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Lectionary
20 TRINITY: 5 – 11 OCTOBER. 2008
THEME: ‘CHRISTIAN
WORK ETHICS.’
READING: JOHN 5: 1 – 17
Jesus had
done a healing on a Sabbath and was challenged by the Jewish
authorities. He was accused of being a Sabbath breaker. That
Jesus healed on the Sabbath was a constant complaint of the
Jewish authorities against him. Jesus’ response to his
accusers is very interesting. He pointed them to the work of
God and claimed his authority from the work ethics of God, “My
Father is always working and I too must work.”
The
notion of the Sabbath rest is derived from the teaching that
God rested from creation after the seventh day (Gen. 2: 2 –
3). Jesus pointed to a God who resigned from all work activity
after completing the world and declared it good, to a God who
is constantly involved in the continuous creation and
recreation of this world. God did not go into perpetual rest
but is always at work, remaking and renewing the world and
humanity.
The selfishness of the human race depicted
in our forebears and replicated by us in our social
engagements, mars the created order and puts it in need of
continuous recreation. The work of healing which Jesus did
should rightly be seen as work of righteousness that is of
urgency in the world. Jesus did not condemn the notion of
Sabbath, but showed the urgent work of restoration to the
human person created in the image of God, to the divinely
intended fullness of life is of great importance. God’s work
of redemption of the world is central to the work of Christ
and calls on us to be sharers in the mission of remaking the
world.
It is indeed a paradox that Africa has immense
human and material resources, yet it is faced with utmost
poverty. How can one explain this? Does not God bless our
work? Are we not justice-compliant?
As Christians, our
work engagements should be seen not just in terms of seeking a
livelihood, but as a call from God into the great privilege of
being co-workers with God for the continuous recreation of the
world. Therefore, “let us work while it is day, for the night
comes when no one can work.” Every day presents us with
renewed opportunity, and time is a scarce resource that must
be used in working for the enhancement of God’s creation.
Stand up, Africa! To work for justice is to fulfill God’s
will.
Submitted by Rev. ACee Temple Anono and Pastor
Kinda T. Léonard
PRAYER
Heavenly God, whose
blessed Son was revealed that he might destroy the works of
the devil; may we in all our work follow in his footsteps to
bring the Kingdom of God closer in our continent. Help us to
seek and do you will at all times; in the name of our blessed
Lord and Saviour. Amen.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Gen
2: 1‐3; Proverbs 11: 23‐31; Mat 6: 24‐34; Gal 4: 6‐7; 1Tim
6‐12; Mat 20: 31‐46 | |
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