Fifth Sunday of Lent

Ethiopia is one of the most ancient Christian countries. The faith among its Christian people is evident, not only in the abundance of Orthodox, Catholic and other churches, but in the explicit way that people live and profess their faith. It is a people who believe that Christ is the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.
It is a people whose faith has sustained them through drought and famine, hunger and sickness, and long periods of mourning.

On 12th September 2007, the people of Ethiopia celebrated the beginning of a new millennium, recalling that it is 2000 years since Christ came into the world. As they prayed, their prayer was not focused on death, but on life. This was not a time for petition, but for thanksgiving.

In particular, they gave thanks to God that during the previous year their country had been blessed with a wet season that brought an abundance of rain. The Ethiopian people described these rains as ‘Holy Water’, for the rains brought a rich harvest. There had been no drought and no hunger for all except the poorest of the poor.

Gradually during the last 25 years, Ethiopia has been rising from the death caused by hopelessness that comes from cycles of famine and drought, to life that brings hope. Yet, as in many countries in the developing world, its people continue to experience the consequences of extreme poverty.

On this day, as we recall the compassion of Jesus in giving life to Lazarus, we pray that he may show the same compassion to the poorest of the poor in our world. We pray that they may come to experience a world in which a year of drought or floods will not lead to famine and hunger; a world in which poverty and sickness, fear and insecurity are consigned to history.

Let us pray

Lord, may our own compassion and generosity never become weary. May our hearts always be capable of being moved with pity, so that you may use us as a means to give life.

Amen.