A luta continua - #XenophobiaMustFall

After being a guest in a radio show on Wednesday and having taken part in a march yesterday, I found myself in a prayer meeting an hour ago.

We started this morning at a wedding. One of my colleagues got married and quite a number of our faculty took part. One aspect, beside the wonderful thing of seeing two people in love with one another, was the conversation at our table. Professors, doctors and others were really engaging in the sharing of ideas around the situation in Swaziland as well as the present unrest in South Africa. Critical views on king Zwelithini and president Zuma were shared while we were enjoying the wedding cake. We hope that the king will have a different message at the imbizo that will take place on Monday, according to Mail and Guardian.

When we arrived we found an empty cross in front of the altar.

One of the colleagues mentioned that she was going to a prayer service at St. Alphege’s and we joined. It felt good and sad at the same time. People were sharing experiences and thoughts and I was especially touched when somebody, who was herself a migrant, came in front and thanked for the support. I mean, it is very sad when people need to do that. It should be natural for us as the children of God to live together in harmony and be inclusive to one another.

All were invited to stick pieces of paper with prayers to the cross.

During the short mid-day service we wrote prayers on small pieces of paper and stuck them to the cross, which later was carried out into the garden as a sign of solidarity. The yellow colour is a symbol of friendship. And we prayed.

The cross was then carried out of the church.

Loving God, you have restored us to life by death and resurrection of Christ; continue this healing work in us and as we prepare to leave, bless us with strength to seek justice, with wisdom to care for all people and with love to bring forth new life and hope. Amen.

We left the cross outside the church - as a sign.

We stood at the same place where we had lit the Easter candle a few weeks ago. (I wrote about that in a blog post.) And now we found ourselves at the cross, again. Are we prepared to follow Christ to those who suffer?