Global Ecumenical Call to Prayer for Covid – 3/23/21

Tuesday 23 March 2021 – Day Two

Prayers for Hurting & Suffering Communities

(We remember the millions suffering from food insecurity, children and youth being trafficked and the 235 million people worldwide who are in need of living assistance.)*

Opening Prayer

Eternal God, as we come before you on this day,
our souls waiting in silence,
we place our hope in You, our rock, our salvation, our refuge.
By your grace, may we not be shaken.
May we pour out our hearts in this time of prayer, trusting in Your steadfast love.
May the source of our inspiration be Christ Jesus,
who in his love of the poorest and most needy demonstrated welcome and inclusion.
May everything we do be done as if we are doing it to Jesus,
and because we are one in His Spirit,
in whose power we pray.
Amen.

Scripture Reading: Romans 12: 9 – 21

⁹Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. ¹¹Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹²Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. ¹⁸If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Reflection

During the first weeks of the pandemic, one heard news about people anxiously accumulating groceries for themselves. This had adverse effects for others who were not able to get what they needed. However, as time went by, we heard many more stories of generosity, compassion and self-denial for others’ sake. Certainly, many of us could affirm that God was at work among us, prompting and strengthening people for these acts of kindness.

These circumstances have reminded us of how God grants gifts for renewal amid difficult times. Even more, God makes things new especially in the context of difficult conditions. For example, we see that when there was darkness and emptiness, the Spirit of God brought light and fullness into the universe (Genesis 1:1-3, Psalm 33). When there was death and no hope, the same Spirit of God brought life and a new future (Ezekiel 37:1-14). When there is need and starvation, it is God’s Spirit that sustains and renews all things (Psalm 104:27-30).

It is the same Spirit who empowers the church ever since Pentecost. Life, hope, courage, strength and a new future are possible because the Holy Spirit is moving in and through us amid this pandemic.

This Spirit is renewing humanity, wherever communion, friendship, provision and partnership are being made real in the world. This contrasts with the darkness, death, starvation, domination, exploitation and accumulation which so often marks our world.

How can we, who bear Christ’s name and have God’s Spirit in us, selfishly take for ourselves before caring for others? Rather, let us attend above all to those among us and throughout the world who suffer in this pandemic. In particular, let us pray and work for those whose poverty, ill health, age, and commitment to care make them especially vulnerable to the suffering in which all people have some share at this time.

Finally, let us live today looking to the renewed world that the Holy Spirit is bringing about, remembering that our Lord and Life-giver is in us, bringing new life and hope to the world. As God’s people, we continue praying and living for a renewal of God’s creation.

Prayer of Intercession

God of all, we pray that our local congregations may find ways to model the love of Christ in their communities which struggle with illness and death due to the pandemic. In this great work of care my we work to bridge the political, economic and racial inequalities which exist and contribute to the suffering of the pandemic.