Have mercy

Confession

With a Kyrie played – not sung – as a response

We do not want to give up,
to do without,
and we are too quick
to criticise and complain
when our leaders ask us to,
or when mistakes are made
because we have yet learned
what it is we need to learn:
Kyrie eleison

musical refrain

We have stopped praying
for the countries worse off than ourselves –
Spain, USA, UK, Brazil – busier
with patting ourselves on the back,
or getting hooked on the doom
news cycles making us afraid
for ourselves:
Kyrie eleison

musical refrain

We have helped the earth
by leaving cars in driveways
and planes on runways for much
of this year, with all the plastics
for testing and shielding and practicing
hygiene, is the earth still paying a price
for keeping us safe?
Kyrie eleison

musical refrain

We have neglected again the artists
who keep our souls alive, open
windows onto the Sacred, and unveil
mirrors to help us see and understand –
yet to the artists we turn to carry us
through the pandemic:
Kyrie eleison

musical refrain

We are feeling sorry for ourselves,
unable to travel, to be with people
we miss, to go on holiday, to do
anything without going so much
slower, keeping distance, wearing masks,
and washing our hands raw:
Kyrie eleison

musical refrain

Forgiveness
The One who is Holy
is merciful in character
and welcomes our return,
accepts our confession,
and, indeed, does show us
mercy.
This is the promise,
enter it and live.
Amen.