Love Thy Sick Neighbor: A Liturgy in Times of the Coronavirus

by Kayla Craig, reposted from Red Letter Christians

Forgive us
As we have feared others,
And in doing so
Have contaminated our hearts.

Forgive us
As we have hoarded our resources,
And in doing so
Have abandoned our witness.

Forgive us
As we have desired control,
And in doing so
Have not loved our neighbor.

Comfort the afflicted among us.
In their loneliness, provide care.
In their sickness, provide health.
In their weariness, provide rest.

We grieve the contagious fear that we consume and spread.
Soothe our anxious minds as we read viral headlines.
And protect those who have been victims of racism and fear-mongering
Because of our dread of the unknown.

Protect us from the evil one
Who aims to use each update, not to inform or guide,
But to stoke the flames of chaos and confusion.

We thank you for health care workers
Who care for the sick and tend to bodies and souls
With great compassion and commitment.
Give them stamina.
Give them wisdom.
Give them grace.

We pray for those who lack access to health care,
Or safe places to rest their heads.
We pray for the vulnerable:
The sick,
The disabled,
The elderly,
The uninsured.
For the Kingdom is theirs.

We pray for the mother working paycheck to paycheck,
Who worries about her children and the job she can’t afford
To take time off from.
For she reflects Your image.

We pray for the chronically ill fighting invisible battles,
Hour by hour, day by day.
Nourish their bodies;
Protect their souls.
For they are never out of your sight.

We lament our roles in an empire
That values profit over human life
And takes advantage of our anxious spirits.
We acknowledge that we are not immune to the human condition,
And we repent from ways we have benefited
From dehumanizing systems and structures.

We ask for your Holy guidance
As we journey into the unknown.
Ignite in us a spirit of generosity;
Of hope and mercy;
Of grace and truth;
Of gentleness and self-control.

​Cleanse our spirits,
Comfort our minds,
Care for our bodies,
And make us new.

We give thanks that you lavish your grace onto us,
Not pushing us into shame, but providing a steadfast comfort.
When all else falls away, we turn to You and You alone.

We pray this in the name of Jesus
Who healed the sick
And sat with the poor.
Amen.