Indigo Bunting
Every week we are confronted with images or news of people in our country who are angry,/ even rage-ful,/ who prepare for violence,/ who live in a bubble-world of lies,/ suspicion and doubt,/ who out of fear react badly./ We pray for them and ask for the restoration of peace and security./ We pray to the Lord.
There are many new Afghani refugees among us./ May we not only welcome them but help them to feel a deep sense of belonging,/ eager for the contributions they will make./ We pray for the many thousands of Haitian refugees who recently arrived at the southern border after repeated earthquakes and the assassination of their president./ For those who resent newcomers./ We pray to the Lord.
There are increasingly dire predictions of catastrophe on the horizon as we fail to protect our planet in a time of climate crisis./ We pray boldly for lands devastated by flood,/ drought, fire, tornado and hurricane./ May we bring our own creativity to the restoration of forests and the oceans,/ rivers and seas./ We pray to the Lord.
Pope Francis has said,/ "Many powerful people don't want peace because they live off war. Some powerful people make their living with the production of arms. It's the industry of death."/ May we understand./ We pray to the Lord.
There are Catholics who are slanderous,/ rude and accusatory of the Pope./ Some are even bitterly disappointed he survived a recent hospitalization./ Perhaps they are afraid of the Gospel-Christ he unfailingly proclaims./ We ask blessings for the Pope/ and for Jesus to repair his detractors./ We pray to the Lord.
Autumn has begun,/ a season of letting go and transition./ May we come to some new understanding of how we might travel more lightly for the sake of Christ and the piece of his mission entrusted to us./ We pray to the Lord.
Give courage,/ wisdom,/ health and renewal to our families./ Instruct our hearts in the way of the Gospel./ We pray to the Lord.
