Creative, loving God, thank you
for another day of life. Help us to make much of what you have given us, help
us to encourage life and reject death and hatred, even in a world where lines
of good and evil blur. For over a decade now, we have heard the words “war on
terror,” and we have seen violence in Afghanistan and Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan,
and Gaza. Now we see the “war on terror” raging in Mali as well. As war
continues to spread, as we see war technology expand and increased use of
drones, we pray for the wisdom of those making these influential decisions.
Lord, would you protect those unwillingly involved; would you bring about
justice and an end to violence. Lord, in your mercy...
As we offer up these prayers regarding
the effects of international politics in our globalized world, we also pray for
our own decision makers in the Palestinian Authority. With pressure exerted
upon them from many sides, we pray for the wisdom of the P.A. May they be
always committed to justice, to peace, and to working for the good of the
Palestinian people. With U.S. President Barak Obama set to visit Israel in
March, we pray that you would provide fresh perspectives and new avenues
through which his talks could lead to a just peace. Lord, in your mercy...
Lord, we are especially mindful
of this deep need for justice and the protection of human rights following the
tragic death of 30-year-old father and husband Arafat Jaradat last weekend.
Having been arrested only a week earlier for alleged involvement in
stone-throwing, he died suddenly in jail from a so-called heart-attack. But as
autopsies reveal a healthy heart and signs of torture, God, we shudder to think
of what may have happened behind closed doors. With a UN-mandated investigation
of the event, we pray for a fair assessment and that justice would be served in
these dealings. We pray for the more than 4,600 Palestinian prisoners in
Israeli jails and the many detainees now hunger-striking alongside Samer
al-Issawi as his health further deteriorates. We pray for fair trials for all
these prisoners, for the families of those awaiting the return of loved ones,
and for the current upheaval in Hebron as a result of Jaradat’s death. Lord, in
your mercy...
Here at Sabeel, we ask your
blessing on next week’s board meeting. We thank you for the partnerships
developing with fellow Jerusalem peace partners and for the services we were
able to provide for our community at last Friday’s meeting to discuss
challenges of Jerusalem residency. We lift up all the Nazareth programs,
especially the youth visit to Jerusalem. Lord, in your mercy...
Finally, we pray alongside the
World Council of Churches for the countries of France and Germany. Lord, in
your mercy...
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