A PRAYER FOR THE WORLD

     Heavenly Father, Creator and Giver of life, we humbly beseech You in this time of dire need to remember Your People, the whole of humanity, for it is in You that we place our faith in finding comfort and hope. Holy Father, hear the voices crying out to you as an unfathomably vicious virus covers the world; the same world, Father, that You created and pronounced, as "good." Great numbers of Your People have, and are, falling ill and dying with many, many more standing in the path of this rapidly expanding danger. 

    We are told, Father, that there is no vaccine to magically cure this disease. We are told to stay at home and when we venture out, to stay away from others. Fear is gripping the world, O Lord. Fear of illness; fear of death; fear for our families, our jobs, our economy, our country and our future. We are confused in all the misinformation and false hope which is why we beseech You to strengthen our leaders to be frank, honest and diligent in their search for a cure. Ultimately, Father, we are most concerned, and ask You to have Mercy, for those who have been stricken as you console their loved ones praying for recovery. 

     We pray, Lord, that you will bring comfort to those who grieve for loved ones already lost to this pestilence. We ask that You give encouragement to those who are, now, fighting for their lives. And, we pray You give courage to those who risk their lives each day in combating this deadly plague for they are truly Your servants.

     Though we have come to know that life on Earth is short and there are no guarantees, still, in the face of uncertainty, our Hope lies with You, Father, for only Your can bring an end to this fearful crisis. Only You can end the suffering, the deaths, the grief, the insecurity and apprehension that is being wrought upon Your world. 

     O Lord and our God, once more we beseech you to put an end to this unimaginable horror. And, forgive us, Father, that while in our trepidation we, like Jesus in Gethsemane, ask that this cup be taken from us. And, yet, while we may not understand the great mystery of how You are presently working in the world, we acknowledge that it is not our Will, but Yours, that will be done for now and forever.

     Amen