chronic injustice
Pray the News – March 24th, 2024
This week Willie James Pye, a 59-year-old convicted murderer was executed by lethal injection about an hour’s drive from here. I realize that we all have our own views on the death penalty and the many associated issues. I want to draw our attention to and pray today for people who are marginalized by chronic injustice. Willie James Pye was found guilty of a 1993 murder. Willie James Pye was also a victim of childhood abuse and neglect, raised largely by his single mother while his father was in prison. In order to provide for the family, his mother often worked 10- to 12- hour days, leaving him and his siblings unsupervised. He struggled with school, due to what would today be called an intellectual disability and dropped out of school without graduating. He fell into a life of crime and by age 20 received his first prison sentence. In no way can we condone his crimes, and our hearts are broken for his murder victim’s family. May our hearts also break for Willie James Pye and all those who are marginalized by chronic injustice such as poverty, abuse, neglect, and intellectual disability, each of which has a high correlation with substance abuse, addiction, and crime. Let’s pray.
Lord God, we cry out to you for mercy, firstly for the families of murder victims. Please pour out your abundant grace on them with waves of healing, comfort, forgiveness, and restoration. God, we also cry out to you for all who are marginalized by chronic injustice. We thank you for the safety nets that do exist in our society, whether church-based, governmental, or other kinds of community support. We also acknowledge that many fall through the cracks, especially the very young, the very old, and those with disabilities. Lord, have mercy. We cry out to you for single parents who frequently experience high levels of financial hardships, depression, anxiety, social stigma, and lack of support. We cry out to you for children who are struggling in family, school, or social situations. We lift up all who are marginalized because of intellectual disabilities. We pray for their provision, protection, opportunities to learn, meaningful work, and safe and welcoming places in the community. We ask you to send help, God. Show us how you would have us come alongside others in prayer and in practical ways. May our hearts break for the things that break your heart, oh God. Make our hearts tender and generous and open to you and to others. Open our eyes to see people with your eyes of love and forgiveness and hope. Keep us from participating in chronic injustice. Show us how to welcome and embrace those on the margins of society. Help us to be willing to give freely of all that you have given us, our presence, time, wisdom, resources, advocacy, perseverance. We ask you for grace and grit to seek righteousness and justice for all in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
