Prayer for the Week: There is so much despair in this world, O God of Mercy, and so much of it is rooted in hopelessness and loneliness. In the crowded city in which we live, there is so little of the connectedness you desire for us. You created us to be in relationship with you and with those around us, yet despite our close proximity to one another, our despair continues to grow because we do not feel a deep connection to anyone. O Lord of lords and Light of lights, guide us and advise us as we make room for others and create comfort for those who are uneasy about vulnerability. By your humble example revealed in Jesus, assist us in being accessible to others. May our ears be open to those who need to be heard; our hearts open for those who need compassion; our arms open for those who need an embrace. We can so easily complain about a lack of understanding and an absence of civility, but the change you seek in our world is a change that begins with one person. Jesus is that example for us, and we pray that we see his sacrifice of love and its transformative power as the way of faith. It is in his name and for the sake of his glorious witness that we pray. Amen.
