Detail from a chapel window at Ravenswood Presbyterian Church, in Chicago.
By Magdalena I. García
There was a lot to pray for in church today. Yes, the parishioners usually bring in their laundry lists of relatives and dear ones who are ill, dying, or struggling with life. And don’t get me wrong, I have my own list of mortals for whom I pray. But part of my job on Sunday morning as pastor of a congregation is to remind them that we are part of the church universal and the world, and that we, therefore, pray not just for ourselves. And so this morning we prayed for...
+ A church as hospitable as God’s grace, that we might be able to embody the prodigal God to all who long for a welcome and acceptance;
+ Health care reform, that our legislators might put aside politics and self-interest and vote for a plan to benefit the 45 million uninsured in our country;
+ Immigrants in the US, that there might be a just immigration reform so that worker abuse and family separation might cease;
+ Haiti and Chile, that aid might continue to flow following the earthquakes until order is re-established and everyone’s well-being is assured;
+ Colombia’s congressional elections, that elected leaders might be able to stop the violence against civilians and the displacement of innocent people;
+ Israel and Palestine, that Israeli’s territorial expansion might cease so that peace talks might have a chance…
The list could go on. Truly depressing. I guess that’s why some folks would rather go to the mall on Sunday morning. Is praying for all these things a waste of time? Absolutely not! Even if you don’t believe in the power of prayer, naming the evils in our society is an important step towards building a new world.
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