July 4. Patriarchy.   Mrs Ndebele complained that the Old Testament is often quite patriarchal and almost always makes men the leaders and women as less capable.  “At our age that isn’t really true.   We women may be inquisitive but also often more capable and energetic. Right?   Like the story of Lot’s wife. We’ve probably heard about Lot and his wife and the destruction of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Lot negotiated a deal and they were warned not to look back.  As they were escaping the fire and destruction Lot’s wife did stop and look back and so she was punished and turned into a pillar of salt.  But was that really fair?”

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:   The Lord overthrew those cities with their inhabitants and the produce of the soil.  But Lot’s wife looked back and she was turned into a pillar of salt.   Read from Gene 19: 15-29. Pope Francis.  The equal dignity of men and women makes us rejoice to see old forms of discrimination disappear and within families there is a growing reciprocity.   AL54.