God, what can we offer to you in prayer that could be worthy of what you have done? You have brought sun out of darkness, refusing to let death have the final word, even when we bring that death on ourselves.
For you wrought resurrection this morning, creating new
life from the ashes of hope, and bringing grace to places of shame and regret.
You declare that no matter how hard we or others try, nothing can separate your
children from your love. Your actions reveal that nothing will prevent the
coming of your reign of reconciliation, your ways of true justice, and provide us
liberation from death in all its forms.
Enable us to express our gratitude by following the Risen
One, even now at loose in this world. That we may follow Jesus into the places of
poverty, hunger, violence, hurt, and hate, no matter if they be close to home
or in places far away.
Help us to embrace the truth that even where there is pain,
there is still your love and care. The reality of Christ weeping with us even while bringing us
to places of comfort, hope, and life.
Reveal for all the people, places, and times it seems that
despair is unending, pain and illness unrelenting, hunger and poverty
insurmountable, where Jesus is already present, and where we are called to join
him there.
Destroy the barriers we erect during those times we feel
that what we have done or what we have failed t do keeps us trapped, isolated, permanently
separated from You and from others, so that we can live in your reign of grace
upon grace and reconciliation.
You have brought life out death, hope out of the ashes of
despair this day, and continue to each day until your reign of love fully
encompasses each person. With our gratitude may we join the Risen One wherever
we hear his call to come, follow him. In
Jesus name. Amen.
