Sunday, 30th January 2011, 15:28 hrs
'"Comfort, comfort my people", says the Lord' (Isaiah 40.1), with this word of the Holy Scriptures, we, believers across the world, and saints militant and saints triumphant, commend before thy holy throne the very broken-hearted. We remember those who have lost their loved ones through natural disasters, illnesses, wars, results of social injustices, and through old age.
Many of these are sorrowing, dear loving and gracious Lord. Grant thy presence this day, and bring to their hearts a sense of thine own co-suffering with them. In thy mercy, mayest thou visit these your creatures, be they professed believers or otherwise. Be with them by supporting them, and strengthen their feeble feet and lift up their downcast spirits. We are reminded of what the psalmist of long ago has once said, 'Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his people' (Psalm 116.15). Lord, in thy mercy hear our prayer.
Many suffer from broken families, and have no one to turn to. Lord, visit them today and be their father, as thou art our heavenly father. Reconcile those husbands and wives who, for reasons we are incapable of understanding, have been torn apart. Fill the hearts of those children who are innocent victims of divorce and separation. Lord, in thy mercy hear our prayer.
We remember those whose relationships are broken. Some are due to unbridgable gaps and irresolvable differences, some cultural, some religious, some ideological; others are due to physical violence; still others illnesses...Lord, the list never ends and, thou in thy sovereign knowledge knowest all things. Thou holdest the world in thy holy hand, and knowest each one who is hurting. Mend these hearts, dear Lord, and supply them well being of their emotions. Lord, in thy mercy hear our prayer.
There are some in the society who feel so hopeless because of different kinds of failure. Some career, some academic, some familial, some social...whatever it be, we pray for these thine own creatures and ask for thine consolation upon them during the festive season of the Lunar New Year. Lord, in thy mercy hear our prayer.
Last but not least, we pray for the lonely, the socially marginalised and rejected, and for those lonely souls in churches worldwide, that thy divine friendship may be extended to them and so fill their hearts with a sense of thy divine purpose, that they may experience the joy of thy salvation. Lord, in thy mercy hear our prayer.
Mayest thou O Lord go before us, to lead us; be behind us, to guard our lives; be on our left and our right, to guide us; be above us, to watch over us; be beneath us, to support us. By thy presence in this manner, we pray that we may become thine instruments of thy divine light in this world of darkness. May glory, honour and blessing be thine, now and always. Amen.
