Icons of Charity by Mike E. Chukwu - HTML preview

Born 18 July, 1918 in Umtata Transkei, South Africa, Mandela gained his law degree from the University of South Africa in 1942. His father was the main counselor to the paramount chief of the Thembu, and Mandela was groomed to be a chief. He became prominent in the All"African Conference in Pietermaritzburg in March 1967 and was made Honorary Secretary of the All"African National Council, constituted to organize demonstrations against the proclamation of the Republic on 31 May.

He fought against apartheid in South Africa and thus, championed the struggle for Black liberation and emancipation. Mandela was arrested while trying to hatch his plot against the SA government and sentenced to life imprisonment. His subsequent statement from the dock became one of the most quoted indictments of apartheid.

Pope St. John Paul II

Polish Pope

“War should belong to the tragic past, to history: it should find no place on humanity's agenda for the future.”

" Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II was born as Karol Josef Wojtyla in May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland to Karol and Emilia Kaczorowska Wojtyla, Polish citizens. The last of three children, his mother died on April 13, 1929, before he was ten, and he was raised by his father, a pious military officer and a gentleman of the old school. Young Karol often referred to as "Lolek" by family and friends grew up as the best student in town, an enthusiastic athlete and an amateur actor.

Losing his elder brother, Edmund Wojtyla in December 5, 1932, and having lost his only sister to death too, Karol was left with his father, who took him to Krakow after he graduated from high school. At Krakow, he began an active undergraduate life at the Jagiellonian University.

Great Karol passed through the military, his promising career cut short by World War II, a period which saw him working as a quarryman, blaster and manual labourer. Humble Karol survived the ruthlessness of the Nazi occupiers of his homeland, related with priests and because of his love for God, love and peace, he enrolled in a seminary.

Pope John Paul II preached the love of God and humanity, as  well as peace, extensively. The most widely traveled Pope in history, simple and warm in his approach, yet media friendly; he was an uncomplicated personality, who was easily seen, understood and accepted by all and sundry which earned him the most deserved accolade “The People’s Pope.”

Consecrated a bishop at 38, he grew so fast in the service, rising to be named Archbishop of Krakow in 1963 by Pope Paul VI, and  later to be created a cardinal on June 28, 1967, also by Pope Paul VI. He remained a working intellectual, leading doctoral seminars in  his  residence  and  delivering  scholarly  papers  at international conferences.

At 58, he was elected the 264th Bishop of Rome on October 16, 1978; the first non"Italian Pope in 455 years and the first Slavic Pope ever.  He returned to his homeland in June 1979 and triggered the revolution of conscience that eventually produced the non"violent collapse of the Soviet empire in East Central Europe.

Being a great author of many books, his first book on the ethics of married life, raises more than one clerical eyebrow by its celebration of human sexuality as a gift of God for the sanctification of husband and wife. His published works include Love and Sexuality (KUL Press, 1960), “Easter Vigil” Millennium Poem (published pseudonymously in Znak, April 1964), Essay “Reflections on Fatherhood” (also in Znak, May 1964), etc.

His devotion to God and humanity was not without hitches. In February 29, 1944, he was struck by a German truck and hospitalized. Later, when he became Pope, he survived an assassination attempt. Thereafter, he redefined the Catholic Church‘s relationship with Judaism, invited Orthodox and Protestant Christians to help imagine a papacy that could serve the needs of all Christians, preached to Muslim teenagers in a packed stadium in Casablanca, and described marital intimacy as an icon of the interior life of the triune God.

It’s a Blessed Assurance!

“Blessings and Joy are Siamese Twins.”

" Mike E. Chukwu

I encourage you to make a decision in the right direction today and abide by it. Chart a new course for humanity and yourself  today. You are assured of God‘s rewards as you contribute to the survival of the needy. Let Acts 4: 32"37 live in you.

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one

claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but

they shared everything they had. With great power the

apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the

Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There

were no needy persons among them. For from time to

time those who owned lands or houses sold them,

brought the money from the sales and put it at the

apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he

had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the

apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of

Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought

the money and put it at the apostles' feet.”

Acts 4:32"37 (NIV)

We do not know who may be in need tomorrow. Because of  your kindness to the poor, you can always find help when hard times come. Luke 14:13, 14 urge us to give to the needy. It says, 

“When you give a feast, invite the poor, the

crippled, the lame, and the blind; 

and you will be blessed, because they are

not able to pay you back.”

Luke 14:13"14 (TEV)

God wills that you:

“… Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke

of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share

your food with the hungry

 and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give

clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do

not refuse to help your own relatives.”

Isaiah 58:6"7 (TEV)

Here‘s God‘s promise when you do this:

“Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and

your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with 

you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side.

When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will

respond. If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of

contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the

hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness

around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will

always guide you and satisfy you 

with good things. I will keep you strong and well.

 You will be like a garden that has plenty of water,

 like a spring of water that never goes dry.”

Isaiah 58:8"11 (TEV)

I challenge you to grab your blessings today.