Lord, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy,
Here and there and everywhere in between,
On you and me and everyone in between,
Now and later and upon everything in between.
Lord Christ, we need your mercy.
The suffering in South Sudan echoes the horrors of civil war, genocide and ethnic cleansing that mock the hope of “Never Again!” Help us to keep hope alive. We pray for those working tirelessly to subdue the growing famine. Bring your mercy upon the 43 children of the Gambella region of Ethiopia kidnapped by bandits. Bring your comfort to the families of the 28 people left dead.
Christ, have mercy.
The hatred of Jews acted out in cemeteries; swastikas and threats swell as ancient curses. May your blessings defeat such curses.
Lord, have mercy.
The rage of politics, left and right, turns neighbor on the block and in the pew into enemy, turns truth on its head, and weaponizes words. Soften our words, strengthen truth, and help us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Help us to love our enemies.
Christ, have mercy.
The renewed persecution of Christians in some places, of Muslims in other places, of immigrants and refugees in so many places, of the homeless in our cities, all of this, Holy, Holy God, embarrasses and shames our faith. Help us to register the depth of suffering and experience of horror each day as monitored in the United Nations study released this week underscoring that 2016 was the worst year for Syrian children since the conflict began.
Lord, have mercy.
Restore our faith to the beauty of holiness witnessed in courageous kindness.
Christ, in your mercy deliver us from being world-weary, politically apathetic or donor fatigued. Remind us that what fatigues us, wearies us and turns us away is the very world You created as inherently good, and the people You call your own.
In all humility, God, have mercy on us.
Amen.
Leave a Reply