A Prayer in the Shadow of Violence

A Prayer in the Shadow of Violence

God of peace and life,

Yet again we come before you, mourning the loss of our sisters and brothers, our children and parents, our friends and neighbors. We ask for your blessing upon the people killed in Buffalo, Los Angeles, and Uvalde. Fill with your consoling presence those who now grieve the loss of family members, co-workers, children, and friends. May the members of these communities and all communities confronting violence and tragic loss find strength in each other and in the hope that justice and peace will soon become reality. For our elected leaders, we pray they will find the courage to pursue just and lasting solutions to the violence that ails and assails us. For each of us, we also pray that we might commit our efforts to creating a society that inspires in its citizens compassion rather than violence, understanding rather than hatred, and a love and solidarity that affirms the life and promotes the dignity of all. We pray in the name of the God who is the source of our life and dignity. Amen.