Read John 17:1-26

Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber has written a prayer that resonates with most of us these days. If we pray it carefully, slowly, we can find ourselves in it.  After all, we together as the church, the nation, and the world, are in the middle of a difficult time together.  We are doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, shoppers, pastors, parents, neighbors, church family, the elderly, the young, the unemployed, the hungry, the homeless, and those who never seem to get a break from the endless hours of work.  It is on behalf of us, the prayer is written.

God who made us all,

Our healers are exhausted, God. Give rest to those who care for the sick.

Our children are bored, God. Grant extra creativity to their caregivers.

Our friends are lonely, God. Help us to reach out.

Our pastors are doing the best they can, God. Help them to know it is enough.

Our workers are jobless, God. Grant us the collective will to take care of them.

Our fellow parents are losing their minds, God. Bring unexpected play and joy and dance parties to all in need.

Our grocery workers are absorbing everyone’s anxiety, God. Protect them from us.

Our elderly are even more isolated God. Comfort them.

We haven’t done this before and we are scared, God.

I don’t even know what else to pray for.

Amen.

Can you identify with the prayer?  Do you see yourself in its words?  I know that I do.  The prayer helps us to name our pain.  Author Brian McLaren says, “…there is enormous power in simple, strong words – the words by which we name our pain and then translate it into a request to God.”  The words of prayer also help draw us together as God’s beloved children.

Maybe we have forgotten the connection we share, not only with our family, our friends, or our faith community, but with others.  Now, we must acknowledge this connection through the days and nights of wondering what will happen not only to ourselves in this frightening time, but to others.  Do we remember that Jesus prayed for us in his prayer in John 17?  “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (21-22)

In this time of separation from those we love and upon whom we depend, we can discover something priceless – the sacred connection that can grow us stronger through, not in spite of, our anxieties, fears, disappointments, and struggles.

Jesus, our gracious friend, is available to us.  He prayed for us and we pray for others.  The wonderful thing is, we don’t have to earn anything, deserve anything, achieve anything, or merit anything to bring our requests to God. We can come as we are.  When we “don’t know even what else to pray for,” may we sit in silence before God and let God pray for us.