Lent reflection for 1 April

Today’s readings talk about water. Ezekiel is shown the river flowing out from the Temple, bringing life to all in its path. In the gospel, a man waits by the sacred pool for healing, which is given to him by Jesus, the living water.

Water is the source of life. During the long drought in Kenya, Khera walked for seven hours to find water.

“To get water there’s a place I would go, around a big red and brown rock. I trekked for almost seven hours carrying a carton on my back. I could only afford to go there once a week… I carried from 20 to 120 litres… It was very hard. I felt so exhausted, I started to get sick. The sun was scorching, burning. I had pain in my legs and my back. But in the drought season, that is what we had to do.”

Khera’s fear is that the drought will come again, but since she has joined in with other women farmers, she has more hope for the future. The Glitter Group, so called because they shine out for everyone to see, are 20 women who grow vegetables and raise chickens together and use any profit to help each other.

“I think the chickens will be helpful because they don’t depend on the pastures and the water like the livestock,” explains Khera. “Their food is within the environment and you can get it from town to provide for their needs. They can produce a lot of eggs which will help our growth. The money we get from selling eggs can be used to start another, different business for the group.”

We give thanks today for the life-giving water to which we have such easy access, and we pray that all people may have safe water to meet their needs.

Prayer

Living God, pour out your Spirit upon us all and lead us to new life in you. Satisfy our thirst for a better world and grant that all your people may have the safe water they need to flourish and rejoice in your creation. Amen.

Act 

Use our prayers on the theme of water to enrich your prayer life today.