May 23.  WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY & LAUDATO SI WEEK. day 3 “ Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly.”  Scripture: Mic 6:6-8.  “ …and what does the Lord require of you.” 

What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” God has shown us what is good; to do justice by loving kindness and walking humbly with God means walking alongside others and therefore it is not just about the individual. 

The love that God invites us into is always a love which gathers us into communion: This insight makes all the difference in how we “do justice”. As Christians we act justly to manifest something of God’s kingdom in the world.  We are all loved equally as God’s children, and as God’s Church we are called to love one another as brothers and sisters and to invite others into that love.

To do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God, calls Christians to act together in bearing a united witness to God’s kingdom within our communities: we – not me.

“Walking humbly” was challenging for the rich young man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He had obeyed all the commandments from his youth, but he could not take the further step to join Jesus’ disciples because of his wealth. It is difficult for Christians to let go of that which we perceive as riches, but which keep us from the greater wealth on joining Jesus’s disciples in Christian unity.

Challenge.  How can our churches better respond to the needs of our most vulnerable neighbours? How can we honour every voice in our communities?

Pray the Christian Unity prayer and the Laudato si’ prayer for the Anglican/Episcopalian churches.

 SA CHRISTIAN UNITY PRAYER. ENGLISH

Righteous and merciful God; we come to you in repentant hearts, teach us to do good, give us courage to seek justice for all and to seek a meaningful unity of the church, so that:  the oppressed may be liberated, the orphan and the widow may know justice, so that:  peace, justice and love may prevail; through the one who is love, Jesus our redeemer, and in the power of the one whose fruit is love, the enabling Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Daily Prayer for Creation.

Creator, Redeemer, Holy Spirit,
thank you for the gift of Laudato Si’, which teaches us that “The Creator does not abandon us;
he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us.
Humanity still has the ability to work together in building  and caring for the common home of all creation.
Creator, you give us life.
Help us to honor you as we care for your precious creation.
Redeemer, you give us hope.
Help us see new ways of living as we turn from the path of destruction.
Holy Spirit, you give us unity.
Help us find strength in the love between us as we seek healing for the Earth.  Amen.