Knowing that life is not all it can be, recognizing our contribution to the shortcomings, and inviting our Father who desires more for us (and says it is ours already), is the foundation of lament. This week, in light of the Sermon on the Mount and our nation's anxious state and our ruptured and juvenile relationships, let us personally lament together. Pray with your faith family; these words adapted from John Baillie.
Holy Father, we have dedicated our souls and lives to you, yet we lament before you that we are still so inclined to sin and so reluctant to obey:
So attached to what makes us feel good, so neglectful of spiritual things;
So quick to gratify our bodies, so slow to nourish our souls;
So greedy to present delight, so indifferent to lasting blessing;
So fond of being lazy, so unprepared for work;
So soon to play, so delayed at prayer;
So quick to look after ourselves, so slow to look after others;
So eager to get, so reluctant to give;
So confident in our claims, so low in our performances;
So full of good intentions, so unwilling to fulfill them;
So harsh with those around us, so indulgent with ourselves;
So eager to find fault, so resentful when others find fault with us;
So unfit for great tasks, so unhappy with small ones;
So helpless without you, and yet so unwilling to be tied to you.
O merciful Father, forgive us yet again. Hear this sad account of our failings and in your great mercy blot it out of your memory. Give us faith to lay hold of your perfect holiness and to rejoice in the righteousness of Christ our Savior. Grant that resting on his goodness and not our own we may become more like him, so that our will may be united with his, in obedience to yours. All this we ask for Jesus’ holy name’s sake. Amen.