A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for October 2, 2020

October 2, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis
During these difficult days, members of the Commonwealth East District of the New England Conference 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
Matthew 21:33-46
 
Our beloved One, creator of the vast vineyard of the universe;
    of things visible and invisible.
With adoration we present our gratitude
    for all your providence in this vineyard of plenty.
You have rightly expected so much of us at the time of harvest.
Instead, we have become rebellious and bloodthirsty tenants,
    seizing, beating, shooting and killing your daughters and your sons.
We have cultivated the wild grapes of racism and injustice
    in our fractured relationships with each other;
    and the wild grapes of the coronavirus
    in our fractured relationship with creation.
What we wretches rightly deserve is a miserable death.
Oh, the Ancient of Days, owner of the vineyard, empower and energize us with your dynamic Holy Spirit to produce the fruits of the kingdom.
In these days of pandemics, empower us to be
    the vaccine of love to the pandemic of hate;
    the vaccine of peace to the pandemic of violence;
    the vaccine of justice to the pandemic of bloodshed;
    the vaccine of generosity to the pandemic of hunger and greed;
    the vaccine of righteousness to the pandemic of tears;
    the vaccine of hope to the pandemic of despair;
    the vaccine of compassion to the pandemic of suffering.
 
We claim authority to confront and resist evil, injustice and oppression
    in whatever forms they present themselves in our fragile lives
      for our good
        and to your greater glory. 
In the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
Rev. Dr. Abraham Waya, Central United Methodist Church (Brockton, MA)