A Prayer for the Marines and Chattanooga

Almighty God, our Father, who sent Thine only begotten Son to be sacrificed like the lamb at Yom Kippur, dying on a cross, stretched out in a grave, rising from the dead, and through the power of the Holy Spirit lifting our tired eyes from the brevity and vicissitudes of this life to the very pinnacle of paradox in that cross: our hearts and yes, Lord, our minds, cannot apprehend the thundering silent shock, or piercing depth of heartache, or unutterable loss born by the poor families of four Marines slain in that beautiful city of Chattanooga, targeted on this sad day merely because they wore the honorable uniform of our thankful nation—who having fought so far away died so close to home; and, so, O Father, grant that Gospel power that brings undiminished nobility in  suffering and godly sorrow in grieving to those dear families who morn and to the Chattanooga community and the Marine Corps community that hold their children a little closer tonight; so that that the diabolical terror intended for evil will turn us all to deeper faith in the risen Christ destined for good, causing our human tears of inconsolable pain to be replaced with Thy divine promises of irrefutable justice; in order that the battles fought and won by our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardsmen, and Merchant Mariners, will not be in vain, but will be, with this tragedy, transformed from pain to praise, from loss to gain, and from fear to courage through Jesus Christ our God and Savior who ever lives and reigns with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever more, world without end. Amen.