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Lectionary
12 TRINITY: 10 – 16 AUGUST, 2008
THEME: “CHRISTIAN
VALUES IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS READING:
NEHEMIAH 5: 1 – 13
Our duty is to defend the values of our society, even
at the price of suffering for it, with the ability to account
for the hope within us under any circumstances. The people
were undertaking major works under the leadership of Nehemiah.
A statesman outside his country, Nehemiah did not forget his
people. He led them to the restoration of the city, and later
to the reform of worship.
The people were faced with
the need to fend for their daily personal and community needs,
(money and wheat were at the centre of discussions and at the
heart of the crisis). A time of moral relaxation took over the
community. Since wealth was a sign of power and survival for
everyone, it goes without saying that some people took
advantage of that and invested capital for profit. An
atmosphere of mistrust reigned among people. Was it by chance
that this trend in the society was reversed in the end? To the
great surprise of the selfish investors, Nehemiah, together
with those around him, undertook to abandon their wealth that
they had lent to others, as well as any interest that they
might have produced. The common cause depended on that.
Through this sacrifice, Nehemiah, a man of action, won the
trust of the people and got them to work for the good of
others.
Five centuries later, another Nehemiah appeared in
society through the person of Jesus. He found the world
suffocating under selfishness. There was a lot of spiritual
laxity. He called for mutual forgiveness in order to make the
common environment worth living in (Mathew 18:21-35).
Forgiveness is capital that can be invested in order to reap
specific benefits, that is love. Two thousand and eight years
later, this benefit remains perfume seeking to drown hearts in
despair, through the actions of new ‘Nehemiahs’ such as you
and me.
Submitted by Reverend Jean-Teddy RAMAHERIJAONA
PRAYER
Creator God, You made the world and
pronounced it good. Many of the nations of our continent are
devastated as a result of conflicts that are derived from bad
governance, greed and corruption. Let us hear your call, Lord,
to get engaged in the rebuilding of our nations, that Africa
will rise from its present predicament and praise your name;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
PRAY FOR:
Chad (National Day – August 11)
READINGS FOR THE
WEEK
Matthew 7: 24 – 29; Matthew 21: 28 – 32; Matthew 25: 1
– 13; Matthew 25: 14 – 30; 1 Timothy 6: 11 – 16; Jacques 1: 16
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