Pray with Argentina, July 21, 2024
Lectionary Selection: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Prayers for Argentina
The Gospel briefly narrates the circumstances of two women, with their stories of marginalization. They are anonymous, faceless, voiceless, and without possibilities for life. They continue to represent our women tied to the sexist laws of the patriarchal and kyriarchal house/church/society, which, instead of empowering them for life, give them death. Now more than ever, women must go out to meet Jesus, to wrest the miracle from him, and experience that they can no longer be bound to laws that exclude and dehumanize them because of their gender and age.
United in this same spirit, we pray for all of Argentina, for all the communities of faith in Buenos Aires and in the Chaco that witness the gospel message and bring the word of God to transform the lives of the people with peace and justice.
We pray for all women and children who suffer gender violence. For education and public health, which are at risk by adjustment policies. For the people who suffer discrimination. For the right to work and decent housing. We pray that Jesus Christ may bring peace, love, and communion in the face of the discourses of hatred and violence that are intensifying and being fueled to destroy people’s lives. May our God enlighten Argentina and its Church in his peace, grace, and justice so that they can continue carrying the Gospel message. May his Holy Spirit blow to encourage us to raise our voices to say “Talita Cumi” (arise) and build the Kingdom of God in his will. Amen.
Mission Moment from Argentina
Argentina is going through an economic and social crisis caused by economic adjustment policies. The most vulnerable sectors are the hardest hit by these adjustments. Among the most affected are women, children, people with disabilities, foreigners, young people, etc. They all struggle to make ends meet due to a lack of work and food. Faced with this, the Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina is encouraged to raise its voice by saying Talita Cumi, which means “Arise.” This is an expression of encouragement, strength, fortitude, struggle, and accompaniment so that in community and with joint work, we can denounce the injustices that violate the rights of people and dignified life.
Our church, sensitized by injustice, violence, and hatred, embraces the gospel mission to bring the Word of God through concrete actions, preaching, and diaconal services that respond to emerging needs. We give food to the most needy, accompany women in situations of violence, and open spaces for the containment and distribution of food to families and children in the most vulnerable neighborhoods.
The Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina works ecumenically with other sibling churches and civil associations to transform people’s lives with justice and peace. We believe working in unity and community is more effective and relevant in a society that seeks to divide.
Our church in Argentina accompanies the struggle of our sisters, girls, mothers, grandmothers, friends, and companions who echo the liberating words of Jesus: “Talita Cumi!” When a machinist and sexist law denies the right to exist: “Talita Cumi!” When biblical interpretations and reactionary traditions deny ministerial ordination: “Talita Cumi!” When they hear eternal condemnations for their sexual choice: “Talita Cumi!” If the father, the priest, the pastor, and the judge, based on their laws, treat women as second-class people: “Talita Cumi!” If you are a migrant: “Talita Cumi!” If you are young and they do not listen to you and demand that you conform to adult and reactionary standards: “Talita Cumi! If you are a child treated like an adult without being listened to: “Talita Cumi!” If you are tired of looking for your missing child and the corrupt government hides the truth from you: “Talita Cumi!” If you have been stigmatized because of your skin color or nationality, “Talita Cumi!” If drug and trafficking cartels threaten you for denouncing injustice and your only “sin” is to want to live in a peaceful society: “Talita Cumi!” If policies deny you the fullness of life and take away your basic life rights, “Talita Cumi!” If you have been mistreated for caring for Mother Earth: “Talita Cumi!” “Talita Cumi!”
Written by: Pastor Bladimir Coro Mogro,
President of the Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina
Mission Partners in Argentina
- Ecumenical Network of Theological Education (REET)
- United Board of Missions (JUM), Argentina
- Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, Argentina
- Evangelical Congregational Church of Argentina (IECA)
- Ward School, Argentina
- Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights (MEDH)
- Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina
- ISEDET – Superior Evangelical Institute of Theological Studies