The times have marched on, and 25 years on the world remembers Steve Bantu Biko, his life - and his brutal assassination by the apartheid state police on September 12, 1977.

We also remember the inquest court which, despite the telling and convincing evidence that Steve Biko could not have inflicted his own death, it chose in its strange wisdom to hand down a verdict that exonerated the security police from any blame and responsibility for his death.

We also remember that Steve Biko died because of his insatiable quest for our own liberation, and freedom from the chain of oppression.

Is it not perhaps the time for all those who never really identified with Biko – and his death – because of ideological differences, open themselves to the possibility of being touched by his humanity?

The generation of church leaders within the South African Council of Churches saw in Biko, and his writings on Black Consciousness, a man who inspired them to look afresh at the Bible. They were given an opportunity to interpret it in a manner that would take into account context, inspiring in the process the serious appreciation of Black Theology.

His works also inspired among the generation of church leaders a great pride in being black, as opposed to the state-sponsored theology that taught that blacks were inferior, and not really made in the image and likeness of God.

For this inspiration, and the teachings and writings that affirmed their humanity, we thank God for Biko’s life.

When on this day of his death, September 12, people across the globe remember Biko’s life of service to his people, we spare a thought for others who continue to die and suffer in all parts of the world because of their convictions.

We also give thanks to God for his two sons, Samora and Nkosinathi, and his widow, Ntsiki, for the role they continue to play to keep the legend of Steve Biko alive.

In the words of Fr Aelred Stubbs, CR, thank you Steve for having restored to many their humanity. It is now left to the church Fathers (and Mothers!) to now push for the canonization of this saintly child of God who died in the course of liberating “the least” of God’s children.

For more details, phone Fr Joe Mdhlela at 082 456 5548