World In Prayer, April 17

It was my week to write the World In Prayer prayers. I started by looking at the lectionary, before even looking at the news. I thought I was going to focus on the gospel reading about the resurrection appearance, but the line that leapt out at me was from the Psalm, "Many are saying, 'Oh that we might see better times!'" followed up by a beautiful request. As you'll see, that seemed like a good refrain. At the same time, I wanted to note resurrection as an ongoing revelation of the Easter season.  Moving from bad news to signs of hope was another way of lifting up my own countenance to see resurrection at work in the world. 

Here they are:

Many are saying, "Oh, that we might see better times!" *
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.
                                                                                    Psalm 4:6

In this season of resurrection, lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord, that we may see your risen Son, Jesus Christ, who walks with us, even in our confusion and grief.

We pray for all whose lives have been affected by the Holocaust as the world bears witness on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

We pray for all migrants who have fled North Africa attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, remembering especially those who have drowned, including the 400 who have died this week alone.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

We pray for Yemen, where Al-Qaeda of the Arab Peninsula has taken over a major airport in Mukalla.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

We pray for the United States where a history of slavery, racism, and oppression continues to reveal itself through deadly violence towards African Americans.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

We pray for Colombia where rebels from Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia broke a recent cease-fire, killing 11 soldiers, and where aerial bombings are set to resume.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

We give thanks for the 5,000 people in Durban, South Africa who marched to protest a spate of recent xenophobic attacks.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

We give thanks for signs of peace between the U.S. and Cuba after more than 50 years of hostility.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

We give thanks for all who work for peace, for reconciliation, for restoration, for healing, for justice, and for hope.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD. In our homes. In our families. In our communities. In our countries. And in our world. Amen.