God, we love the world around us. At this time of year, we love to see the sun come out. We love to feel its warmth. We love to see the signs of life that come with spring. We love it because it reminds of the goodness and beauty that’s possible in this world.
But something eats at us, too, God. We can’t overcome the feeling that not everything in the world is good. Some things are out of place. Some things aren’t right. There are hurts. There is pain. There is evil.
God, it pains us to admit that we are responsible for many of the hurts. When we look at others and fail to recognize them as brothers and sisters in humanity, we cause hurt. When we make our own wants greater than the needs of those who both know and don’t know, we cause hurt. Forgive us, we pray.
Jesus, you’ve come to heal us of our tendencies to hurt. Breathe your spirit on to us once again, that we might see others as you see them. May the breath you give not just fill the people in this room this morning. But may it reach to places where people feel especially separated from one another. May it reach into places where people feel divided over lines of race. Where people are divided and threatening one another over the basis of religion. May it reach into homes where we are divided over issues big and small.
Jesus, you’ve brought healing to our world. So we wait expectantly to see your healing of the nations. We lift up those to you who we see in need of healing. We lift up those who we carry in our hearts.
Jesus, you have brought healing to our world. And so we commit to being like you. Renew our spirits for greater commitment to you. May we be reminded of all which we aspire to in you as we pray as you taught us to pray, in saying… Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.