Prayers for a Time of Turmoil
Galatians 5: 13-26: For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
Let us pray for the Church, our nation and communities, and all people throughout the world according to their need.
A brief silence
Heavenly Father, we confess to You our sin. We lay before the Cross of Your dear Son Jesus all our brokenness, anger and anguish. We lay before His wounded hands and feet all our fear and despair, our hatred and suspicion of one another, our insistence upon taking law and punishment, protest and retribution, into our own clenched fists. We lay before His pierced heart all our hardness of heart and wanton self-centeredness. We lay before His thorn-crowned head all our prideful notions, stupid and hurtful words, and evil intentions. We are poor, wretched, sinful creatures. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We confess that we are slaves to sin, to self-centered, self-righteous, self-indulgent words and actions. We are not slaves to each other, anxiously seeking Your good for our neighbor.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We confess that in small ways and great, we bite and devour one another: with hateful actions or apathetic refusal to act; with inflammatory words, or refusal to speak Your truth in love.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We confess that the “works of the flesh” tempt, debase, and destroy our lives and communities, but we are afraid even to name them amongst ourselves lest we offend someone. Yet when we speak and act according to those works of the flesh, we truly offend You and the people you love and long to heal, save and redeem.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We confess that our lives, communities, public institutions, and cultural habits are desperately in need of repentance, transformation, healing, and renewal through Your Holy Spirit. Where You desire love, there is hatred, suspicion, prejudice, and contempt. Where You intend joy, there is despair. Where You counsel patience, we are reactive and impulsive. Where You desire kindness, there is callousness. Where You ask us to respond to Your goodness and to human need with generosity, we are too often selfish. Where You command faithfulness, we shy away from commitment and loyalty. Where You seek gentleness, we act with harshness. Where You counsel self-control, we “express ourselves” in hurtful, dangerous ways.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We confess that we deserve from You the very things we have inflicted upon ourselves and one another. But for the sake of your crucified, risen, and ascended Son, who did not refuse the title Friend of sinners, have mercy on us. Pour out Your Spirit upon all of us. Pour out His healing unction, wisdom, purity, and holy love. Pour Your Spirit upon everyone – black, white, brown; male, female, and those who aren’t sure; poor, wealthy, or in-between; progressives, conservatives, independents; Christians, Jews, Muslims, other people of faith, and those who profess none, and upon every other sort and category of person we could imagine. We so desperately need the Spirit’s gentle balm, like oil and wine on our wounded hearts!
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
With humble, hopeful hearts, with empty hands lifted in supplication, we plead: Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, thrice holy, mighty, immortal God, come speedily, and turn not away from our plight. Enlighten our minds. Purify our wills. Cheer our hearts. Speed our feet and strengthen our hands to serve our neighbors. Open our lips to declare Your praise – and to speak, in word and deed, Your Word of Law and Gospel to people whose hearts are starved and whose lives cry out for You.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
