Prayer 3406: For Courage and Determination Against Violence, II

O God, your embrace has brought us safely to this new day;
may we rest ourselves within your mercy and love.

Forgive us, Lord, our headstrong and selfish ways
that lead to violence, exploitation, and cruelty.
Give us the wisdom and will
to lead ourselves into righteousness and peace,
as You have called us repeatedly
through the lips of prophets,
even at last
by sending your only Son,
whom we put on a cross,
himself a victim of our violence and fear.

Yet love is stronger than death,
and hope is stronger than fear,
and still we rise,
seeking to turn again and live by your will.

Awaken our hearts to receive your light
that we may instead dwell in hope, charity, and wisdom.

Give us the courage
to stand up to the forces of fear and hatred,
who profit from the bitter harvest they reap.

Comfort the mourning, O Holy God,
and, as our shepherd, gather the lost in your arms.
O God, our cry is to You and each other;
Send your healing Spirit over us, and all those for whom we pray.

Amen.

June 1, 2022: Four are killed in the Natalie building at St. Francis hospital in Tulsa, where a gunman aggrieved by his lingering back pain opened fire and killed his surgeon, another doctor, a patient, and a receptionist. He bought his AR-15 on the way to the shooting. It was the 233rd mass shooting of the year, coming a mere week after 19 children and two teachers were gunned down at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.