21 March.   Human Rights Day SA. Zanela shared, “Today we commemorate Human Rights Day in South Africa. It commemorates an ugly and a very sad incident in our political history. In Sharpeville in 1960, in one of the earliest anti-apartheid demonstrations, police fired on a crowd killing some and wounding up to 250 people. In commemorative speeches on many such occasions it is so often said, “Never again.” And yet other incidents like this continued over the years and human life at times appears to be too cheap. Political and relationship conflicts deny the right to life to men and women, to strangers, foreigners and those close to us. The right to life is the most basic human right. I believe that in speaking of human rights we should consider the rights of families as units not only as individual people. Look how many families are struggling at this time to access services, like water which should be free and clean as a most basic right for everyone.“  Cyril added, “Human Rights Day is a day for commemoration of the past,but also for a future of peace and justice based on love of God,, our neighbour and our country.”

JUDGE, reflect and share. Scripture: At that time when they heard the words of Jesus, some of the people said,  “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.”  There was division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him but no one laid hands on him.  John 7:40-53.   Pope Francis:  In this Encyclical, Laudato Si I will point to a number of important questions:  the intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet, the conviction that everything in the world is connected, call to seek other ways of understanding the economy and progress, the value proper to each creature and the need for forthright and honest debate. LS 16. If we accept the great principle that there are rights born of our inalienable human dignity, we can rise to the challenge of envisaging a new humanity.  We can aspire to a world that provides land, house and work for all.  This is the true path of peace which will only be possible in the event of solidarity as the whole human family. FT 127 Pope Leo: Eight centuries ago, Saint Francis prompted an evangelical renewal in the Christians and society of his time. Wealthy and self-confident, the young Francis was taken aback and converted by his direct contact with the poor and outcast of society. The story of his life continues to appeal to the minds and hearts of believers, and many non-believers as well. It “changed history.”  DT6. 

Prayer of St Francis:  Make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love, where there is injury pardon, where there is despair hope. Reflect, share, act, pray about the importance of harnessing the power of love on the journey to human and family rights. “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waters, the tides and gravity we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.” T de Chardin THE PHENOMENON OF MAN. 

SA PRAYER image taken from MARFAM’S FAMILY PRAYER BOOK.