Save Us from Weak Resignation

 I was invited to pray at a local Elementary school today. I spent much of the afternoon wondering what to say, in light of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX yesterday. Then I remembered a couple of lines from the hymn God of Grace and God of Glory, by the Rev Harry Emerson Fosdick. "This hymn is a prayer, in which we ask for God's wisdom and courage to face the problems of our day. We beg for God's power, confess our fear and pride, and affirm a desire to seek social justice." - hymnary.org

1 God of grace and God of glory,

on the people pour thy power;

crown thine ancient church's story,

bring her bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

for the facing of this hour,

for the facing of this hour.

2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us

scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!

Fears and doubts too long have bound us;

free our hearts to work and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

for the living of these days,

for the living of these days.

3 Cure thy children's warring madness,

bend our pride to thy control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

lest we miss thy kingdom's goal,

lest we miss thy kingdom's goal.

4 Save us from weak resignation

to the evils we deplore;

let the search for thy salvation

be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

serving thee whom we adore,

serving thee whom we adore.

"God of grace and God of glory, on the people pour thy power;" in the face of the evil and violence inflicted yesterday on the children, teachers, and staff of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, pour out your power to comfort those who mourn and grieve. For the lives stolen, for the wounds that will take years, if not lifetimes to heal, we pray. As Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem before his crucifixion, so we weep over Uvalde today.

"Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore..." we confess to you our inaction and indifference to human suffering. We confess the fear and anxiety that leads us to find comfort in weapons of war rather than peacebuilding. Cleanse us of the impulse to respond to violence with violence. 

"Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour..." help us resist calls to complacency, to accept things as they are. Grant us wisdom and courage for the living of these days, to use our voices to speak justice, love mercy, and walk humbly alongside God. Help us to enact the vision of your prophet Isaiah, who looked for the day when the weapons of war would be beaten into iron plows, and spears into pruning hooks. Neither shall we learn war any more.

We are broken, tired, hurting, grieving. And yet help us, dear Lord, to not lose sight of the blessed life offered to us. Help us partner with you in building the new reality described by Jesus as: 

3 “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4 “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.

5 “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

6 “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.

7 “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.

8 “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.

9 “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.