Prayers for racial justice
These prayers remind us of our Christian calling to do all that we can to stand with and support those who are discriminated against because of their race throughout the world.
Dennis, a mechanic, with Daniel, a WASH expert, installing water pumps in Uganda.
“Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it shall live. ”
The central image of the readings today is water. Ezekiel offers us the wonderful image of a river, flowing from the Temple and becoming a great torrent of life, fruitfulness and blessing.
The gospel builds on this vision, presenting Jesus as the source of the water that brings fullness of life. It is his presence, not the water of the ‘Sheep Pool’, that brings healing to the paralysed man.
In our world today, the climate crisis means ever more Uganda is facing severe droughts in the north and devastating floods in the east. However, funding from CAFOD and the UK government enabled local experts to help over 70,000 people to get access to clean water and toilets.
Head teacher Moru Zachary Khitcham speaks of the benefits this has brought his pupils: “They say water is life, they say if you have water, a human being can do anything they want. I believe this is true, my pupils can do anything they want.”
Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we acknowledge the interconnected nature of the climate crisis and racial justice. Climate change disproportionally affects people living in the global south. At last year’s global climate summit, COP 27, a historic agreement was reached to create a ‘Loss and Damage Fund’ to help vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disaster.
This Lent let’s work and pray for a world in which we work together without discrimination for a better shared future.
Lent prayer
Spirit of God,
create in us hearts full of courage
to make changes in ourselves
and to call for changes in our world.
Amen.
Act
Join us in praying for racial justice.