It is with deep horror and sadness that our country mourns the deaths of children and teachers in Parkland, Florida, gunned down by a disturbed and mentally ill young man. People around the globe are left with no words and feel paralyzed, wondering how and if this cycle of violence will ever end. Our houses of faith serve as reminders that while prayers alone are not enough to heal this shattered world, we must never stop praying. The brokenhearted fall into our arms and the bereaved look to God for comfort and solace. It is our responsibility to hold out our hands and help our brethren understand that through tragedy and terror, they are not alone.And so we pray:
Ribono shel Olam, Master of the Universe, it is with anger, rage, confusion and sorrow that we turn our hearts to you. Today, parents prepare funerals for their babies. Today, parents grieve the hopes and visions of children graduating high school, falling in love, achieving professional goals, and manifesting their dreams. Dear God, help us to reach those that mourn and are afraid.
Let the families of Parkland, Florida hear our voices and feel bolstered by our words. This world cannot be defined by destruction and fear. Give us the strength to stem the tide of apathy, violence and despair by reaching across this nation with kindness, peace, and love.
May our prayers weave one to the other, carrying the bereft through the vast darkness, enabling them to feel God’s light, once again.
Amen.
