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A Prayer for Liberation

In this time of crisis as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic people all over the world are experiencing unprecedented social, economic and spiritual challenges. These measures of social distancing and stay-in-hope are proving to be working.  The Apostle Paul wrote in Roman’s 7:21 “I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.” Last weekend, thousands gathered in Washington, Michigan, Texas, Maryland, Minnesota and California to protest lockdown orders resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Some marched with rifles and handguns, wrapped themselves in Confederate flags, carrying posters saying, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Corvid-19”, “No Liberty, No Life”. These public gatherings are all in direct violation of the social distancing orders.  Even as President Donald J Trump via social media tweeted to protesters, “liberate” states where they protested the restrictions and “save your great 2nd amendment”. However difficult sheltering-in-place and social-distancing maybe, it is necessary to save lives especially in the most vulnerable populations.  As many are captive to the hardship caused by Covid-19, today we offer these scriptures and A PRAYER FOR… LIBERATION

John 8:34-36 (NRSV)

 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NRSV)

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

Let us pray:

Good and gracious God, you are our liberator. We come humbly before you now, El-Shaddai almighty God on behalf of those suffering as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We cry out for freedom.  All- encompassing God, you sent your Son Jesus to proclaim liberty to the captives and recover sight to the blind. We thank you for the insights you give to doctors and researchers who are working tirelessly to combat this disease.  You sent Jesus to set at liberty those who are oppressed.  We pray that those who are in captivity to the sin of racism, ignorance, privilege, greed, anti-blackness, anti-immigrant and imperialism experience true liberation. Compassionate and loving God, thank you that your answer to our loss of freedom has always been your Son and who your Son Jesus sets free is free indeed. For freedom in Christ has set us free. We pray that those in positions of power and influence who confess to be in Christ, provide resources and set at liberty those populations most vulnerable to the coronavirus, Africa-American communities, families and children detained in cages at the U.S. borders and those in the prison compounds.  Lord we pray for an outpouring of your Holy Spirit for where the Spirit is there is freedom. Liberate now oh God your people, who are called by Your Name, to stand firm and to not submit to a yoke of sin. Free us from all the ways that life as we knew it was not beneficial to all people. God of the Resurrected, may we learn to genuinely love and care for one other as you Holy Trinity has genuinely loved us. It is in Jesus the Christ name we pray. Amen

 

Rev. Babette Chatman