May the One who Blessed those Before Us, bless all those suffering from the devastating atrocities and their aftermath, in our midst. May the souls of those departed because of violence and hate and its reverberations rise and find peace, and may their loved ones find comfort, somehow, some way.
As the Psalmist reminds us: “God is with the broken hearted.”
And may it be your will, Divine Womb, that we are able to bring home those precious humans taken captive or still missing.
As Jeremiah laments:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
RachelLavan's younger daughter and Jacob's beloved wife second wife (after he is initially tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah). Rachel grieves throughout her life that she is barren while Leah is so fertile. Ultimately, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies in childbirth with Benjamin. Rachel is remembered as compassionate (she is said to still weep for her children), and infertile women often invoke Rachel as a kind of intercessor and visit her tomb on the road to Bethlehem. weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
Please, God, bring your children home!
And please, Source of Life, give us strength to continue loving and building trust and friendship across boundaries and amidst the hate and separation.
As Jesus preached on the Mount: “But I tell you, love your enemies [and those called your enemies*] and pray for those who persecute you, that you may all be children of God, who causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and who sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Please, Divine Force Flowing Through All, give us strength to carry on, to cling to hope, to the belief that one day there can be a better world.
As Muhammed declares: “Oh, Allah. You are peace, and from You does peace emanate. And to you shall peace return. Bless us, please, oh God, with peace.”
Amen. Ameen. Inshallah!
*add this or use it as an alternative to the words before it, at your own discretion.
