April 30: Feast of Our Lady, Mother of Africa

Theme: With Mary’s intercession, Christ’s intervention is assured.

Readings: Acts 1:12–14; Jn. 2:1–11

To overcome their present enormous problems, Africans need more than material aid from the continents that have continued to plunder their resources and render their continent poorer and poorer. The African continent needs a force that will wake up her people and their leaders from their slumber, so that they can rise to their challenges, reclaim their freedom from the plunderers of their resources, take their destiny in their own hands and reposition the course of their lives.

Aware of the enormity of the challenges facing the people of Africa in the realization of the continent they can be proud of and knowing that without Divine assistance, Africans cannot win their battles, the Church has entrusted the African continent to the Blessed Virgin to intercede for her children in the same manner she interceded for the couple of Cana when they were about to be overwhelmed and embarrassed by their own challenges, as today’s gospel tells us. With her intercession, the consciousness of Africans will be awakened, their initiatives divinely inspired and their efforts gracefully amplified to surmount their challenges like men.

The Church urges Africans not to give up hope in their general and individual problems, but to turn to Mary in order to experience her maternal intercession and assistance in their daily lives, for under the intercessory power of Mary, Christ’s intervention is assured. We recall that despite the fact that Christ’s time had not yet come, He heeded the request of His mother and saved the couple of Cana from their shame. Jesus does not turn down the request of His mother.

Let us, therefore, take up our rosary, fall on our knees and pray, because with Mary’s intercession, Christ’s intervention is assured. May your Tuesday be fruitful. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima