Once again this week, following the London Bridge terrorist attack, we’ve been shocked and sickened here in the UK by the ugly spectre of terrorism, two innocent and gifted young people – Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt – whose lives should have been stretching out before them, having been senselessly murdered, and three others injured. Here’s a prayer, adapted from my book Intercessions for a Hurting World, for the families of these victims, for all those caught up in this awful incident, and for those who lives terrorism touches,
Lord God,
we pray today for our world,
haunted by the spectre of extremism.
We pray for our Intelligence services –
those in the front line of monitoring suspicious activity,
infiltrating terror cells,
tracking suspects,
thwarting plots,
often at great risk to themselves.
Wherever extremism rears its head,
may moderation and justice prevail.
We think of police,
ambulance crews,
fire services
and hospital staff –
those trained to deal with a terrorist incident,
potentially having to cope with mass casualties
in the event of an attack.
Wherever extremism rears its head,
may moderation and justice prevail.
We think of politicians,
asking that, at this election time,
they will not exploit last week’s attack for party gain,
but will respond wisely,
honourably,
fairly
and responsibly,
recognising where the system may have gone wrong,
and taking sensible and balanced steps to put things right.
Wherever extremism rears its head,
may moderation and justice prevail.
We think of the victims of terrorism –
those who have been killed in atrocities;
those who have been maimed,
those who were injured in this recent attack;
those who have lost loved ones,
their lives never the same again;
those who have been traumatised by the sights and sounds
they’ve witnessed,
unable to get them out of their minds.
Wherever extremism rears its head,
may moderation and justice prevail.
Especially we think of the families and friends of Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt,
as they attempt somehow to come to terms with their loss.
Support them in their shock,
their grief,
their pain,
their disbelief that this could have happened,
and help them to find strength and love,
hope and comfort,
We think of extremists themselves –
those who have lost sight of their common humanity;
who have allowed political and religious ideology
to poison their minds,
shutting out the true principles of their faith;
those who have turned what, at times,
are legitimate grievances
into wholly illegitimate and indiscriminate murder.
Help them to see that religion without love is no faith at all,
and that any movement based on hate can ultimately only
end up hateful . . .
and hated.
Wherever extremism rears its head,
may moderation and justice prevail.
Amen.
Father, Hear our prayer. Amen.
So terribly, terribly sad.