by Sue Stone
Help us, Lord!
Our hearts are so hard,
so filled with self-righteousness,
self-gratification,
self,
so filled with fear
and hurt,
and anger,
that all too often we drive all the love out,
and touch our fellows with hurt
instead of care,
angry words,
instead of patience,
bitterness
instead of healing,
death
instead of the invitation to life.
O Lord,
Heal us, Lord!
Help us to be peacemakers,
help us to act as the meek,
to understand our reliance on you
like the poor,
help us to hunger and thirst
after you,
after your word,
after your ways,
so that in your hands
you can use us to transform the world.
Most of all,
help us to be merciful
as you are merciful
today,
and always,
Amen.
