December 14, 2012
O Source of all life, you destroyed death so that we might live in your Presence. You sent your Son Jesus into this fallen world, and in Jesus, you became vulnerable to sin, violence, and death. As we await the Christ Child's coming again this Christmas, we now hear the cries of your people, of mothers, fathers, friends, and colleagues. Help us remember that there is no place earth's sorrows are more felt than in your heart.
O Jesus, you held children in your arms, giving us a glimpse of our life with you in our eternal home. As the news of this massacre of children and teachers reaches us, may your embrace be wide and strong enough to gather our horror and grief, our confusion, our anger and our pain. As we behold you at risk in the manger and in agony on the Cross, assure us once again of your suffering-with-us so that we may be joined with you at your rising again. O come, O come, Immanuel.
O Holy Spirit, the Comforter, visit the parents, siblings, guardians, friends and colleagues. May they know in some new way your power to draw us into your healing, peace, justice, and compassion. The darkness of our fallen overwhelms us and burdens us with an intolerable weight. Give wisdom to lawmakers, emergency responders, pastors, and counselors. Enlighten and strengthen us for your service to one another.
O Holy Trinity, One God, may we know we are always in your Presence, especially when we are tempted to believe you are absent. May our lives, our homes, our churches and our communities reflect more and more the divine life that you enjoy as a fellowship of love and glory, now and forever.
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