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“It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the Lord. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.”
1 Samuel 1:15-16
In the midst of this new surge in COVID infections, we identify so well with Hannah, dear God our loving Father: we are not happy, and we are so sorry for this surge that has affected almost every family and household among us.
Listen to our pleadings to you, dear Lord, heal our family members and friends afflicted with the virus as well as those most vulnerable like those bed-ridden and those going through dialysis and chemotheraphy and other treatments.
You know, O Lord, our deep longings and desires; purify and cleanse us inside, especially the sources of our pleadings and speaking; whatever prompts us to say and do may always be rooted in you not in us nor in our pride and ambitions like the scribes. May our promptings be from the Holy Spirit always so that like Jesus, we may speak with authority. Amen.