Prayer in Response to the Minneapolis Violence

 
Lord, you are the source of life and love.
You give the gift of children and family.
You let us see your image in them, and in the love we give and receive.
 
Yet we your people have turned away from you.
Hatred and violence stain our world and our streets.
The violence of murder is exactly what it looks like 
When people reject you.
 
We pray today, Lord, for those who are the victims of this evil act.
 
We pray for those who have died, for those who have been wounded, and for their families and friends.
We pray for Annunciation Catholic School, all its students, and all its administration, faculty and staff.
 
We also pray, Lord God, for all your people across this nation.
We have all been wounded by this tragedy.
We are offended, and we are distressed, by the culture of death.
We grieve when people trample on human life in this way,
And we grieve that so many have lost all reverence for human life in a thousand other ways.
 
Lord, as we pray to you for comfort,
We also pray for guidance as to what action to take,
And strength to carry it out.
 
Give wisdom to your people and their legislators.
Help us avoid superficial analysis or ideological bias,
And work together on practical solutions
That help people do what is right
While preserving their freedom and Constitutional rights.
 
Lord, wake us up and show us how to build a Culture of Life.
 
As St. Paul said, 
“We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.…” (2Cor.4:8-9).
 
And we also declare with him,
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:35-37)
 
Lord, be with us as you were with the disciples on Good Friday.
Where are you, many ask. Show us again – you are right there, in the pain, in the darkness, and in the hope that never dies.
 
You have destroyed death. 
Bring us all to the final victory of life!
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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