As a response to Part I and Part 2 of this series about suffering, I was comforted yesterday to see the “final answer” to our earthly suffering in the form of our Prayer of Confession written in our church bulletin:

Holy God, so many times you have approached us,

and we have turned away,

You have called us to remember our relationship to one another,

And we have thought only of our own needs and desires.

You have been present in the midst of our struggles,

And we have chosen to suffer on our own.

You have set before us promises for new life,

and we have insisted upon continuing in our old ways.

Forgive us, Lord.

Set us free to rebuild the lives of ourselves and others,

To feel the possibility of the future,

To know that these bones may live. Amen.

Scripture Lesson: Ezekiel 37:1-14