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Lectionary
9TH WEEK BEFORE EASTER:
– 26 JANUARY 2008
THEME:
‘LORD, IN YOUR MERCY, TRANSFORM AFRICA.’
READING:
Revelation 21: 1-6
The theme of this week, ‘Lord, in
your mercy transform Africa,’ is a prayer that acknowledges
the deepest truth about any transformation that can occur in
our continent: Only God can do it – with our participation as
co-workers (co-creators) with God. Only God can bring change
for the better in a continent that is struggling to sustain
life. Life has become very hard for the majority of our
citizens and only God, through us the citizens of this world,
can make that transformation a reality. Without God—the prayer
is clear no transformation can ever happen. Without our
participation that transformation will remain a stillborn
dream. So we bow before God, and God’s Son Jesus Christ and
the Holy Spirit, who is the power behind the signs of life
that we continue to witness even in death-filled places of our
lives and regions. God in your mercy, transform the continent
of Africa – transform our people, our lands, our cultures, our
politics, our leaders, our economies, our very lives. God
transform our churches, this is our sincere cry! Oh God
transform me, this is my humble plea.
Transformation
has to begin with somebody somewhere. I believe it has to
begin with one person that is fed up with the madness going on
in Africa. That one courageous and spirit-filled person can be
a catalyst for a transformed Africa. God in your mercy is a
plea not a command; we are beseeching God the Creator, Owner
of the Universe and Author of our very lives. We can not
command the Almighty one but can beseech God to change us and
our lands. So much needs to change in the world and worse in
Africa where it is a struggle to make it to a ripe age; where
the children die young, where life is very cheap and death is
always looking us in the eyes. Lord, in your mercy transform
our leaders! Lord, transform our motherland. God bless Africa.
Submitted by Dr. James G. Dube Siyaya
PRAYER
Almighty God, in Christ you make all things
new. Transform the continent of Africa and the poverty of our
nature by the riches of your grace. In the renewal of our
lives make known your heavenly glory, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
John 2: 1 – 11;
Acts 26: 9 – 18; Acts 26: 19 – 22; John 3: 13 – 21; Romans 7:
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