Lord Jesus, 

as you bowed your head and died,

a great darkness covered the land.

 

We lay before you

the despair of all

who find life

without meaning or purpose,

who suffer the anguish

of inner darkness

that can only lead them 

to self-destruction and death.

 

Lord,

in your passion, you too

felt abandoned, isolated, derelict.

 

You are one

with all who suffer

pain and torment

of body and mind.

 

Be to them the light

that has never been mastered.

Pierce the darkness

which surrounds and engulfs them,

so that they may know

within themselves

acceptance, forgiveness, and peace.

 

We pray for those who,

through the suicide

of one close to them,

suffer the emptiness of loss

and the burden of untold guilt.

May they know

your gift of acceptance,

so that they may be freed

from self-reproach

and mutual recrimination,

and find in the pattern

of your dying and rising,

new understanding, and purpose

for their lives.

 

Neville Smith, retired Anglican priest and hospital chaplain

 

______________________

 

 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all