Sunday, December 9, 2001

Reread Mark 11:15-19

On this day in history -
1948 - UN General Assembly unanimously approves Convention on Genocide and goes on to ratify the Declaration of Human Rights.

As we close this week of looking at historical events through the lens of Jesus' cleansing of the temple and emphasizing prayer we come to the phrase, "for all the nations." There is nothing more Jesus-led, Christ-centered, than praying together (across the usual boundaries).

To follow Jesus is to invite all manner of folks in to pray. I don't take this to mean there will be one prayer that we will pray forever or that there will even be one prayer style.

Little children will be welcome to offer their bed-time prayers of "God bless my Mommies and my Daddies" (remember it takes a village...) right alongside folks gathered around a Lord's Table, "It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty...." right alongside those who can only murmur, "Help me."

We will invite in pray-ers from other traditions and rejoice with those who begin, "Blessed art thou, O Lord GOD, King of the Universe..." and "Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all...." and "In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful..." and "O Great Spirit..." and so much more.

We will even invite in all who pray for God to be on their side. Inside they will pray for all nations and find themselves praying for God to also be on the side of their enemy.

We will invite in those who pray through their actions as well as in their hearts and by their words. We will rejoice that the United Nations gave form to the prayers of all people through their declaration against genocide and for human rights.

G-O-D, who desires us be in loving community with one another - I pray that those who follow this WUMFSA Advent devotional might be strengthened to be advocates for prayer and thus for peace. Thank you. Amen.

Wesley White

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