Thought of the Day-June 24^th, 2020:  Let us fight Racism

“But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them”. (1 John 2:11)

The whole world has been occupied with fighting the corona virus since its outbreak in Wuhan, China at the beginning of this year- 2020. We have been grieving and still grieving for all those who have suffered and died because of this virus. We have been lamenting and been anxious for the sick, those who have to work with victims without the necessary protective outfits. We have all suffered because of the lockdowns seriously affecting the socio--economic lives of people across our world irrespective of colour, creed, gender, wealth, etc. We have experienced church lockdown and people not been able to meet to physically in the shared space to worship our Lord. Yet, despite the seriousness of this corona virus, there is more a dangerous ongoing “virus” in our world perpetrated by people who feels they are better than others. Their hatred of others is something you can physically see in their faces but exists in their hearts leading them to perpetrate of this cancer called Racism, for which the world does not seem to have a vaccine or cure for. 

We have all been witnessing over the last weeks demonstrations across the world because of the death of Mr. George Floyd in Minnesota, USA because of just $20.  Because of this $ 20, a white policeman knelt on the neck of Mr. George Floyd for a good 8 minutes and 30 seconds, refusing to listen to the cries and pleas of George that he was being hurt. How evil! And what makes it even more evil is the LAW- a human invention to bring justice to evil doers, could not even deem the action of the policeman unlawful to condemn it because of the prejudices and craving of power by certain dispensers and makers of the law, hence leading to the outbreak of the demonstrations which we see going on in our world today. Racism with a big R is causing the loss of many lives around our world today- lives of people created in the image of our one God and we should openly, strongly, unequivocally and drastically condemn it in all its forms.  Paul once said; “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3: 28”- Anglicized Edition NRSV). So let us go forth, fight the good fight against this virus of Racism, FOR ALL LIVES MATTER BEFORE GOD or before God we are all equal, so let us pray ceaseless that, God will help us put such acts of divisiveness behind us as we are the crown of His creation. Amen.

A Prayer for healing against Racism: Lord God: You see people as precious and valuable, the fountain of Your creation. We pray for healing. Quench the prejudices in our hearts which makes us feel we are better than others.  Help us deal with our own prejudices by asking You for help. Guide us in ways that bring justice, equity and peace among all your creation. Father God, forgive us whenever we lose sight of the Truth that You created all people in Your image. Help us see hatred as a tool by which the devil wishes to destroy us and help us not fall into the temptation of yielding to his schemes. Father, clothe us with you love at all times so that our world may be what You created it to be in Jesus name we pray Amen.

Collect for John the Baptist whose Day it is Today, June 24^th

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Saviour by the preaching of repentance: lead us to repent according to his preaching and, after his example, constantly to speak the truth, boldly to rebuke vice and patiently to suffer for the truth’s sake, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever. Amen.