God.

This week J died and D died and others that I did and didn’t know died. Each person reading these words has deaths not too far from their hearts and memories and social media feeds.

Reading Paul’s words about death and life and sin and freedom, which are your words, feels a little too close and a little confusing.

We know there’s a theological truth you are making about sin leading to death and your gift leading to eternal life. We know that the dying of these human bodies is inevitable.

But sometimes really good people die, and really young people die, and people feel like the grief is piling on. And we’d love a little more than a theological truth.

And so, today, I ask for wisdom and I ask for comfort and I ask for peace.

I ask for wisdom for those trying to offer support to people in loss and confusion. Help us not say foolish things. Help us say wise things.

I ask for wisdom for those offering medical care. Help them understand the incomprehensible, since you built these bodies and minds.

I ask for comfort for those who are enduring situations they never imagined. The comfort woven from your promises to be with us always and to love us and to guide us and, yes, to be our comforter.

I ask for peace that comes even as we are crying out to you with our requests. Peace that is, again, incomprehensible.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for not scolding us nearly as much as we scold ourselves.

Thank you.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Reflecting in part on Romans 6:12-23