Opening Prayer
Merciful God, I know the darkness, emptiness and pain when I’ve lost close family and beloved friends. I feel the grief of David, wailing at the death of Saul and Jonathan. I want to rail against You and the painful losses on this human pilgrimage. It is hard to be at peace with the empty spaces that people leave in me. Help me to believe that they are with You, even as I do not experience them with me. Does all this pain help me to surrender to You as the God of life? You must be strong to buffet Yourself against the raging judgments we hurl at You. Even Jesus’ family thought he was crazy and had gone mad as his ministry and message began to disturb and expand others. Thank you for being so merciful, even as we are merciless in our wailing against You!
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