A Prayer For Truth and Reconciliation Day 2021

 September 30 – TRUTH and RECONCILIATION

Today is Truth and Reconciliation Day here in Canada, the first marking of this day and this year we are particularly thinking about the grave injustices that led to the abducting of children from their homes by the thousands and being sent off to residential schools across this country where many of them sadly suffered and died. 

To our shame we were trying to “knock the Indian” out of these children instead of doing what I hope we will all do today, and that is to recognize that every created person, a son or a daughter, is made in the image of God and reflects the heart and beauty of the Lord. 

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! Genesis 1:27-28, 31

Each of us has gifts and talents to share with one another that the community is poorer should we not have a chance to receive that gift. Each culture, similarly, has strengths and beauty and wisdom that we all can benefit from, as well as wounds and mistakes we all need to avoid. 

God gave life and breath to all of us for His good purposes and we are amazing masterpieces, every single one of us.

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:10

Whatever else we do today, on this federal holiday that is set aside for us to reflect on truth and work for reconciliation among those who have been harmed, let’s begin with what God had in mind when we were created.  Let’s remember that the fact we disappoint and harm one another is not unknown to God and in His love he has made a way for all of us to leave that woundedness behind and to come into living loving relationship with Him today.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17

Let’s get about binding up wounds in one another and honouring one another as God originally intended.  Let’s truly make this a day of truth and reconciliation.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen