The devotional I read while living in La Carpio had a section at the back of the book with “Prayers for Special Occasions.” One of these is a prayer on the occasion of a “Death of Someone Killed in the Neighborhood.” I’ll excerpt some of the phrases and add a few of my own:
Lord, why wrest our loved ones from our lives at such a young age? Why let the brokenness and pain tear holes in our community? We mourne the empty corners and silent absence of where our loved ones laughed and lived. We remember them and commend them to you.
For the unbearable toil of our sinful world,
we plead for remission.For the terror of absence from our beloved,
we plead for your comfort.For the scandalous presence of death in your creation,
we plead for the resurrection.We realize our lives are like dust, fragile and fleeting, like those of loved ones lost.
We pledge to put aside weapons and violence; we entrust vengeance and reconciliation to thee.
Grant us peace.
Come, Holy Spirit, and heal all that is broken in our lives, in our streets, and in our world.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.