Tonight we are here and we are uneasy. We are sad. We mourn the condition of the world.
I wrote this prayer with a heavy heart and longing to comfort and show compassion to those with the burden of unbearable pain because of the Orlando shooting and read this at the vigil in Sarnia, Ontario.
We are broken.
We break each other.
We see broken people get broken again and then break other broken people
This cycle is the only thing that isn’t broken these days
Our hearts are heavy
Our souls cry for justice
Our minds search for answers
We beg for peace
Anger, hate and evil cause panic
Love, peace and compassion are hard to find
The pain sits heavy
The fear is all around us
We beg for hope
A marginalized community suffers violence again
Our gay, lesbian, bi and trans brothers and sisters, and non-binary siblings
Everyone of them, made in the image of God
Everyone of them, undeserving of violence
Everyone of them, precious
Where there is a way to end such hate
May we find it
Where there is peace beyond our understanding
May we stumble into it
Where there is strength to repay evil with good
May we desire it
Where there is violence towards the LGBTQ community
May the church offer sanctuary in their communities
May the church offer sanctuary in their doctrines
May the church offer sanctuary in their love
The shadow of the cross is where we stand
But it’s dark, lonely and chaotic
Guide us to live in harmony with one another
Comfort all affected by this illogical and horrendous tragedy
May God meet you where you are Orlando
May you feel God weeping beside you
Make no mistake, God is weeping
God is found in the suffering and death
God stands beside the broken
God sits bewildered with us in our angst
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are those who work for peace, for they shall be known as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in pursuit of what is right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Amen.