Intercessions ~ Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

It is World Series time/ where the purpose of every baseball game is to "get home."/ Spiritually, there is our heavenly home to hope for,/ but there is also that immediate home/ which is to live in the heart of Christ/ becoming fully Christ's sister;/ Christ's brother./ May we desire this above all else./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for our parish family at Mass today./ May there be a spirit of openness among us,/ where we share and lift up each other's prayer as we pray our own./ For the gift of persistence in prayer./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who lead nations,/ states,/ counties,/ communities and neighborhoods./ Grant that they may not despair of doing good,/ living in justice and fairness for all./ We pray to the Lord.

There seems to be a great emergence of violence all around./ We pray for Ukraine/ where war has killed more than 1000 children./ For those who live by and in/ gang,/ gun,/ or domestic violence./ For those who are discriminated against because of race,/ ethnicity,/ gender,/ sexual orientation,/ religion/ or any of the ways we sort and divide people./ May we come to see each person as God's child./ We pray to the Lord.

For the many whose lives are ruined by natural disasters and climate change,/ those who are struggling through floods,/ fires,/ hurricanes,/ drought and famine./ For the strengthening and perseverance of the good people who work to help./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who are sick,/ physically,/ emotionally or spiritually./ We remember those in chronic pain or weakness./ For doctors,/ nurses,/ technicians/ and those who staff hospitals,/ clinics,/ nursing homes and hospices./ We pray to the Lord.

November is the month of prayer for the dead./ We pray for our departed loved ones,/ friends and family,/ especially those who I now bring to mind _______./ May they delight in God's mercy,/ light and peace./ We pray to the Lord.

In movies we often hear the name of Jesus used as a curse or expletive./ Many Christians offend in this regard as well./ May be revere the name of Jesus/ which the angel gave to Mary in the Annunciation,/ and be more brave in calling offenders to attention./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The name Gethsemane means olive press./ As Jesus prayed in that garden the night before his death,/ was it the vision of all the world's horrifying wars that pressed him to the ground?/ On Sunday,/ we ask the Risen One for the healing of our war obsessed world./ We pray to the Lord.

Like much of the world,/ the church is bitterly polarized and distracted./ Many people long for a return to the past/ while others are satisfied only with innovation./ "May the Church be overwhelmed by joy,"/ Pope Francis prays./ Grant that the Christian people would re-discover Christ,/ where this First Love has been exchanged for another./ We pray to the Lord. 

Seemingly every day there is news of yet another mass murder in our country./ The nation's children are being trained in sorrow,/ pain and home-grown violence./ May God forgive and heal us/ covered in shame/ as innocent people die by gun violence./ Give new hearts to those in leadership who do nothing to remedy this illness./ We ask for a prolife vision that extends far and wide./ We pray to the Lord.

As Election Day is close,/ grant that we would be kept safe from leaders who want only to perform and secure power./ May we elect people who are qualified for the positions for which they are running;/ who want to help and serve./ We pray to the Lord.

Safeguard our families,/ friends and colleagues with good health and safety./ Heal the ones who are feeling afraid or sad./ Bless the parish family as we worship together:/ the pastor/ and those who assume liturgical roles and ministries of teaching and service./ Take us beyond good intention and talk,/ to action/ born of Christ's Gospel./ We pray to the Lord.

Every week at Mass/ we hear the scriptures./ May we be saved from those who use the bible as a hammer to control people/ and instead open it as the living Word of God,/ revealing God's presence among us/ in love,/ encouragement and promise./ We pray to the Lord.

This week,/ the insanity of war was made apparent in the death of a Ukrainian man and his wife,/ six months pregnant/ and even the family cat./ Nothing is spared./ May God heal us of the evil we do./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

The United States grows about 200 unique varieties of apples in 32 states./ As we appreciate this tremendous variety during October,/ National Apple Month,/ may we also be the nation which all the more appreciates people/ in their tremendous variety and need./ We pray for the conversion of hearts filled with fear and the hatred of others who look,/ sound or think another way./ We pray to the Lord.

Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in the United States./ The second largest denomination is fallen-away Catholics./ Many claim to have abandoned the Church because they do not feel genuine community,/ welcome or joy./ May we grow as Jesus would have us grow/ into a global community/ affording humanity an experience of the enfolding love of God./ We pray to the Lord. 

A Florida woman was interviewed who had lost everything to Hurricane Ian./ She lay on the ground with her dog where her house had been and said to the interviewer,/ "Tell me what to do and where to go."/ Many people exist this way/ due to famine,/ war or disaster — having no where to go,/ not knowing what to do./ St. Francis said, "I can't do everything, but I can do something."/ We pray to the Lord.

The brutal bombardment of Ukraine continues/ and the world feels more vulnerable by the day./ Grant peace to our  world,/ save us from failed leaders — soul-surrendered and shameless in their own obsession with power./ And may we pray this prayer not only for places faraway,/ but for our own country as Election Day approaches./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for Pope Francis/ and for the Church where it is fractured or marked by distracting tensions./ For the Church where it has not recovered from covid,/ where it is  exhausted or tormented by enemies./ For Christian communities which have become complacent or have lost their sense of the Gospel./ We pray to the Lord.

October is the Month of the Rosary — a prayer of going around and around in mystery and contemplation./ May we discover God's Christ-closeness in our own lives/ as we go around and through our day-to-day lives/ where there is joy,/ but also fear,/ loneliness,/ pain,/ doubt,/ trouble and challenge./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We pray for our world,/ so full of variety and beauty,/ so self-renewing,/ but also so lacking in joy,/ light,/ certitude,/ peace or help for the many who are pained./ May we not hide/ or run away in fear from the struggle,/  where ignorance and brutishness seem to win,/ but may we learn God's true love./ We pray to the Lord.

Columbus Day is Monday./ Like every story,/ this one is tainted./ We pray for our country which bears the stubborn stain of hatred for persons of color./ We pray for those who deny ugly truths./ We pray for the indigenous peoples of this land whose story is rife with exploitation,/ theft,/ disease,/ lies,/ cultural destruction and murder./ We pray to the Lord.

More than one hundred people were left dead after Hurricane Ian./ We pray for them and for those who mourn them./ We pray for the injured and those who have lost everything./ For those who so carefully continue recovery efforts./ We pray to the Lord.

Ours is an often violent country./ But today,/ violence has been given a new permission or empowerment./  There are politicians who everyday receive violent threats in numbers beyond counting./ People in high places spew violent, hater-rhetoric and speak of others in degrading and menacing ways./ We ask God for the much needed healing of the national heart./ We pray to the Lord.

October is the month when the leaves change their colors./ May we experience the change or transformation that comes with knowing Christ deeply./ October is also the month of leaf drop and behind each fallen leaf is next spring's leaf-bud./ May we drop resentment/ and know Christ's promise of new life./ We pray to the Lord.

Gun manufacturing and gun sales are big business in our country./ More than 1400 people have been shot in Philadelphia alone this year./ In that same city there have been more than 400 gun deaths./ Some of the injured and dead are children./ This gun defense and gun adulation is simply not the way of Jesus./ May we learn what he has to teach us./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for ourselves and those around us at Mass today./ For the many who stay away./ For those who have lost faith or who are discouraged./ We ask the Lord to bless us with gifts of renewed hope and joy./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Monday is National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day./ May we love our planet/ with care for the smallest of God's creatures,/ all of which play a part in sustaining life and wellbeing./ We pray to the Lord.

Tuesday is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi,/ who (perhaps shockingly) said to his religious brothers,/ "Better for you to go out into the street and kiss donkey dung than to even touch money."/ May we be a rightly prioritized people/ who try to live in the simplicity of the gospel,/ keeping far from power and money-love./ We pray to the Lord.

Wednesday is the Jewish Feast of Yom Kippur,/ the Day of Atonement./ We join the Jewish people in asking for the forgiveness of the world's sins:/ the atrocities of war,/ the distribution of increasingly destructive and easily gotten weapons,/ the exploitation of the world's resources,/ the leaving behind of so much of the world in poverty,/ the myriad ways in which we fail the world's children./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of October we pray for those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries,/ and other days of remembrance./ We ask good health for our relatives and friends/ and strength in the challenges,/ changes and difficulties they contend with./ We pray to the Lord.

Sunday Mass (Eucharist) is an answer to the alienation and polarization we experience these days./ Not only do we believe in/and receive the life of Christ hidden under forms of bread and wine,/ but we do so together./ Mass is the Sacrament of Unity./ May we know,/ experience and value this./ We pray to the Lord.

We make a mistake when we reduce Christianity to being simply a way of believing,/ when it is all the more a way of the heart,/ an inner path of becoming alive and whole./ May we experience a kind of heart-dilation,/ a waking up in awareness,/ listening and seeing deeply and truly,/ friendship/ and even the possibilities for growth through the suffering we experience./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the many who suffer through the destructive hurricane this week over Florida and other states:/ evacuees,/ the displaced,/ and those whose property is destroyed./ For helpers and rescuers./ For the healing of the ruined environment./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Wherever Ukraine is able to take back villages and towns,/ mass graves are discovered,/ some containing many hundreds of people,/ including children and those who appear to have been tortured and executed./ We pray for our poor, tormented world,/ where the most awful things happen./ We pray to the Lord.

Poor Puerto Rico is again destroyed by another hurricane/ five years after hurricane Maria./ It is said that the island was only half way back from that storm which leveled everything and left thousands dead./ Again,/ there is no electricity,/ no clean water./ We pray for those who suffer there and for those who help./ We pray to the Lord.

It is the fall season of Jewish Holidays./ May these days bring peace/ and the lessening of hatred and violence./  We pray to the Lord.

We hold in our minds and hearts the members of our families who are struggling and who ask for help or healing./ For the ones addicted/ divorcing/ whose relationships are broken or stressed,/ who have money problems,/ who are in mourning,/ where things seem to be falling apart./ We pray to the Lord.

Autumn has begun,/ the season of leaf-fall./ But behind each fallen leaf there is already next spring's leaf-bud./ And so we ask not to lose hope these days/ when even at the highest levels,/ lies,/ ugliness,/ dishonesty,/ corruption,/ theft,/ threats of violence,/ obfuscation and disintegration,/ seem to win./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for Pope Francis,/ his health,/ strength and endurance./ May he be effective in leading the Church in a stressed world./ May his enemies not prevail./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

El Greco ~ St. Matthew ~ 1610-1640

Wednesday is the Feast of the Apostle and Evangelist,/ St. Matthew./ We pray for our lives to be marked by knowledge of Christ in the Gospels,/especially conscious of Jesus' teachings found in the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in St. Matthew's Gospel./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the sick,/ the wounded,/ the disabled,/ those who receive no medical attention./ We ask blessings for doctors,/ nurses,/ technicians and rescuers,/ all who bravely and generously put themselves in harms way for the life and well-being of others./ We  pray to the Lord.

The Jewish Holidays are observed soon:/ Rosh Hashanah — celebrating that God re-invests Himself in Creation/ and Yom Kippur — the Jewish Days of Atonement./ May they be days of safety,/ peace and renewal./ We pray to the Lord.

Pope Francis has said,/ How good it is for us when the Lord unsettles our lukewarm and superficial lives./ May we believe this/ and possess that kind of religion which even invites God's new direction and purpose./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the world where there is great suffering caused by fire,/ flood,/ drought,/ famine, and war./ Grant that those who are in positions of authority would be wise servants/ who have foremost in mind, not profit, but the protection and wellbeing of those they govern./ We pray to the Lord.

It has been said that with the death of Queen Elizabeth/ we have witnessed the end of an era of courtesy and grace./ We pray for the restoration of decency and respect where it has been lost./ May we understand even more deeply that each human person is a child of God,/ possessing a unique dignity,/ even if they are unaware of it themselves./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Pope John Paul I/ whose papacy lasted only thirty-three days,/ was beatified last week./ At the Vatican ceremony Pope Francis said of him:/ "How beautiful is a church with a happy, serene and smiling face, that never closes doors, never hardens hearts, never complains or harbors resentments, isn't angry, does not look dour or suffer nostalgia for the past." May we learn this lesson well./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for this community of faith,/ worship and service today./ We ask for the blessings of courage and strength/ to live well the vocations God has called us to/ for the good of others./ We pray to the Lord.

Children and young people have returned to school./ We pray for them and for their teachers,/ administrators and staff./ May they learn well,/ be kept safe,/ and preserved from the bitter contention that weakens and tires and distracts./ We pray to the Lord.

Today marks the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center,/ The Pentagon in Washington D.C./ and outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A total of  2977 people died./ We pray for those who mourn loved ones still,/ for the many who still suffer physical and emotional effects for having worked in and around these sites long after September 11./ For recovery,/ wellness and courage./ We pray to the Lord. 

All around the world there is great suffering from unprecedented heat,/ forest fires,/ drought and conversely/ in other places,/ floods./ Lives have been lost and winter food supplies have been negatively impacted./We will need understanding,/ generosity and patience this winter./ We pray to the Lord.

The soil,/ air and water of Ukraine are being laid waste and left toxic by this invasion/ that began in February./ We pray for the cessation of violence and for restoration.// We pray for the children,/ the elderly and the weak./ Some of those left behind./ who survived the brutalities of the Second World War/ are now once again living in fear and extreme need./ The winter will claim many more lives./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

This is 91 year old Ukrainian Holocaust Survivor Vanda Obiedkova/ who died last April while seeking shelter in a basement during the bombing of  Mariupol./ Pope Francis has called this invasion:/ morally unjust, unacceptable, barbaric, senseless, repugnant, sacrilegious./ May we not forget/ and pray for the restoration of sanity wherever there are wars./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of September we pray for those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance,/ asking for good health,/ safety,/ well-being and growth in the things of God./ We pray to the Lord.

It is Labor Day weekend./ We pray gratefully for the many whose work provides the basic necessities of our lives:/ food,/ health care,/ law enforcement,/ safety./ For those who are paid unjustly./ For anyone whose work is dangerous./ For those who are out of work./ We pray to the Lord.

Thursday is the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary./ We pray for the little girls of the world,/ mindful that many are not allowed to attend school,/ others are enslaved or sex-trafficked,/ still others live sad lives where there is domestic violence or poverty./ Some little girls are thrown away./ We pray to the Lord.

In some places the Church is divided,/ having been infiltrated by political and cultural ideologies./ We pray for those Christians,/ including some among the clergy,/ who have lost the joy of the gospel,/ choosing instead a life of contention./ We pray for our healing and growth in Christ./ We pray to the Lord. 

It seems that now for many,/ our go-to emotion when we disagree with others is to make death threats./ Some,/ including politicians and media types stir-up violence,/ danger,/ menace and fear./ We pray boldly for God to heal the national soul./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

We pray for the people of Ukraine, who Pope Francis has called a "martyred people."/ May we not grow accustomed to this terrible,/ costly war/ as we live in our own distracted,/ fast-paced./ short-memoried culture./ We pray to the Lord.

Monday is the Feast of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist,/ who is called, the Friend of Jesus./ We pray for sufferers around the world,/ in particular praying for Christians who are arrested,/ tortured,/ exiled,/ punished,/ imprisoned/ and even murdered for being the contemporary friends of Jesus./ We pray to the Lord.

Some students have already returned to school and begun a new academic year./ We pray the blessings of safety,/ friendship and an honest pursuit of learning./ We pray for teachers,/ school administrators and staff./ We pray as well for the young people who have no school to go to, / for girls who are prevented from attending school,/ for the young people whose education is disrupted by war./ We pray to the Lord.

The plight of Catholic Christians in Nigeria and Nicaragua has intensified./ A bishop and priests have been arrested,/ religious sisters have been kidnapped./ We pray for them and Christians in many places who are living in dangerous,/ even life-threatening situations./ May we not take our religious freedoms for granted./ We pray to the Lord.

May we learn well the message of Thomas Merton who wrote:/ "We should not be too sure of having found Christ in ourselves until we have found him also in the part of humanity that is most remote from our own."/ We pray to the Lord.

Again and again we pray for those places around the world where there is drought,/ fire,/ floods and other disasters./ For those who fight fires,/ who step into danger to save or assist others,/ who have lost everything./ For the healing of bodies,/ broken hearts and memories./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Monday is the Feast of the Queenship of Mary./ Mary is Queen, but Queen Mother./ May the world know and be changed by this most tender face of heaven./ We pray to the Lord.

Wednesday is the Feast of the holy apostle, Bartholomew./ Apostle means one who is sent./ May our life in Christ not be left behind in church with the hymnal,/ but taken out and shared this week./ We pray to the Lord.

Some of us are taken aback at how much water we use,/ how much garbage we produce,/ perhaps how much food we waste./ May we take nothing for granted and learn some new way of conserving the earth's resources./ We pray to the Lord.

The Church is troubled in many places throughout the world:/ in Nicaragua where the government perceives the Catholic Church as an enemy,/ in Ukraine stressed by an invasive war,/ in Egypt where a Coptic Church caught fire on Sunday killing many worshippers including children,/ in Nigeria where the existence of Christianity is threatened./ We pray for the protection and well-being of Christians who are troubled,/anxious and mournful./ We pray to the Lord.

This coming Saturday,/ Pope Francis will create twenty-one new cardinals in Rome./ They come from places we usually consider to be far away or at the peripheries./ We ask for their ministries to be blessed./ And may we strive to "arrive at real maturity—that measure of development which is meant by 'the fullness of Christ.'" Eph 4:13/ We pray to the Lord.

Schools will re-open soon./ We pray for the safety of young people everywhere./ We ask blessings for teachers,/ parents,/ school administrators and staff./ May we live well the lessons of our earliest school years,/ especially consideration of others,/ courtesy,/ respect and love for living things./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray not to become discouraged,/ cynical or trapped in fear or anger./ May we remember in our living,/ the words of the 1960's hymn,/ "They'll know we are Christians by our love."/ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Dormition of the Mother of God ~ Duccio Di Buoninsegna (1308-1311)

These can be crude,/ vulgar days./ May thoughts of Mary in the summer feast of her Assumption/ purify minds/ helping to restore gentility,/ civility,/ decency and courtesy./ We pray to the Lord.

In the Dormition icon,/ we see the Mother of God,/ "asleep" on her funeral bier,/ surrounded by angels and the gathered apostles./ The glorified Christ holds her soul,/ depicted as a small child./ May we be Christ-seized persons,/ who search to understand what this means for each of us personally/ and all of us as Church./ We pray to the Lord.

Life is hard enough,/ but there are some who make things even more difficult./ Some are in positions of authority./ So we pray for boasters,/ distractors,/ liars,/ detractors,/ tricksters,/ thieves,/ conspiracy theorists,/ power-grabbers and saboteurs./ For the humble turning of hearts./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for a world where a hundred million persons are displaced./ For the many who work to welcome,/ shelter,/ feed and support refugees./ For those whose hearts are hardened against the new-comer./ For those whose decisions unsettle the lives of others,/ causing citizens to flee./ We pray to the Lord.

May God keep us from despair as the deadly invasion of Ukraine drags on/ and the planet struggles with climate changes,/ drought,/ fire and flood./ We pray for those who can't be bothered with it all,/ who think nothing is wrong./ For those who are exhausted trying to help wherever there is suffering./ We pray to the Lord.

There seems to be some possibility of Pope Francis going to Ukraine during this terrible time./ We pray for his protection,/ health and strength,/ as he carries a message of reconciliation,/ peace,/ renewal and hope,/ wherever he goes./ We pray for those who have set themselves against him./ We pray to the Lord.

In our own lifetime,/ the orange and black Monarch Butterfly/ which was once seen seemingly everywhere,/ now has been placed on the list of nearly extinct species./ Our planet is in trouble./ May we be wise and generous in loving the home God has given us./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Early in the new month of August,/ we pray for the health and joy of those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance./ For the safety of summer travelers and vacationers./ We pray to the Lord.

Pope Francis has returned to Rome from his Penitential Pilgrimage to Canada./ As with the priest sex abuse scandal,/ there is much work to be done beyond saying, "I'm sorry."/ May the work of healing and reconciliation be spirit blessed./ Through it all, may the church learn humility,/ compassion and God's wisdom./ We pray to the Lord.

Sometimes there is too little or no rain and the living things die./ At other times there is too much rain and floods bring destruction and death./ We pray for a world that is often out of balance./ And for ourselves,/ born a second time in Baptism water;/ may we be truly alive in learning the mind of Christ./ We pray to the Lord.

August begins remembering the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki./ There are Japanese persons who are still alive/ having struggled with injury and trauma ever since./  What marvelous things human beings can do — witness the pictures sent back from space by the Webb telescope./ May we learn to live on this planet peacefully,/ in solidarity with each other as God's children./ We pray to the Lord.

The terrible and sad invasion of Ukraine drags on./ And around the globe,/ other awful wars are taking place of which we are unaware./ May those who create wars learn God's good sense/ and be healed of greed,/ power quest/ and even insanity./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for our own families where there is sickness,/ wound,/ resentment,/ fracture,/ money or emotional trouble./ Bless the children of our families,/ and children and young people everywhere./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sts. Joachim and Ann ~ German 15th c.

Monday is the Feast of the Apostle James who writes:/ "Religion that is pure and genuine in the sight of God the Father will show itself by such things as visiting orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world."/ May we learn well the apostles mercy invitation./ We pray to the Lord.

Tuesday is the Feast of Sts Joachim and Ann,/ the parents of the Virgin Mary./ We pray for parents and grandparents,/ aware of those whose families are stressed by war,/ food shortages,/ unemployment,/ domestic violence./ We pray to the Lord.

Pope Francis is in Canada this week on what he is calling a Penitential Pilgrimage,/ apologizing to the indigenous peoples of Canada for the part the Catholic Church played in the physical,/ mental and cultural abuse of indigenous children in church run institutions./ May we understand/ and share the pope's concerns/ and search within ourselves to attain the clean heart of the Gospel./ We pray to the Lord.

Terrible wildfires are burning in Europe and our own country./ We pray for the relief of fire-fighters,/ and the protection of human persons,/ property and wild life./ May we learn a new and deep respect for the planet on which we live./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the Church where it is unsettled by scandal,/ criminality,/ poverty,/ or losses it has brought upon itself by the neglect of Christ./ We pray for the clergy who sometimes are devoid of spiritual content,/ behaving more like tradesmen,/ law-enforcement or corporate managers./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the children who are waiting to be born./ For the young people who are bullied and feeling lost and desperate./ For the young people who are lost to addictions,/ enslavement,/ poverty,/ and a heartbreaking sense of failure and alienation./ We pray to the Lord.

We cannot fail to pray for Ukraine and the many other places where there is war./ For those who create and defend wars and the awfulness of bombs,/ mines,/ missiles and the unrelenting bombardment of civilians/ For the turning of those who hold the evil of war in their hearts./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

May we learn in our hearts the words of St. Paisios the Elder/ whose feast was this past week and who said:/ "When there is respect for small things, there will be an even greater respect for the bigger things. When there is no respect for small things, then neither will there be for the bigger ones."/  We pray to the Lord.

God has placed a word of love in the heart of the church./ We ask for the church to be a bearer of compassion,/ healing and mercy for a broken world./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who have had to evacuate homes and businesses while devastating fires burn./ For firefighters,/ rescuers,/ law enforcement/ and the many who volunteer to help./ For the protection of forests,/ orchards,/ vineyards and neighborhoods./ We pray to the Lord.

Renew us with gifts of kindness where there is cruelty,/ hope where there is despair,/ reassurance where there is anxiety,/ love where there is neglect,/ comfort where there is mourning,/ healing where there is sickness./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray to be willing and able to identify and love the neighbor in need,/ support and justice for those crushed by poverty./ For those who are forgotten,/ abused,/ un-invited,/ silenced,/ ridiculed,/ avoided./ We pray to the Lord.

The invasion of Ukraine is the unleashing of great darkness and sin./ We pray for the conversion of those who perpetrate the blasphemous assault against civilians in their homes,/ the laying waste of the earth,/ the destruction even of churches and monasteries./ We pray for the victims of war,/ especially  the littlest children./ We pray to the Lord.

St. Paul writes:/ "May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from God's glorious power,/ and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience,/ while joyfully giving thanks to the Father,/ who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light./ We pray to the Lord.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Saint Kateri Tekakwitha ~ Icon by Robert Lentz

Thursday is the Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha,/ North America's first indigenous saint./ It is said of Kateri that she prayed more with her eyes than with her lips./ Grant that we would pray well,/ admitting silence and sight to our prayer./ We pray to the Lord.

In the Book of Joshua we read:/ "Be strong and courageous,/ do not be frightened or dismayed,/ for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."/ May we learn to trust in stressful times./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the peace,/ health and wellbeing of family and friends./ But we also pray for our enemies as Jesus requires./ And if I believe I have no enemy,/ I pray for those who irk,/ confound,/ disappoint or sadden me./ We pray to the Lord.

Today it seems that it is not enough to simply disagree with others,/ but that people increasingly menace others,/ take them down in today's wild media world,/ and even make anonymous death threats./ We pray for the calming of minds,/ hearts and souls./ May we learn again how to live peaceably and respectfully./ We pray to the Lord. 

Pope Francis will soon go to Canada to apologize to the Native American community for the painful failures of the church to love and serve./ We ask for a Church that not only says, "Sorry,"/ but which  feels the broken heartedness of  the many who have been victimized by clergy and religious around the world./ We pray to the Lord. 

War is anguish and waste,/ smoke and flame,/ terror and blood,/ tears and death./ We pray for Ukraine/ and the many other places where there is war — for healing and restoration./ We pray to the Lord.

July 4th was the 185th day of the year,/ but also the day marking the 308th mass shooting,/ leaving hundreds dead and many more injured,/ even damaged for life./ Forgive and heal the nation slowing bleeding itself,/ allowing its children to be murdered./ Raise up pro-life voices of true lament and change./ We pray to the Lord.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Open my heart's eyes that I may see the wondrous blessings of creation. Psalm 119

 

The 19th century American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote,/ "The dearest events are summer rain."/ May we never waste God's gifts,/ but treasure them all,/ especially the gift of water./ We pray for those who live where there is drought/ or where water is unsafe to drink,/ or where war has destroyed the infrastructure that delivers water./ We pray to the Lord.

This July 4th weekend,/ we pray to understand freedom more fully and spiritually./ We ask to be freed from whatever keeps us from loving well:/ fear,/ judgments,/ superficial or false religion,/ entitlement,/ superiority,/ racism,/ unresolved resentments./ We pray to the Lord.

As fireworks light up the sky,/ may Christ light up minds,/ where we confuse freedom with the pursuit of rights which are useful only to ourselves or the mindset to which we ascribe./ We pray for Christians who are more familiar with their political agenda than they are with the sayings of Jesus./ We pray to the Lord.

In its assault against Ukraine,/ Russia is using thermobaric-vaporizing-vacuum bombs which melt metal at three thousand degrees/ and consume such massive amounts of oxygen,/ no living thing,/ even those hidden underground/ can survive./ In this invasion,/ civilians are dying by incineration,/ starvation,/ suffocation and execution./ We pray boldly for God to intervene by the voice and power of the Risen Christ./ We pray to the Lord.

In the summer time we pray for the earth to heal where there are dangerous storms or destructive fires./ For the safety of vacationers and travelers./ Protect those who rescue and help wherever there are disasters,/ injuries and loss of life./ We pray to the Lord.

Strengthen Pope Francis who struggles with incapacity and pain/ but who seems intent on going to Canada to apologize for the part the Church played in the abuse of indigenous children./ Heal the Church wherever its sins cause harm and pain./ Give the Church a truly humble and repentant heart./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jubilant June

Wednesday is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul./ The word apostle means one who is sent out./ And ours is an apostolic faith./ May we break any bad habit of keeping Christ to ourselves as some kind of personal treasure,/ becoming instead the people whose lives deliver God's good news of welcoming love,/ justice and peace./We pray to the Lord.

May God keep us from a spirit of monotony/  as we return to the long summer weeks of liturgical green,/ seeing rather an invitation to our own green-ing and growing in the close-at-hand mystery of Christ's bright rising/ which encourages new beginnings born of love./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the places which are afflicted by dangerous summer heat and drought./ For the safety of travelers and vacationers./ For those who get no rest away from work./ May the summer months bring with them a personal renewal./ We pray to the Lord.

As people once would have listened to the priests and prophets of old,/ today many Christians listen and heed the rude-growing media-voices which foment discontent,/ conspiracy and fear,/ those who peddle lies/ and subtle justifications for violence and menace./ May we come to know once again the clear and clean voice of Christ./ We pray to the Lord. 

We pray for those who are broken-hearted,/ who suffer the death of dear ones to violence or accident,/ who can't break out of poverty,/ who are overwhelmed by failure,/ sadness,/ prolonged sickness,/ who never have a good day./ We pray to the Lord.

The assault upon poor Ukraine spares nothing,/ even the children,/ the churches,/ the elderly grandparents,/ the forests and the animals./ We pray for those who survive the relentless awfulness unleashed upon them,/ who live in tears,/ hunger,/ wound and disease,/ flame,/ smoke and decay./ Rise up,/ O Christ,/ in a display of your Easter Rising of life over death./ We pray to the Lord. 

A deep darkness is spreading over our nation./ Gun death occurs every day now,/ in schools,/ parks,/ churches,/ synagogues,/ supermarkets,/ malls,/ theatres,/ wherever people gather./ How terrible the thought,/ but could it be that we are more intent on protecting deadly weapons over the lives of even young children?/ Dare we ask for the mind of Christ?/ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

Eastern Christian altar prepared for Communion

   

Today we honor and pray for our fathers and grandfathers,/ but not only for them/ but for fathers everywhere,/ mindful of those who father young families,/ for fathers who have failed their families,/ for fathers who are exhausted,/ worried,/ away from their families,/ underpaid or addicted./ We pray to the Lord.

On the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ,/ we pray for ourselves and those who are with us at Mass today./ May we worship well,/ with attentive,/ inclusive,/ generous and clean hearts./ We pray to the Lord.

The word Eucharist means thanksgiving./ Grant that our Christian lives would be marked by gratitude,/ freed of complaint,/ entitlement,/ negative judging,/ cynicism and waste./ We pray to the Lord.

Eucharist is the sacrament of unity./ Our country refers to itself as one nation;/ our Church refers to itself as one faith./ We ask for the healing we need,/ weakened as we are by growing violence/ fear,/ suspicion and hatred of persons perceived as other./ We pray to the Lord. 

In the Eucharist,/ Jesus feeds us in our spiritual hunger./ We pray for those who are physically hungry,/ May we do what we can to help./ And we pray for those who hunger to be included,/ who hunger for peace,/ hope,/ meaning,/ justice./ We pray to the Lord.

Wendell Berry wrote,/ "There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places."/ May we understand/ and care./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for Pope Francis whose ministry is slowed these days because of knee problems./ We ask for his healing./ We pray as well for those who are against him,/ even clerics,/ and for those who hope he might be able to visit them soon in Canada and Africa./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Feast of the Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Church ~ Antarctica

 

We ask for the strengthening of our families, / our parishes and communities,/ as we celebrate the inner relational life of God./ We pray for the people of Ukraine where life is fragmented,/ threatened and stressed./ For the children,/ the elderly,/ the wounded and those who are mourning the war dead./ May peace be restored./ We pray to the Lord.

On Pentecost Sunday,/ fifty people, including children/ were killed by terrorists during Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church in Nigeria./ Within the past weeks,/ important churches have been targeted and burned in Ukraine,/ monks have died in the shelling of  monasteries./ The devil is a spoiler./ May God intervene./ We pray to the Lord.

Erasmus,/ the 16th century Dutch philosopher and Catholic theologian,/ wrote,/ "No man is wise at all times, or is without his blind side."/  May we know ourselves well./ Not only our sins,/ but our ignorance,/ mistakenness/ and vulnerability before media voices which sow confusion,/ fear,/ anger,/ suspicion./ We pray to the Lord.

Ours is a planet of delight, but also of suffering./ We pray for those who live with lift-threatening sickness,/ those who struggle with chronic pain,/ who are being treated for cancer and other persistent diseases,/ those undergoing surgery this week,/ those with no access to medical treatment./ We pray to the Lord. 

Love is the bond of unity within the Holy Trinity./ By Baptism,/ and living within the Trinity,/ we pray to love anyone who has wronged us/ or who we have wronged./ For anyone who actively dislikes us/ or who we dislike./ May we be freed of consuming negativity,/ complaint and enervating judgments of others./ We pray to the Lord. 

In the month of June,/ may we take pleasure in God's creation which pulses with life,/ taking care as we are able/ to protect the planet entrusted to us,/ a planet which is at once resilient and yet delicate and fragile./ We pray to the Lord.