Praying for Boston

I've been streaming NBCnews.com for the past hour or so, after Simon Cowart, Day1's IT manager, alerted me to the news:

At least three dead, dozens seriously wounded, after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon this afternoon.

There were reports of a third bomb at another location, and authorities are still searching for other possible explosive devices.

What next? And why?

Who would do such a devastating thing--on a day that should be an occasion for celebrating life and health and achievement?

Our prayers ascend for those who have died and who have been wounded, both physically and psychically, in this tragic assault on peace.

The next few hours, days, weeks may shed some light on who is behind the attack, and why they did this evil act.

In the meantime, we pray for their families and friends and ask for God's peace in every heart.

We pray for the responders, the police, and all other authorities for safety and wisdom.

We pray for the doctors and nurses treating those injured.

We pray for everyone touched by this tragedy.

And we pray for the perpetrators:

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 816)

A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen