I Prayed Today

August 2005

Reflection on Luke 4:16-19
 
I prayed today with the oppressed:

August 2005

Reflection on Luke 4:16-19
 
I prayed today with the oppressed:

The people of the Opón River suffer, struggle and live lives of hope in the midst of violence from paramilitaries and guerrillas. In violation of international law, these armed groups carry out violence within the communities and in family yards, ask families to by them food, assassinate community members, and threaten personal violence to community leaders.  Both groups interfere with community life. The AUC/BCB control fishing in the area waterways. The FARC/EP intervene in family disputes and demand paths in the jungle be cleared.
 
I proclaimed freedom for the prisoner:
In shared prayer, during the evaluation and discussion of the community process of Life, Dignity and Peace and CPT’s accompaniment we proclaimed the release of the captive and the year of the Lord’s favor. We did so by proclaiming our hope in the transformative power of love and that this radical love of God and Christ is working through our voices, our actions and our prayers for transformation from the violence of the armed conflict that has lasted 50 years to a reality of hope, abundant life and joy-filled peace.
 
I prayed today with the oppressor:
As the meeting closed and community members and CPT personnel shared a meal, two members of the FARC guerrillas made their presence known by asking to speak with members of CPT. After the conversation, I along with other CPTers talked and prayed with the guerrillas. They were the same individuals who minutes earlier kept watch over the communities’ meeting, thus intimidating the people present and the communities’ unity and Process of Life, Dignity and Peace.
 
I prayed for peace:
During the shared liturgy between CPT and members of the communities and the short prayer we had with the guerrillas it became clear that we are brothers and sisters created in the image of God.  I was reminded that they are all victims of the same war; often members of the armed groups have lived in poverty and have experienced similar violence in their own communities. It surprised me when each group prayed for similar hopes: peace for the people of Colombia, an ending to the injustices experienced within the country and particularly in the Opón and expressed vulnerability as we prayed for the well being of families, friends and comrades.
 
In familiar yet different ways, together we prayed for peace.  We prayed for a New Jerusalem to be constructed in Colombia and in the Opon where peace, justice and love will be abundant and where God and Christ will strengthen our unity to struggle for freedom and liberty from the violence and death of oppression and injustice.
 
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) brings both international and Colombian Christians to the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia to accompany unarmed citizens building lives of hope, dignity and respect.  We follow the call of Jesus to love our neighbors and our enemies.  We use non-violent tools and public action to build relationships and create space for Colombians recuperating their autonomy from violent forces.