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| Photo by Mary Sill on Unsplash |
Tonight for our midweek Advent service at my congregation in St. Louis, we had a service of lament, otherwise known as "Nos Lamentum." It was a fitting way to observe the fourth Wednesday of Advent, which also happened to fall on the winter solstice, the shortest (and darkest) day of the year. As we look toward the Nativity of Our Lord in just a few days, tonight's service was an opportunity, in song and prayer, to hear God's Word as we laid our laments before Him. We know that, in His love and compassion, He hears them all, and we can trust that He is working in our trials and directing them all for our good.
Tonight's litany was particularly well-suited to the present time, so I thought I would share it here. I pray it blesses you as it did me.
O Lord,
how long?
O Christ,
how long?
O Lord,
how long?
O Christ,
hear us.
God the Father, in heaven,
have mercy.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy.
Be gracious to us.
Spare us, good Lord.
Be gracious to us.
Help us, good Lord.
By the mystery of Your holy incarnation;
by Your holy nativity;
by Your baptism, fasting, and temptation;
by Your agony and bloody sweat;
by Your cross and Passion;
by Your precious death and burial;
by Your glorious resurrection and ascension;
and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter:
Help us, good Lord.
In all time of our tribulation;
in all time of our prosperity;
in the hour of death;
and in the day of judgment:
Help us, good Lord.
We poor sinners implore You
to hear us, O Lord.
We lament the global pandemic
Its death
Its despair
Its division
Its fear
Its isolation
Its alienation
Its confusion
How long, O Lord?
We lament those things the pandemic has taken
Lost loved ones
Lost opportunities to mourn
Lost joys
Lost celebrations
Lost time together
Lost friendships
Lost trust
Lost faith
How long, O Lord?
We lament divided communities and peoples
Divisions by politics
Divisions by race
Divisions by class
Divisions by wealth
Divisions by sex
Divisions by ability
Divisions by belief
How long, O Lord?
We lament evil in our community and nation
Greed
Selfishness
Injustice
Violence
Wantonness with life
Arrogance
Cruelty
Attempts at self-definition
How long, O Lord?
We lament the persecution of our brothers and sisters
The violence done against them because they bear your name
The intimidation of their families
The restrictions on their practice of faith
The political pressure on their communities
How long, O Lord?
We lament that there are those who don’t believe in your Name
Mothers
Fathers
Brothers
Sisters
Sons
Daughters
Friends
Others near
And those far off
How long, O Lord?
We lament failings in Your Church
Abuses of power
Abuses of people
Division and disunity
Compromise with the world
False and impure doctrine
Unwillingness to forgive
Deafness to suffering
Indifference to injustice
Arrogance
Anger
Suspicion
Fear
How long, O Lord?
We lament failings of body and mind
For chronic pain and illness
For cancer
For incurable disease
For depression
For anxiety
For addiction
For eating disorders
For thoughts of suicide
How long, O Lord?
We lament abuse
Of children
Of women
Of our elders
Of the poor
Of the weak
Of those with no voice
By those in positions of power
By those in positions of trust
By those who should do better
How long, O Lord?
We lament broken families
Broken by death
Broken by selfishness
Broken by anger
Broken by violence
Broken by distance
How long, O Lord?
We lament death
By abortion
By miscarriage
By stillbirth
By accident
By malnourishment
By natural disasters
By disease
By murder
By war
By suicide
How long, O Lord?
We lament loneliness
from infertility
from isolation
from the death of friends or family
from singleness
from exclusion
from disillusionment
How long, O Lord?
We lament doubt and despair of your promises
Because of sin from within
Because of sins of others
Because of abuse and trauma
Because of the cares of the world
Because suffering
Because of loss
How long, O Lord?
We lament our sin
The sin we welcome
The sin that chases after us
The sins we commit again and again
The sins by which we hurt and harm our neighbor
The sins by which we hurt and harm ourselves
The lack of faith we often show
How long, O Lord?
We lament the persistent work of Satan in our midst
His works
His ways
His exploitation of our weakness
His stoking of division
His attacking of our insecurities
His attacking of joy in ministry
How long, O Lord?
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
we implore You to hear us.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
grant us Your peace.
O Christ,
hear us.
O Lord,
how long?
O Christ,
how long?
O Lord,
how long?
Into Your hands, O Lord, we place our laments, trusting You to answer them according to Your mercy, and awaiting Your final deliverance in the day of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Collect for Peace
O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
