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Lectionary
TRINITY WEEK: 18 - 24 MAY 2008
THEME: ‘THE HOLY SPIRIT
TESTIFIES TO OUR FREEDOM AS CHILDREN OF GOD’
READING:
ROMANS 8: 12 – 17
Liberty is a gift from God and a
testimony of God’s love for creation. The creation story from
the Old Testament tells us that God gave Adam the liberty of
choice between life and death (Gen 2: 16-17). In Israel’s
history, God granted the Israelites liberty by taking them
away from servitude in Egypt.
Unfortunately human
nature had failed. From Adam, the first human being, up to
Jesus Christ’s Advent, sin as well as death prevailed. “But
where sin increased, there also God’s grace increased much
more” (Rom 5: 20). God has, with grace, sent Jesus Christ to
redeem us with his death on the cross and made us become God’s
sons and God’s daughters. And, in our hearts, the Spirit of
God’s Son testifies: “Abba! Father” (Gal 4: 6).
What
are the implications of this adoption? The answer is clear:
“Love one another just as I love you. The greatest love a
person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.”
(Jn. 15: 12-13). The leading principles of Jesus Christ’s
mission are love for humanity and love for creation. Thus,
during his mission, Jesus Christ carried out his duty by
fulfilling the Law. Jesus’ way of fulfilling the Law surpassed
and even confused the understanding of the Teachers of the
Law. The feeling of divine love that always guided Jesus’
action was misunderstood by most of his contemporary fellows.
They tended to react by opposing God’s loving act. We,
Christians from the African continent are invited to follow
our Lord Jesus Christ’s tracks, testifying and accomplishing
his message of love for our continent. Today, there is yet
sickness and insecurity engulfing our brothers and sisters due
to injustice established as law, and exercised over them by
ungodly powers. Following Jesus’ tracks, let’s pray and make
things change for our continent. We must pray for our
legislators, we must make sure the principles of our laws are
principles of life and not death, principles of love and not
hatred, principles of justice and not injustice, so that peace
may prevail. “If you have love for one another, then everyone
will know that you are my disciples” (John 13: 35).
Submitted by Pastor Kinda T. Léonard
PRAYER
Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have
sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts, whereby we call
you Father. Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your
service that Africa and all of humankind may be brought to the
glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Gen 2:
16‐17; Es 9: 1‐6; Gal 5: 1‐14; John 8: 30‐36; Gal 7: 1‐7; Rom
8: 15‐17. | |
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