I woke up this morning and there was a dense fog outside. My house backs up to a field and far off in the distance, there is a busy road. I can usually see headlights from the cars passing by, but today as far as I can see, there was nothing. I know the fog will lift eventually but for now, it clouds my view. It is kind of like the situation the world finds itself in right now. Things are so murky you can’t see what lies ahead.
People are used to being in control. They are used to their lives moving in a certain way, but the routine has changed and everything has quickly become uncertain. There is an angst that hangs in the air, a foreboding as we wait for what comes next and wonder how or if we can pick up the pieces when things settle down. I am trying to live in the moment and not look ahead because I can’t control what will come. I think we need to remind ourselves that God has a plan for our lives. He knows what is best. And sometimes, as hard as it is, the darkest sufferings bring the most profit. We don’t know what the future holds. Only God does. If we place our trust in Jesus and surrender all to Him, then this trial won’t be so heavy. It will still be hard, just not as heavy.
This is the road God calls us to walk right now. He is trying to get our attention. The world is filled with darkness, but Christ is our Light. Let us turn away from sin and gaze upon the face of our Lord. For all those who know God, let us pray for those who do not.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Christ, Light of the World, hear us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Mother of the New Dawn, pray for us.
Holy Trinity, source of all light, illuminate the darkness in our world:
To the minds of those dimmed by sin, bring your light.
To the hearts of those gripped by pornography, bring your light.
To those suffering depression or mental illness, bring your light.
To the souls enslaved by substance abuse, bring your light.
To those burdened by same-sex attraction, bring your light.
To those gripped by anxiety and fear, bring your light.
To the hearts of those who mourn, bring your light.
To the souls and bodies of abusers and the abused, bring your light.
To those with no place to call home, bring your light.
To those intent on killing in the name of God, bring your light.
To abortion clinics, bring your light.
To brothels and human-trafficking locations, bring your light.
To hospitals, pharmacies and, nursing homes, bring your light.
To classrooms of despair, confusion and, falsehood, bring your light.
To violent and drug-infested streets, bring your light.
To war-torn territories, bring your light.
To lands darkened, flooded, or destroyed by natural disasters, bring your light.
Wherever there is confusion, despair, loneliness and, anger, bring your light.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
St. Augustine, pray for us.
St. Hildegard of Bingen, pray for us.
St. Claire, pray for us.
St. Albert the Great, pray for us.
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us.
St. Bonaventure, pray for us.
All the Choirs of Angels, pray for us.
Mary, Light in the Darkness, pray for us.
Light of the World, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Light of the World, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Light of the World, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Amen.