Prayer: The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Deut 10:12-22; Luke 18:1-8)

Heavenly Father,

We cry out to you for justice. It hurts to see weak people oppressed by the strong and careless. It hurts to see the poor downtrodden and taken advantage of because they are struggling to make ends meet. It hurts to see children abused because they have no voice. It hurts to see people marginalised and discriminated against because of political opinions, lifestyle choices, sexual preferences and even their gender. It hurts to see people locked up and mistreated because of their race, and because they are fleeing war and persecution. It hurts, and we feel powerless to do anything against it. We cry to you, God of heaven and earth, for justice.

And we thank you that you are the God of gods, the Lord of lords, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. You are just. You hear the cries of the oppressed, the weak and the vulnerable. You put yourself in their corner - you are their champion. You love foreigners, and you welcome all people to come to you and share in your love and salvation through Jesus Christ. We believe your promise to hear our prayers for the sick, the suffering and those crushed by other people's wickedness.

So we pray. We pray for the millions of refugees displaced around the world. Please give the people of the world your love, grace and mercy for them, and let them be welcomed with open arms into places of safety. We pray for the women, ethnicities and minorities who feel a real fear of persecution after the victory of Donald Trump in the United States. Assure them you will show no partiality and take no bribes. We pray for the people living on unemployment benefits, disability benefits and pensions here in Australia, who feel unfairly targetted by a cost-cutting government. Defend their cause, O God. We pray for those whose suffering is marginalised and silenced by our society: women suffering domestic violence, the disabled and the mentally ill.

We pray especially tonight for our sister Stacey and her family, suffering at this time due to a systemic failure in justice. Please heal Stacey's mother Heather, take away her pain, and provide her with housing. Please give the whole family comfort and strength in this great time of uncertainty and heartbreak. And please let this be an opportunity for her brother Craig to receive the treatment and care be had needed for so long.

Hear the cries for justice of all these peoples, and let them be assured that they will get justice, and quickly.

We pray with the psalmist, "Declare your enemies guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you."

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." We take heart knowing that you will avenge the suffering of the weak and the oppressed. Help us to show your love to them; to seek to offer them your great refuge. Give us patience as we wait for your swift and terrible justice on the wicked; and give us strength to show you love while we wait.

Amen