A Century of Black History Month Observances, A Future of Global Solidarity: Life in Fullness

This prayer is part one of a series honoring Black History Month. View part two here.

These prayers are followed by a Black History Month featured column, “A Century of Black History, A Future of Global Solidarity.” View the resource here.

 
Scripture 
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (NRSVUE) 

Reflection 

When we pray for “abundant life,” we are not asking for a life of luxury or excessive amounts of supplies. When we pray for abundant life, we are asking for changes in attitudes and ways of dealing with environmental issues as well as public policies that deepen our awareness and understanding of what abundant life means. It is not just having enough for each person to live without basic deprivations such as lack of food, housing, and care, conditions that boost self-esteem and promote human dignity; it is also about becoming agents of change in the pursuit of a full and collaborative life, building alternatives together and caring for the planet, following the path of Jesus, the good shepherd, toward abundant life.

The issues of climate change and world hunger are topics that invite dialogue in the search for alternatives, considering that hunger is a global public health problem, and that the impacts of climate change affect food security, and directly affect the most vulnerable and poorest communities.

Prayer 
God of love, God of abundant life,  
help us to recognize Jesus as the good shepherd,  
lead us to understand that human dignity can be restored when it seems lost.

Allow us to recover human relationships, reviving the will to live and to

overcome when we feel depleted, with a view toward caring for ourselves,

others, and the planet.  
May your word, Lord, be an inspiration in the dialogue for alternatives to end

hunger, and may your divine light bring hope and abundant life. In Jesus’ name.

Amen. 

Selenir C. G.Kronbauer – Professor, Institutional Program for Curriculum Integration: Human Rights and Citizenship at the  Faculdades EST of the IECLB – Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil. 

Marie Ann Wangen Krahn  – professor of Biblical Hebrew at the Faculdades EST of the IECLB – Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil. She is also member of ELCA – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.