A prayer for the fifth Sunday in Lent.

God.
Have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your people have asked that for as long as you have had people.
For as long as there have been people.
For as long as there has been death that feels untimely and illness that endures.
For as long as there has been weakness and those who exploit it.
For as long as there has been hopefulness thwarted.
For as long as we’ve been unmotivated and unrepentant.

Lord, have mercy.

Which, Jesus, it sounds like you said, too,
when you offered up prayers with fervent...