Meditation Moments: Because of Charleston and Too Many Other Times and People...

Jesus Wept.
[John 11:35]

        There are millions of words to be read, listened to, absorbed, rejected, or accepted about the tragic and sorrow-filled events in Charleston, Ferguson, Staten Island, etc, etc, etc., just this year alone. There are no useful words that I can add and yet I was asked to provide a short litany and closing collect for this moment that will help us gather our prayers communally. Here is what I prepared, adapting the format, style, and some of the language from The Great Litany in our Book of Common Prayer [page 148]. This Litany is generally used at the beginning of Lent. You can find the full original text of it at http://www.bcponline.org/  What follows is my adaptation in hopes that it gives our hearts some of the words our minds cannot find.

        Peace be with you and especially those suffering such losses...

Because of Charleston and too many other times and people:

 

O God, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy upon us.

O God, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy upon us.

O God, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,
Have mercy upon us.

From all hardness of heart, and contempt of your Word and commandment by thought, word, or deed,
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all oppression, violence, battle, and murder, and from dying suddenly and unprepared,
Good Lord, deliver us.

That it may please you to bring into the way of truth all such as have grievously erred, and are deceived,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you so to rule the hearts of all in authority, that they may do justice, and love mercy, and walk in the ways of truth,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to make wars to cease in all the world; to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord; and to bestow freedom upon all peoples,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to preserve all who are in danger by reason of the color of their skin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other difference from ourselves,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to preserve, and provide for, young children and orphans, the widowed, and all whose homes are broken or torn by the strife and pain of blind hatred, racism, and all other -isms.
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your holy Word,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts and also to turn our own hearts to forgiveness,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to grant to all the faithful departed eternal life and peace, especially:

~Sharonda Coleman-Singleton

~Rev. Clementa Pinckney

~Cynthia Hurd

~Tywanza Sanders

~Myra Thompson

~Ethel Lee Lance

~Rev. Daniel L. Simmons

~Susie Jackson

~Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor

And peace to those who love them,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.

Closing Collect: O God, our Refuge and our Strength, in the face of fearsome foes and the tempests of tragedy, in suffering and in joy, let us remember to always turn first to you with our faith strong and our hearts wide open. We ask with heavy hearts through your Son Jesus, our Savior and the Holy Spirit our Comforter, who together with You are One Holy and Eternal God from before the beginning until beyond the end. Amen.

Adapted from the BCP Great Litany by Christina Brennan Lee

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