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Lectionary
ADVENT 2: 7 - 13 DECEMBER 2008
THEME: ‘AFRICA WILL NOT
BE DISGRACED AGAIN!’
READING: ISAIAH 54: 1 – 10
It
is quite clear from the Judeo-Christian Scriptures that amidst
the changing fortunes experienced by Israel and other nations,
God’s sovereignty and pardoning grace have been consistently
demonstrated. This is eloquently expressed in Deutero-Isaiah
(Isaiah 40-55), where Israel’s experience of exile provides
the occasion for the compiler(s) of this prophetic material to
record God’s agenda of restoration for a humiliated people.
The apocalyptic communities, whose theologies are mostly
recorded in the books of Daniel and Revelation, also looked
forward to God’s ultimate intervention in human history to
rescue the world and thereby usher in ‘a New World Order.’ As
we commemorate Advent, we are powerfully reminded of the
Coming of Jesus our Saviour and Lord whose birth potently
ushers in God’s decisive redemptive intervention in the
affairs of humankind and the rest of creation.
This
unique intervention embraces Africa, our beloved continent,
humiliated through such forces as colonialism and
neo-colonialism, aspects of globalization, internal
mismanagement and ethnic conflicts. Africa looks forward to a
brighter tomorrow when her people will no longer be robbed of
their dignity through exploitation by both internal and
external forces of destruction. With God’s help and our
determination to commit ourselves to the rebuilding of our
humiliated continent, we and generations that come after us
shall experience a new Africa whose resources are judiciously
harnessed for the good of her people. Our peoples will then
need not go begging and consequently suffer reproach from
citizens of nations in other continents.
Submitted by
Very Rev. Prof. John D K Ekem
PRAYER
Give us
grace, dear Lord, to contend fearlessly against oppression of
all sorts and to take a stand to free all those in captivity.
May we use our freedom to sustain justice and peace in our
nations, through him who is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.
PRAY FOR:
Tanzania (National Day –
December 9)
Kenya (National day – December 12)
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Nehemiah 2: 1‐20; Isaiah 60;
Jeremiah 38: 1‐13; Ezekiel 37: 1‐14; Psalm 126; Acts 8: 26‐40
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