Bishop Rukamba preaches love as Holy Week starts

AS Christians celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday, Monsignor Philippe Rukamba, bishop of Butare Diocese, urged them to remain faithful and imitate their Lord Jesus Christ.Hundreds of Christians waved palm fronds to mark the day, which celebrates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem before he was crucified, according to the Bible.Bishop Rukamba told the congregation that by accepting to be nailed on the Cross, Christ testified his love for humanity and asked the Christians to emulate His example.The cleric told the Christians: “It is time to reflect on their habits and see if they do not need to change in order to try following Jesus’ example.”Delivering his sermon, he said love was what the world needed to be better. Drawing examples from Rwanda’s history, the bishop said once people lose love, the world becomes unbearably horrendous.“The [1994] Genocide [against Tutsi] was a sign that when humans fail to abide by God’s will they become dangerous,” Bishop Rukamba told the congregation.“This is time to reflect on our lives and if we are not emulating our Lord Jesus Christ, we ought to adopt a positive change without delay,” he added.Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week, which concludes on Easter Sunday.Biblical writings say when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted him by waving and covering his path with palm leaves. “Let this period be a time of change, love and faith,” Bishop Rukamba said.

National

Bishop Rukamba preaches love as Holy Week starts