Last week, the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority stated that the Israeli forces have dropped more than 85,000 tons of bombs on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, surpassing the amount dropped during World War II. The Authority added in a statement that “the ongoing Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip has led to the destruction of vast areas of agricultural land and the contamination of soil with toxic chemicals that will hinder farming for decades.”  

Creator of the Earth, we grieve for the people of Gaza which have borne the weight of violence, and for the generations to come who may never know the land as it was. Lord, we lift up those who have cared for and loved this land for centuries, who are now left without the means to plant, to grow, or to reap. We pray for the families who relied on the soil for their sustenance, for the children who will be denied its harvest, and for all whose heritage and hopes are bound to this earth. 

Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week, amid U.S. presidential elections, Israel officially confirmed that Palestinians will not be allowed to return to homes in northern Gaza, an area that still has hundreds of thousands of civilians unable or unwilling to follow evacuation orders.  For over a month, the Israeli Occupation Forces -IOF has obstructed most humanitarian aid and medical assistance, allowing widespread famine and diseases to spread while it continues indiscriminate bombing campaigns.  

Loving God, we lack the words to fully describe the continued suffering of the people of Gaza, who like the Psalmist, face death all day long. (Psalm 44:22) Amid famine, disease, and genocide, we know you can hear the cries of your people under the rubble of homes, from hospitals struggling to care for the wounded and sick, and from families who know not where to turn for safety. We ask you to intervene for the people of Gaza and be their shield against these unimaginable acts of violence. Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the depths of your justice and awaken the hearts of the international community that we may end the violence that has robbed people of their lives and dignity.

Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week, a coalition of Black faith leaders from across the United States held a press conference to share firsthand accounts following their FOSNA/Sabeel delegation visit to Palestine. Drawing on their historical fight against Jim Crow and racialized oppression, they speak to the parallels between these struggles and the racialized discrimination against Palestinians in a system of Jewish supremacy. The video is available to watch using this link. 

God of Solidarity, we thank you for the voices that speak out against oppression and stand in unity with those who suffer. Bless these leaders and all who work to bridge divides with courage and empathy. May their witness inspire change and lead to a future where liberation belongs to all. Holy Spirit, we ask you to continue protecting the entire Sabeel community and to lead our hearts and minds so we can serve where we are most needed. 

Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week, South Africa submitted over 700 pages documents of to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) offering “undeniable evidence” of acts of genocide committed in Gaza by the Israeli army and statements by authorities that carry genocidal intent. The evidence will show that undergirding Israel’s genocidal acts is the special intent to commit genocide, a failure by Israel to prevent incitement to genocide, to prevent genocide itself and its failure to punish those inciting and committing acts of genocide. 

God of Truth, we pray for wisdom and strength for those seeking justice on behalf of the suffering. Guide the hearts and minds of those in power, that they may see clearly and act with fairness and compassion. May the truth bring healing, accountability, and the seeds of peace. We pray for an end to acts of harm and for a world that values each life. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week, Israeli forces arrested at least 10 Palestinians on Tuesday during dawn and morning raids across various provinces, including Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Qalqilya, and Jerusalem. The arrests have been characterized by widespread raids and violent treatment of detainees, including severe beatings and threats against both the arrested individuals and their families, along with destruction of property. Since October 2023, the total number of Palestinians detained by Israel in the West Bank has surpassed 11,500 with thousands held with no charge or trial.  

Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We seek comfort in you as we pray for those kidnapped, detained, and abused. Holy Spirit, console the thousands of current detainees and console them and their families. Holy God, we ask you to break the bonds of violence and occupation and to let your love be known even in the depths of suffering. 

Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week was filled with non-stop massacres and carpet bombing in North Gaza. In one strike in Beith Lahiya alone, at least 93 Palestinians were killed or missing and dozens wounded. Meanwhile, Israeli troops raided Kamal Adwan hospital and assaulted patients and medical staff after bombing cuts oxygen supplies to vulnerable children. The people of North Gaza have received little to no aid, medicine, food and fuel since the blockade on the north began at the beginning of October. 

God of Justice, in witnessing such death and violence on the innocent, we cry out with the Psalmist: “O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, ‘The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.’” (Psalm 94:3,6-7) Hear the cries of those in North Gaza, Lord, whose suffering is immense and whose pain goes unseen by many. Strengthen them in their despair and hold them close in their vulnerability. Let your justice shine forth so that no cry of the oppressed nor deed of the wrong doers goes unanswered. 

Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week, Israel’s parliament voted to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). UNRWA has for decades provided important services for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank including East Jerusalem in addition to neighbouring Arab Countries.. The ban is expected to severely restrict UNRWA from operating to serve Palestinian refugees.

God of Refuge, we know you are present with the displaced and see the suffering of all. We thus come before you in sorrow as we witness mounting challenges and hardships facing those who have lost both home and homeland. Hear the voices of the Palestinian refugees who yearn for stability, who desire safety, who long for a future free from fear. We ask you to intervene for the protection of all UNRWA workers and the people they serve. We pray for a softening of hearts among those in power who make decisions affecting countless lives, the end to occupation, and the respect of international law. Lord, transform structures of oppression, and dismantle barriers to justice.  

Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week, over 2000 Palestinian Christians celebrated the Feast of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine, the main patroness of the Diocese of Jerusalem. His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the yearly celebrations with a Solemn Mass and procession at the Shrine of Our Lady in Deir Rafat. Among those celebrating in prayer were clergy, religious men and women, Seimnarists, Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher, the Knights of Malta, students from the Christian schools of Jerusalem, and faithful from various parishes of the diocese. 

• Loving God, we give gratitude for your protection over our brothers and sisters as they prayed during this sacred time. We pray alongside them as we ask the Holy Spirit to renew our hearts with courage, faith, and love. Holy Spirit, help us walk in the path of the Queen of Palestine as she did in the days of Nazareth. Like the Virgin Mary, teach us to listen attentively to your voice and be faithful servants of your will. In the face of adversity, we pray for the triumph of truth and justice in the Holy Land. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Because of ongoing developments on the ground, Sabeel Jerusalem recently reconfigured the format of the previously announced conference and preconference tour in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, “Challenging Religious Extremism.” Sabeel Jerusalem is excited to re-announce the conference as “a Solidarity Pilgrimage”, to take place on November 16-21, 2024 (with Pre-Pilgrimage Tour on November 10-16). The Solidarity Pilgrimage will put the principles of Palestinian Liberation Theology into practice as we visit, accompany, and listen to Palestinian communities that are suffering ever-escalating injustices. Though these events are being reconfigured to be more action-oriented than conceptual, the conference’s original subject matter, the concern with religious extremism, will still be integrated into the program, including in debriefings and discussions from scholars and activists in the evenings. 

• As we embark on this Solidarity Pilgrimage next month, we thank you for the opportunity to walk alongside our brothers and sisters. May our hearts be open to listening, learning, and witnessing the struggles faced by those who suffer injustices. Holy Spirit, guide our steps as we put the principles of Palestinian Liberation Theology into action at and beyond the pilgrimage.  Protect all in the Sabeel community as they journey to and from the Holy Land. Merciful Creator, bring healing and liberation of all who are oppressed. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer

Last week, Father Gustavo Gutierrez passed away at age 96. A Peruvian Catholic priest known as the champion and father of Christian liberation theology, Father Gustavo deeply influenced church doctrine and practice in Latin America. His teachings and example also influenced movements throughout the world. When Gutierrez turned 90 in 2018, Pope Francis wrote him a letter thanking him for his contributions to “the Church and to humanity, through your theological service and your preferential love for the poor and the discarded of society”. 

• Merciful Creator, we thank you for the wisdom, courage, and unwavering love that Father Gustavo shared with the world. May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus give comfort to his family and loved ones. Holy Spirit, help us embody liberation theology in the way Father Gustavo did. Bless us with the humility and steadfastness to always walk alongside “the poor and the discarded of society” and to challenge the theology of empire wherever it takes root. We ask that you use each of our unique gifts and talents to carry forward Father Gustavo’s legacy. May we strive to fulfill your vision of a world where the dignity of all creation is honored. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer