Nos Lamentum

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.