Prayer of Relief

(From a prayer of Catholic Relief Services following Typhoon Haiyan, November 2013)

Loving and gracious God,

All love and mercy compels us
to the side of our global brothers and sisters.

In our charity, and in our compassion,
-help us stand with them.
In our solidarity and in our sharing,
-help us stand with them.
In our advocacy, and in our prayer,
-help us stand with them.

And as we turn to them in their peril,
we ask your grace go with us;

To feed the hungry:
-give us your grace.
To give drink to the thirsty:
-give us your grace.
To clothe the naked:
-give us your grace.
To shelter the homeless:
-give us your grace.
To care for the sick:
-give us your grace.
To reach the trapped and the stranded:
-give us your grace.
To mourn the dead:
-give us your grace.

And in reaching out, may we find you in them.
And may they find you in us.

Amen.