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Lectionary
4 LENT: 2 – 8 MARCH 2008
THEME: ‘JESUS, LIFE OF THE
WORLD – LIFE FOR AFRICA!’
Reading: John 4: 7 – 14
Here at the well, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman
who in her engagement with Jesus showed great intellect and
knowledge of the history of the land and its people “are you
greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well and drank
from it himself?” By engaging in conversation with the
Samaritan woman Jesus broke all gender, social, ethnic and
cultural barriers that existed. He used the opportunity to
speak about salvation which is God’s precious and free gift to
the world. Without water, there can be no life, and without
salvation there can be no eternal life. Is our continent
thirsting for this life-giving water?
Women are
care-givers, nurturers and comforters. Our Lord and Saviour
had a special place for them in his earthly life and ministry.
He treasured, trusted, honoured, loved and cared for their
wellbeing. In Africa, women have continued to lag behind. They
toil from dawn to dusk. They are denied opportunities. They
are marginalized economically, socially, culturally and
politically. How can we use their God-given gifts to discern
God’s will for our lives and to bring life to our continent?
Women can be agents of change. How can we participate with
them more for us to benefit from their numerous qualities for
God’s glory and for the well-being of our continent?
Can we listen to their silent voices? Can we empower
and create space for them to make their contribution to life
in the continent? Can we entrust them with responsibility?
What can we do to involve them fully and enjoy their
life-giving support for progress and prosperity of our
continent? Submitted by
Mrs. Catherine Ouma
PRAYER
Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the
wonder of your saving love, renew all your people with your
heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your
mighty power, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
PRAY FOR:
All women of the world (International
Women’s Day March 8)
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
1 Kings
10: 1 – 13; Ephesians 3: 8 – 19; Zech. 8: 1 – 8, 20 – 23; 1
John 5: 1 – 12; John 10: 1-10; Matthew 15: 21-28
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