The slaughter of innocence

Whose God is this?

O God of all nations, all people

O hope for the future

What kind of madness is this?

What pain?

What despair?

What motives can drive men to be so violent?

How can this be a holy war?

Slaughtering innocents

Killing innocence 

Those who witness watch on in horror

Minds numb, hearts stopping, voices silent.

We whisper, how can this be?

The mindless slaughter of innocent lives

In the name of any God

Cannot be countenanced

On any level

By any faith, or none.

Holy God  countless mothers and fathers,

Brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles

Friends and neighbours cry out

To their God

To our God

To any God who will listen

Hear those prayers

Hear our prayers

Take the groaning of our souls

And turn it to words of grace we pray

As innocence dies

And innocents die.

Bless those who mourn.

And give wisdom and grace to those who seek to respond

Holy God

Holy God

Holy God