A Prayer for the Human Race

This week, the British Parliament has passed the Illegal Immigration Bill (aptly if mistakenly named!).
It seeks to curb refugees from arriving illegally via the English Channel.
The Bill is part of measures aimed at curbing those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
Some would see these measures as illegal in themselves and members of the House of Lords sought to amend the Bill to make it more humane. These amendments mostly failed. One of the leaders in seeking such amendments to the Bill was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
What is at stake is how we treat each other. So below is a prayer which applies to the whole human race in our dealings with each other.

The Statue by Josefina is inspired by verses in St Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 2.
Joseph, Mary and  the infant Jesus  are seeking safety in Egypt . They are escaping the tyranny of King Herod.
He represents the many who followed him throughout history, as tyrants, despots, dictators and destroyers of humanity, not to mention wholesale destruction of creation, and life itself. Herod, seeing a threat to his power, after a visit from the Magi, or Wise Men,determines to seek out Jesus and kill him. In the process he murders all in innocent babies in his land. Despots and seekers of power stop at nothing.
The Holy Family stand as Icons for those who have fled their homelands to seek for safety and welcome. They are a reminder of the  of the vast movement of humanity who, at any one time, are wandering and seeking a home, shelter, love and care as they escape danger imposed on their lives by others.
Most of these journeys are caused by fellow humans who seem incapable of living peaceably with others. Some of these are seekers of power and often rule by force, cruelty and by destroying all opposition.

Our Planet is in a very sorry state right now and almost all that is wrong with it is due to action by the human race. Also, of course, by our inaction, because if we worked together it could be an amazing place to live. Maybe those species who take over from us when we have destroyed ourselves, will do it differently. There is,however, time for us to make a difference but it will demand a complete change of heart and a repentance which will rely on faith, love and a renewal of kindness.

The prayer below reminds us that we are all part of this. None of us is exempt from a duty of care, being seekers of justice, and welcomers of all in need.
With some slight adaption, the prayer can be prayed by people of differing faiths and as a multi-faith intention to work together for our planet’s good.Ultimately, we all belong to each other and to God, however we express that.
Genuine, hearfelt prayer always leads to  deepening of purpose, a bursting forth of love, and a commitment to peace, justice, compassion and dedication to the common good.Out of that journey by the Holy Family to Egypt came an amazing commitment on the part of God to love us all and open us to love in return.
You could say that in fleeing by night the human race fled into universal love under God. It just takes a deep humility to express that!

[Mr G. Prayer is in the public domian]

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