by Jeff Liou and Kevin Doi
To God’s Precious Children Who Are Sick and Suffering with COVID-19, their families and loved ones…
This virus knows no geographical boundaries, and is no respecter of persons or identities. In the face of this pandemic, may we find shelter in the generous mercy and love of God our Savior and Deliverer. Our Lord Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is familiar with suffering and acquainted with grief. Our prayer is for the presence of the Spirit of God to rest with you and minister to you just as you need in this difficult time.
To those sick and therefore isolated, afraid, and feeling alone, away from familiar faces and voices: we pray for God’s presence and comfort. May you know that you are not alone; that the God who took on human flesh and died a human death upholds you in this time of your own humanity. Christ lives in you that you may also live in Christ. May Christ speak healing and peace over your mind, body, and spirit. May God’s Spirit draw near to you, strengthen you, usher hope unto you.
Christ have mercy.
To those who cannot be physically present with your suffering loved ones: We weep with you, wishing we could lay on hands of faith and prayer. Still, we intercede with prayers of hope and healing, summoning God’s resources to you and your loved ones. We pray with you that the Spirit of God would be tangibly present at this time in every perfect way. We entrust your loved ones into the hands of a merciful God knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Lord have mercy.
To those who have already experienced great loss: We share in that collective loss. We mourn with you, asking for the God of comfort to draw near at this time. We acknowledge these are difficult times. We mourn the loss of social connection; of routines; of assumed security, safety, and health; of trust in our systems of government, health, and business; we share in and feel the sympathetic loss of planned dinners, celebrations, trips, proms, graduations, games, performances, and events. In this time it is okay to be afraid, to be sad, to be angry, to be confused, to be lonely, to be disoriented, to be frustrated, to be frazzled. We grieve together as the body of Christ.
Christ have mercy.
To those who are uncertain about what this will mean for your day-to-day lives: We cry out to God for provision with you. May God reorder your lives in such a way as to sustain you, nourish and care for you, and bring you comfort and hope amid surreal and sobering disruption. We pray for resources—emotional, physical, psychological, social, and financial—be mobilized now on behalf of those most vulnerable and in need. By God’s mercy and grace, may this time that strips away all that is familiar, also create the fertile soil for new growth, new appreciations, and new routines of love, gratitude, and well-being.
Lord have mercy.
As the cry of the church: Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Jeff Liou is the anti-racism resource specialist and co-founder of AACC.
Kevin Doi is adjunct professor of Asian American ministry and founding pastor of Epic Church. He preaches on Jesus’ Galilean heritage and navigating ethnicity in culture, ministry, and family.