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Lectionary
WEEK OF PENTECOST: 11 - 17 MAY 2008
THEME: ‘COME HOLY
SPIRIT, RENEW OUR CONTINENT’.
READING: JOHN 14: 23 - 27
Africa is suffering from numerous ills that have both
internal and external causes. These ills include political,
economic, social, spiritual, cultural and natural crises. The
issue of ‘how do we save Africa?’2 remains pertinent to date.
Just like all of creation, Africa needs the Holy Spirit in
order to breathe peace (Isaiah 11: 6-9). She has a right to
life, a right to freedom, peace and justice (Rom 8: 1-17). She
needs to recover her dignity and her value on the
international scene. In other words, Africa and Africans need
the breath of God in order to come out of the tomb and live
once again (Ezek 37: 1-14).
African specialists and
specialists who are friends of Africa propose answers to that
question. The solution must come both from Africans themselves
and from the ‘powerful people in the world’ who have played an
important role in impoverishing Africa. But above all, the
former must take their destiny in their own hands. For this,
Africans need the power of the Holy Spirit (Ac 1: 1-11), of
discernment, wisdom, knowledge and force (Isaiah 11: 1-5).
Africa needs prophets, that is men and women of vision (Num
11: 24-30), ready to combine efforts in order to reconstruct
their continent. Each one must bring in their contribution
according to their own God-given gift (1Cor. 12: 1-11). But
this requires, above all, total conversion (Jo 2: 12-13, 1) to
accomplish this difficult task.
Submitted by Rev.
Gabriel Akimana
PRAYER
God, who at this time
teaches the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them
the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant to the continent of
Africa the same Spirit that our leaders may have the right
judgement in all things and we may evermore rejoice in your
holy comfort, through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
READINGS FOR
THE WEEK
Romans 8: 1‐17: Isaiah 11: 1‐9; Acts1: 1‐1;
Numbers 11: 24‐3; 1 Corinthians 12: 1‐11; Joel 2: 12 – 3:11
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