Suffering

Lord, comfort the sick, the hungry
the lonely and those who are hurt and shut in on themselves,
by your presence in their hearts;
use us to help them in a practical way.
Show us how to set about this
and give us strength, tact and compassion.
Teach us how to be alongside them,
and how to share in their distress deeply in our prayer.
Make us open to them and give us courage to suffer with them,
and that in so doing we share with you in the suffering of the world
for we are your body on earth and you work through us.

Michael Hollings and Etta Gullick

Oxford Book of Prayer, pg 130