minor Seminary grounds in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on May 25, 2024, the papal diplomat and principal consecrator admonished the new bishop to dedicate his episcopacy to serving others rather than seeking power or privilege.
“Being a bishop is not about lording it over them. But is about acting in a spirit of power, love and self-control. Being a bishop is about caring for the afflicted, for the broken-hearted, for the captives, and for the prisoners as the Prophet Isaiah wrote. Or, as our Holy Father Pope Francis would say, it is about taking on the smell of the sheep,” said the nuncio.
The nuncio counselled Bishop Lelei to exercise the virtues of a servant leader, reminding him that leadership is not about the individual, but the collective good and greater mission of spreading the love, compassion, and justice of God. He said it was a call to humility, selflessness, and dedication to serving others, particularly those who are most vulnerable or in need.
“Being a bishop, you are called to be close to your people, like a shepherd with his sheep. You are called to walk with them, stay with them, and feed them. Only then will you be able to understand the nature of the affliction of your people: You are called to show special care for the single mother, to accompany with patience the drunkard, to remain close to the divorced, to have a listening ear for the priest in crisis, to counsel with prudence the addicted, to guide with meekness those lost in immorality. Remember, Christ did not come for the healthy but for the sick,” he implored.
Archbishop van Megen, however, cautioned the new bishop to be principled and not to entertain injustices against the poor in society. He beseeched him to be decisive in dealing with the corrupt, acting with compassion and integrity, and by providing spiritual counsel and fostering unity within the Church.
“Be severe with the corrupt, be unforgiving with those who trample the rights of the poor and oppressed, call out the unjust judge and be unrelenting in your fight against social injustice where the rich steal from the poor through corruption and embezzlement … You are called to be the Good Shepherd: kind and caring with the sheep, but harsh and forceful with the wolves. Be as the Virgin Mary who shouted it out: ‘He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble,’ he exhorted.
In his homily, he advised Lelei to embody the virtues of Jesus Christ, who washed the feet of his disciples as a symbol of humility and service and to allow the Holy Spirit to work through him as he embarks on a journey of spiritual leadership.
“That laying on of hands is not only about being claimed by God, about being part of the divine family, but it is also about receiving the special gift of the Holy Spirit…You are called to keep that flame alive in your life, to fan it, through prayer and good works; so that it may shine ever brighter in your life. You, John, should be that light on the lampstand, for anyone to see, so that all may rejoice in your light,” he said.
He explained, “You receive the Holy Spirit to be able to remain with Christ under difficult circumstances. Many times, people say that the Holy Spirit is moving us from place to place, while the contrary is the case. The Holy Spirit is giving us the patient ability to remain in the same place, in the same position, with the same responsibility even when things are getting difficult and burdensome, even when life seems to be a prison.”
