On Monday 18 July, we shall celebrate Mandela Day as a school. Nelson Mandela rejected the label of saint. When referring to Mandela as a saint, we recognise in a biblical way that he is a saint. Biblically, a saint is a person who was baptized into the Christian faith and who displayed the fruit of the spirit. A saint is also someone who lives out faith sincerely and fully. Mandela did this quietly and with humility.

One of the lessons we can learn from Mandela is from his speech in 1964, where he said:

I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society where all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.

His words in this speech are a reminder that, when we strive for a just society, it begins with us. We must ask ourselves: am I willing to have less? Less power? Less money? Take up less space? Mandela’s life shows us that taking up less space and power is not easy. Sometimes it means breaking walls and bringing people who disagree together.

The saints for whom we give special thanks in our calendar are a continual encouragement to us. They provide a varied pattern of selfless devotion to God and love for neighbour, each in their different circumstances.

REVD RAKGADI KHOBO
CHAPLAIN