Sunday Prayer: rest for the soul

Dear God in Heaven,
help us.
We are so divided.
There are those who feel strongly about wearing masks to protect others. They are ridiculed by those who say their freedom is being violated by being mandated to wear a face covering.
Then there are those who are fearful of wearing a mask
because the biases of race and culture
have made mask-wearing by a person of color
dangerous and even life-threatening,
and freedom a dream yet to be realized.
May Love prevail,
and may Wisdom indeed be vindicated by her deeds,
and may we find rest for our souls.

Son of Man,
help us.
We are exhausted.
There are those who are risking their health and well-being
to peacefully protest injustice in a land that promises justice for all.
And there are those who point to the protesters and call them terrorists
and other names that are meant to degrade and dehumanize and destroy
the spirit that cries out to be heard and acknowledged,
all in the name of fear they cannot acknowledge themselves.
Then there are those who seek to bring the two together,
to create opportunities for healing and reconciliation,
only to be abused verbally, financially, or physically
in an effort to silence them and maintain the status quo.
May Love prevail,
and may Wisdom indeed be vindicated by her deeds,
and may we find rest for our souls.

Spirit of Wisdom,
help us.
We are weary from carrying heavy burdens.
There are ill and elderly who isolated and aching to see loved ones.
There are workers who are required to return to the office,
but daycare facilities are limited in number.
There are leaders who are trying to make responsible decisions
that will affect the future of entire communities
in the face of opposition, anger, and frustration.
There are scientists and medical experts who are working daily
for a protective measure that will help the world return to normal,
and there are those who believe normal will never look the same.
May Love prevail,
and may Wisdom indeed be vindicated by her deeds,
and may we find rest for our souls.

Place your yoke upon our shoulders, Lord,
and teach us the joyous release of walking alongside you faithfully.
Help us learn the unforced rhythms of grace
that bring comfort and kindness to a broken world.
May Love prevail,
and may Wisdom indeed be vindicated by her deeds,
and may we find rest for our souls.
In Jesus’ holy name, we ask it.
Amen.

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Julie Gvillo is Commissioned Pastor (PCUSA) and Founder and Creative Executive Director of A Place of Grace. Julie shares liturgy written on RCL passages each week on her blog, Point of Contact: Where Life and Worship Intersect.

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