For Sri Lanka, on a Day of Blood and Prayer

A prayer on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka following the Easter Sunday coordinated attack on three churches and three five-star hotels that killed and injured hundreds.

How can it be,
That day of prayer,
A day of reverence and love,
A day of worship and communion,
At the hand of killers,
Can become a day of blood?

How can it be,
That a day heralding the message
Of peace on earth
And forgiveness for all,
At the hand of murderers,
Can become a day of wailing in the streets?

Author of life,
Man has turned vicious and cruel,
Cutting down innocents in Sri Lanka
With violence and hate,
On a day of holiness and faith.

Source and Creator,
Grant a perfect rest under your tabernacle of peace
To the victims of murder in Sri Lanka,
At churches, hotels and in the streets,
At Anthony’s, St. Sebastian’s and Zion,
At Shangri-La, Kingsbury, and Cinnamon Grand.
Their lives were cut off by cruelty and hate.
Their dreams were cut off by heartless brutality.

God of Mercy,
Grant healing of body and spirit to the survivors,
The wounded, the maimed,
The dazed, the shocked and the traumatized.
Give them and their families strength and courage
As the hours, the days and the years pass.

Heavenly Guide,
Hand of love and shelter,
Put an end to violence,
And lead us to a time when no one
Suffers at the hand of another.
Grant the people of Sri Lanka Your protection,
Your wholeness and healing,
And Your peace.

© 2019 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com.