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July 4, 2007
Rosemary Braxton, Lay Preaching Student

Matthew 5:43-48

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your father in heaven.”

As a high school student I was inspired by the life of Jomo Kenyatta. Like many patriots who fought in the American Revolution for our independence from England, Jomo Kenyatta was a beacon of light for justice and freedom in British East Africa.

Kenyatta’s first book, Facing Mount Kenya was in our home library. It bore a photograph of him as a young man clothed in native garb. From time to time I would gaze at the book’s cover and wonder how Jomo Kenyatta could forgive the British for wrongly sentencing him to prison and for placing restrictions on his movements after he was released.

I still vividly remembered my friend Rose’s false accusation when she couldn’t find her shoes at camp and accused me of taking them. After summer camp was over and we returned home she found them and wrote a long letter of apology. That small persecution was very painful because it was unjust.

By contrast Jomo Kenyatta was a noted scholar and journalist respected beyond the continent of Africa for his work to achieve independence for Kenya yet he was sentenced to prison April 8, 1953 for the Mau Mau rebellion in a trial that was a mockery of justice.

As a young man he was educated by European missionaries and embraced Christianity. Following his release from prison in 1959 he continued to rally the various races and tribal groups of British East Africa for the independence of Kenya.

Through his many trials and tribulations Kenyatta somehow manage to love those who persecuted him.

But Christ does not ask extraordinary men to love their enemies. He asks each of us. In our lesson we are reminded that God sends the sun and rain to the righteous and unrighteous. In turn we are to be like God. We are asked to bless one another when we are lovable and to bless one another when we are unlovable as well. And it doesn’t stop there; others are asked to bless us when we are lovable and to bless us when we are unlovable as well. The king and ditch digger, the maid and first lady are given the same command. The playing field is level. Each person is to use the same thing, the one thing he or she completely controls, his or her own spirit. Through our spirit we are given the opportunity to grant new mercies each day, just like God. Every instance of love for his enemies strengthened Kenyatta and our own struggles to love our enemies will strengthen us.

On June 1, 1963, Jomo Kenyatta was inaugurated as the first Prime Minister of self-governing Kenya. At midnight on December 12, 1963, at Uhuru Stadium, amid world leaders and multitudes of people, the Kenya flag was unfurled. A new nation was born. A year later on December 12, 1964, Kenya became a Republic within the Commonwealth, with Kenyatta, as the President.

Kenyatta achieved greatness through the greatness of his spirit. He was able to love and work with those who persecuted him. When he died less than 30 years ago on August 22, 1978 at the age of 89 he had lead Kenya to membership in the United Nations, convinced white and East Indian settlers to remain in Kenya and instituted land reform. President Kenyatta is acknowledged as one of the greatest men of the 20th century.

This is the legacy of an extraordinary man that can be shared by each of us. Like Kenyatta we have the opportunity to become one of the greatest men or women of the 21st century in the eyes of God. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father.” Amen.