May 20, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis
During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week.
You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.
Today’s prayer
“This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4b-8 God of Heaven on Earth, Like disciples we feel urged to turn to you with questions that are in our troubled and anxious hearts even after you have promised the gift of the Holy Spirit in and among us. Is this the time for you to restore the booming economy and the stock market? Help us remember our baptism and empower us to be the witnesses to your deep concerns for the poor and the neglected among us now. Is this the time for you to restore the worship in the buildings? Renew the baptism of the Holy Spirit in us and help us grow to worship you in spirit and truth regardless of where we worship.
Is this the time for you to restore our freedom to move and gather as we want? Help us remember Jesus who has freely bound himself to the path of the cross for the sake of all. Shower the Holy Spirit on us that we may bear the fruit of patience and self-control for the sake of all.
Is this the time for you to restore the way things were before this pandemic? Restore in us the power of your Spirit that we may restore in every heart and in every land the way of love that scatters every fear, the way of empathy and compassion that unites all, the way of patience that spreads hope, the way of freedom that serves others, the way of peace that expands the justice to all, the way of worship that delights God, the way of prayer that moves every heart closer to God’s, and the Way of Christ that redeems and makes all things new. Amen.
By Rev. We Hyun Chang, Metro Boston Hope District Superintendent