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Lectionary
EASTER 5: 27 APRIL – 3 MAY 2008
THEME: CHRIST THE
BREAD OF LIFE.’
SUGGESTED READING: JOHN 6: 35-51
Bread signifies livelihood. In some cases the absence
of bread has precipitated severe crisis. In John 6:35-51,
Jesus speaks of himself as being the “Bread of life.” This
means he is the Source of life. He is the Source of
imperishable, life-giving food through an intimate bond of
fellowship with him. He miraculously fed 5000 men with five
loaves of bread and two fishes, a miracle which fascinated the
crowd so much, they concluded there could be no better king
for them than Jesus, and so they followed him.
Over
the years, we have pursued leaders who have promised us
“physical bread” or material things, and we have voted them
into power. The material promises hardly ever materialize, and
so we turn away from one leader and hope for another who will
actually deliver the goods. We constantly are on a quest for a
better life, but no matter what levels of success we achieve
we hunger for more, just as the Israelites ate manna in the
wilderness and still died (vs 49). Is there any hope for us as
Africans? Jesus Christ offers hope, and an ultimate hope at
that. It is not the power of position that will cause our
leaders to deliver what they promise, because power is not
sufficient. This power must go with the Bread of life. It is
this Bread that can satisfy the wealthy enough such that they
realize that what they have, they hold in trust from the
divinely accredited Provider to share with the less
privileged. It is this Bread that can satisfy all in search
for satisfaction in wealth which often evades them. This bread
is free, and it is for all. Let us find it, accept it and
change Africa and our world.
Submitted by Rev. Aboseh
Ngwana
PRAYER
God of mercy, we rejoice in the
resurrection of your Son, the Bread of Life; we have been
searching all our lives in the wrong places for satisfaction.
Feed us with your living bread that our search may end, and we
may hunger no more and increase in us compassion for the
hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAY FOR:
Sierra Leone (National Day – April 27)
South Africa (National Day – April 27)
READINGS FOR
THE WEEK
John 6: 25 – 41; Exodus 16: 1 – 15; Psalm 104: 14
– 18; Isaiah 55: 1 – 5; Luke 22: 14 – 20; 1 Corinthians 11: 26
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