Grieving Hearts

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the four students who recently lost their lives at the University of Idaho. 

Words cannot take away the pain.

Sympathy cannot undo what happened. 

Sorrow and loss remain.

Grief begins.

The emptiness lingers. 

There is a hole in each grieving heart.

And deep in that empty hole, Jesus is there.

Even when we don't feel His presence.

He is there.

"There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us." St. Pope John Paul II     

Jesus is weeping with you.   

He is saying, "You are not alone."

Allow Him to sit with you and grieve with you. 

He is our hope.

 

Prayer for times of Grieving

Lord Jesus Christ, You suffered the loss

of Your beloved foster-father, St. Joseph;

You wept at the death of Your friend Lazarus; 

and from Your Cross You beheld the grief of Your Mother, Mary.

Look upon me in my grief, and touch my wounded heart.

Welcome all my deceased loved ones into Your kingdom,

and help me to surrender them to Your merciful love.

Grant me peace in the midst of distress, courage in the

midst of loss, and hope in the midst of sorrow. 

Fill me with the strength I need just to make it through another day.

Help me to remember that You will never abandon me,

that You will never forget me, and that You will see me

through this time of suffering and trial.

I offer You my tears, and I give You my

wounded heart; receive them gently. 

Amen.