Thoughts for the Day

Announce to my people their rebellion...

Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin...?

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today is the Women's World Day of Prayer. The origins of the World Day of Prayer date back to the 19th century when Christian women in the USA and Canada initiated a variety of cooperative activities in support of women’s involvement in mission, at home and abroad. It's from such roots as these that WDP came to be a worldwide ecumenical movement of prayer and action.

For most of my ministry life I have preached or helped lead worship on this day, always I may add, with men joining us in worship. It started when traditional churches wouln't allow women to become involved with mission work, but by 1897 the women of six denominations formed a joint committee for a united day of prayer.

Isaiah reminds us that God doesn't want us to fast or parade in sack-cloth and ashes, He wants us to care for the homeless and oppressed, and to bring justice to our world. So today wherever we are, all of us might pray for our world - particularly where dominant countries oppress others, and where the rich and powerful ignore the plight of the hungry and the homeless, but also for ourselves that we may not be ignorant of our own actions and their effect upon others.

Heavenly Father,
You call us to pray for Your world,
but also to act to help others.
We pray for all who are oppressed;
those who have no food this day;
for the homeless;
those in danger,
and for all who have no faith in God.
May we change our world
through seeking justice for those
who suffer injustice,
and continue to work
for the good of all.
Amen.