Pain and suffer prayer II

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
whose messenger is death.


Lord and Conductor of the Universe,
     we acknowledge and affirm the mystery
     of sunsets and farewells,
     of departures and finales
     as integral notes in Your divine chorus.


We are thankful even for the pains of daily dying,
     for the daily separations
     that are the counterpoint in our common lives.


With gratitudes, we listen to the yearly song of creation,
     the melody of spring, summer and autumn
     which rises till the death-rest of winter,
     only to begin again in the evergreen resurrection of spring.


We take joy, as our hearts rise to You,
     that this divine harmony of death and life
     was sung by prophets and holy people,
     and that Your Son, Jesus,
     sang that song with His whole person
     in His death and resurrection from the tomb.


We are grateful for His living example,
     for Him who found it so difficult departing from His friends
     so that a greater experience of life
     might be His and theirs.


In His footsteps,
      along that path of death and resurrection,
      we process toward our own death
     and resurrection in You.


Help us, Compassionate God,
     to let Your ancient and eternal song of death and life
     be played out in each of us,
     as we live out our faith that death is but a doorway
     that opens unto greater and fuller expression of life,
     that opens to a final union with You who are life!


Blessed are You,
Lord of Life,
who alone knows the hour of our death
and ultimate union with You.


Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
whose messenger of death.


Amen (+)