Prayer for the marginalised    

Let us pray that God will teach us to refuse the absurdity of a world that pits us against each other, that blinds us to the point that we no longer realize we are children of the same Father.

Let us pray that the Lord will distance us from this insidious desire to dominate the other, to amass more and more, and to consider the one that we encounter on our path as a nuisance, as someone who infringes upon our territory, on our rights and on our liberties.

Let us pray to the Lord to teach us to see the other as someone precious before God.

Let us pray to the Lord to create in us a vigilance that enables us to oppose all harmful declarations no matter where they come from, and allows us to judge, not the people but the evil forces, the laws, the decisions, the decrees that exclude and reject humans, and instead realize the dignity that all have received from God.

Give us, Lord, a responsible attitude regarding those to whom you have given the responsibility to administer our communities, of our regions, of our countries, and particularly all that relates to the difficulties facing the most vulnerable, the poor, the strangers, and the minority groups.

Give us the strength to sacrifice our time and our comfort in order to allow all to be considered as your children.

Grant our churches the will to unite to act together and fight against the forces of division that pit us against each other.  In every corner of the world, may the force of Your Spirit spur the churches to create channels of welcome, assistance, and advice for the most vulnerable; to create associations that, together, will use all possible means to come to the aid of those that are excluded.

Lord, in relation to this task that you have given us, do we feel our own weakness, but it is You and Your love for all humanity that gives us the only assurance and hope.

Bertrand of Luze, Protestant pastor