CAESAR’S SUNDAY THOUGHT
Deacon Julius Caesar Kamukama, a professional pharmacist is a clergy of the Archdiocese of Mbarara.
KAMPALA: New identities almost always call upon the initiate to be and do something different, or to be and do things differently. Whichever means is used to confer or communicate this new identity (such as symbolic objects, positions, rituals or names), the initiate is expected to consider carefully the requirements of this new identity and adjust their behaviour. Otherwise, there’s a risk of self-delusion and outright deception of others.
Doing things differently would vary for each context, in terms of identity and circumstances. There are things we’re not expected to do just because we are (or claim to be) something. And then there are those that we ought to start doing. Different vocations and chosen life paths place unique demands on the called. When young people get married, they shouldn’t continue to live and behave as if they were single. Parenthood demands a different set of expectations from spouses than from those without children. A teacher can’t completely run away from being looked at by many as a model for the students (in more ways than one). Caesars have a responsibility towards their subjects, no matter how much they want the crown to serve their own purposes.
What if we chose to reject the roles these identities seem to impose on us? We could never effectively do that without necessarily injuring our identity. The roles seem to be intrinsically bound to the identities. Of course, to save ourselves from the resulting mental and spiritual dissonance, we could divest ourselves of these identities (resignations serve such purposes). Otherwise, we could not, in all honesty, claim that we are followers of certain religions, convictions, parties, etc, without living the new life demanded by the same. Those who claim to be new persons (whether by water or Spirit) ought to show it by their actions.
May Jesus Christ grant us the grace to express our new birth by the way we live with fellow humanity and creation.