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Matthew 25:35-40          NIV
‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Gracious God, as Advent Sunday is marked this weekend, and we begin the journey to welcome the child in the manger, we remember that this beautiful child, Your Son, was a refugee. Our thoughts turn to the plight of those who have lost their lives trying to cross our seas in search of safety and security this week. May their souls rest in your eternal peace. We pray for all those that grieve. May they know the comfort and assurance of Your presence. We pray for those injured and in need of healing both physically and emotionally. We pray for all those who are still in search of a safe haven as winter continues. And finally, we pray that leaders, and those in positions of authority, will find ways of working together to deal with this ongoing complex and tragic situation. Lord God, bring healing, bring comfort, bring positive action and resolution, and crucially, bring hope into the lives of all refugees this Advent. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.