A Prayer in a Time of Sorrow
We are living in a time of sorrow. Italy and several other countries are being ravaged by the Coronavirus and people are living in fear. Many parts of our country are only now taking strong measures, and there still persist much denial and irresponsible behavior, as you see in the news. Let’s pray that the actions being taken now will prove sufficient. But we may be only at the start of what could be a very trying time for us, and indeed a time of sorrow. Take care of yourselves and be careful, be very careful about contact with others. It is a horrible thing to be deprived of human contact when we most need it, but we must be patient and endure.
The late Brother Roger was the founder of the ecumenical monastic community of Taizé in France and a man of deep spiritual insight. Below the icon is one of his prayers; it is moving and appropriate for these times we are living through. It does not shy from our fears or even the possible wound we can receive from helping our neighbor. But the final line belongs to the touch of Jesus, which never wounds but always heals and comforts. And let’s always remember in our prayers those in the helping and medical professions who are on the front lines of this war against the Coronavirus. They take the greatest risks, and we are grateful for all they do.
PRAYER
Breath of Christ's loving, flood over all who experience fears or little deaths; breathe your resurrection into our very minds, our very flesh. Happy are they who take the greatest of all risks and live a passover with Christ. Yes, keeping close to you, Jesus our joy, in your agony for us all and also in your resurrection. Happy whoever tears his hand from his eyes and no longer calls upon his darkness to cover his refusal. O Christ, you know that, without intending to, when we touch our neighbour we sometimes wound. While your touch never wounds and tirelessly you remind us: 'Don't be afraid; I am here.'