Boston

I want to say something profound today. I want to be able to speak into yesterday's bombing and find exactly the right words that will make things all right.

But all the things that keep coming to mind aren't profound. Some of them are trite and others are spiteful. It's a cowardly thing that was done, killing children and innocents and hiding behind anonymity—not even announcing (as of yet) a reason for their actions.

Yet, as some have pointed out, those who live on the streets of Baghdad or Jerusalem live with these sorts of things every day. Yes, we are spoiled that it only happens once in a while here. So I think I can begin to understand the anger that exists just below the surface always in those other parts of the world.

I know this: we're called to pray...and not just for ourselves. We are all too good at praying for ourselves. I would guess that most of our prayers in this country most of the time are for ourselves or for our loved ones. In all the prayer requests we get turned in on Sunday mornings, rarely do the cards represent anyone beyond that circle, except in a national tragedy like this. But we're not just called to pray for ourselves. That is too small a mission, too small a calling for the people of God. We're called to pray "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We're called to pray cosmic prayers, prayers that shake the rafters of creation, prayers that ask for big things, prayers that push back the darkness of our world.

And that's really our unique calling—today and everyday. We can all donate blood. We can all respond in practical ways. We can all send money and other sorts of aid. And we should. But the people of God have something else to offer—our prayers, our world-shaking prayers that come from a heart of faith that believes we can make a difference. We believe that our prayers can, in fact, bring light to a dark world.

So pray—pray for the victims, but also pray for the perpetrators. Only as hearts are changed, really changed, will the light truly win. Pray for hope. Pray for light. And pray for mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.