Sunday Reflection: Teach us to pray

Today's reflection is brought to you by 

Luke 11:1-13.

How should we pray 

in times like these?

Creator,

I want a straight answer.

We hear of so many places in our world

up in flames,

people forced to flee their homes.

We see what's happening

to the children of Gaza.

We know about the drone-bombs in Ukraine.

We taste the heartache and exhaustion

of those whose loved ones are ill

or waiting for care beds.

We feel angered 

by the injustice towards displaced people

all over the world

-- and now,

in our ministry,

as we lose our worship space

to the Alberta government's Navigation Centre

(a space they certainly won't be inhabiting

on any Sunday mornings).

My heart breaks for everything

and everyone,

but especially for D., 

whose strong anger at injustice

possibly pushed him to go too far 

and take a life.

Are you there, 

Creator?

Are you listening?

Be with your displaced people.

Help those of us who are not displaced

to step forward in love and action.

Help us to pray,

to trust that you are listening 

and that you come to our aid

even when we feel bereft,

even when so little 

seems to be going right.

+Amen.

(Inner City Pastoral Ministry will move across the street to a much smaller space this week. Please keep the Community of Emmanuel in your prayers as we adjust to our new digs...)