We have not learned to have mercy on each other
Gracious God
Forgive us
We expect the world to somehow conjure up waves of mercy
Yet our own church family may be left without
Gracious God
Forgive us
Mercy is not about condoning wrong or evil behaviour
It is about seeking the good of both victim and perpetrator
That is a difficult thing.
Sorrow for the victim
Is too often only words!
We don’t know how to help
Gracious God
Forgive us
We condemn the guilty,
seek revenge or retribution and
somehow contrive to make things worse
We shut our eyes
And don’t know how to help
Gracious God
Forgive us
Mercy is your tender and vital gift for each one of us
When we call on you.
Without mercy we would break under the weight of guilt.
We see the Cross of Calvary
And know the cost of all our sin.
Our deliberate turning away,
Our neglect
Our disavowal
Our worship of some other god.
Gracious God
We plead for mercy
And know we must ourselves be merciful
Then mercy reaches
Down
Lifts us up
And sets us free.
At the foot of the Cross
We see the cost,
The terrible cost
Of Mercy
And of undeserved
Love
In your mercy grant us wisdom
For the love of Christ
Amen.
Reading: Psalm 51
STF 420 Because you came and sat beside us
Prayers for March by Hazel Parsons
