Through the Spring and Summer, and now into Fall, we have borne the grief of a global pandemic, endured a massive loss of life and of livelihood, and protested escalating violence against Black Lives. Even as we wait on the help of Almighty God, we are compelled to stand up; to defend the cause of righteousness. With boldness in our prayers and by our actions we seek to redeem the soul of our nation.
Love Your Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37, NRSV)
The Scripture reading is drawn from Sunday’s lesson for Oct0ber 18, 2020 ©Uniform Lessons Series, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
A Litany For the Broken Hearted and Crushed in Spirit
Today’s litany is based on Psalm 40:1, and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Anne and Jeffery Rowthorn wrote it in response to their concern for a dear friend who died alone in a Connecticut hospital, and for his wife and children who, due to hospital regulations and “stay at home orders,” were unable to visit and make their farewells. It broke their hearts. It breaks all our hearts. ©Anne and Jeffery Rowthorn, Resident Scholars of the Collegeville Institute, 2020. (It was adapted for use at the NCC, Christian Unity Gathering, held via Zoom, October 12-13, 2020.)
Creator God of the Universe, God of a thousand names and faces; in your mercy we implore you to hear the cries of the broken hearted and the crushed in Spirit. As we struggle to understand, you teach us that for everything there is a season, and a time for everything under heaven: a time to break down, a time to weep, a time to die, a time to keep silence, and always, a time to love. During this sad season of the coronavirus pandemic, we pray to you, confident that you will hear us in our distress.
For all who are sick at home, in hospitals, field hospitals, nursing homes and waiting for treatment in emergency rooms. God of the broken-hearted and crushed in Spirit—
Breathe New Life into the Soul of Our Nation.
For all who are dying in hospitals alone, denied visits from family members. God of the broken-hearted and crushed in Spirit—
Breathe New Life into the Soul of Our Nation.
For those who have died, now free from every trace of illness; may they be held in the embrace of God who wipes away every pain and sorrow and leads the departed all the way home. God of the broken-hearted and crushed in Spirit—
Breathe New Life into the Soul of Our Nation.
For the husbands, wives and partners who are deprived of one final visit, one final look and feel, one final embrace, one final opportunity to say one last time, “I love you.” God of the broken-hearted and crushed in Spirit—
Breathe New Life into the Soul of Our Nation.
For the children of the dying, robbed of the opportunity to say, “Thank you, Mom.” “Thank you, Dad.” “You will be forever in our hearts.” God of the broken-hearted and crushed in Spirit—
Breathe New Life into the Soul of Our Nation.
For all who grieve their departed loved ones, especially those divided by distance and the isolation imposed by “stay in place” orders.” God of the broken-hearted and crushed in Spirit—
Breathe New Life into the Soul of Our Nation.
For family members who suffer due to their inability to plan funerals and bury their dead, God of the broken-hearted and crushed in Spirit—
Breathe New Life into the Soul of Our Nation.
Holy God of the Universe: we cry out to you for help, and we pray that you will rescue us from all our troubles and bring about an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Be with us as we long for a time of healing, a time to build up, a time to laugh, a time to dance, a time to embrace, and a time for peace. We pray out of the depths of our hearts to you, God of the broken hearted and the crushed in Spirit, God of hope, whom we call Jesus, Allah, YHWE, Divine Mystery, Wakan Tanka, Great Spirit.
Amen.