Almighty one, by whose word all of creation came into being and through whom all things are sustained, have mercy on us who are small and fragile, finite creatures in a vast universe, that we might be sustained by you, the one who needs nothing yet loves all that you have created, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit from on high forever. Amen. “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” – Luke 18:13