11/07/2015
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Revd Elizabeth Adekunle.
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Script
Good morning.Β Not too long ago a friend suggested I watch a series on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ called βWomen who Spitβ, and while I confessed to her afterwards that I only managed to watch one episode, none-the-less it led to a conversation about inspirational women role models.
One such inspirational figure is Malala Yousafzai.Β She first came to public attention through her heartfelt diary, published on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Urdu, which chronicled her desire to stay in school and for all girls to have the chance to be educated.
When she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in October 2012, she was already well known in Pakistan, but that one shocking act catapulted her to international fame. In 2014 at the age of 17, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, taking the number of women awarded the prize to 16 out of 95.Β
Throughout the bible we get an idea of how women were viewed and treated culturally - but in the Gospels, we also get an insight into the countercultural way in which Jesus treated women.Β A number of artists have tried to capture that inclusion that Jesus showed to women.Β Edwina Sandysβ βChristaβ - a bronze sculpture of a crucified female form - is not an attempt to rewrite history, but rather it is making a positive and visceral connection between the bodies and suffering of women and the body and suffering of God.
So, one year since the Church of Englandβs General Synod voted in favour of women bishops, letβs give thanks to God for all that has been achieved to further the rights of women β as well as men - throughout the world.Β Amen
Broadcast
- Sat 11 Jul 2015 05:43ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4