Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C, August 04, 2019

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C, August 04, 2019

We come to the Lord, cognizant of our inclination to measure our riches in terms of accumulations and accomplishments, asking that we may receive the real treasure that is God’s grace in our lives.

1. That the Church may be generous in sharing its store of knowledge, faith, and possessions with the world. We pray to the Lord.
2. That nations who have labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill will willingly share their wealth with those who hunger and thirst. We pray to the Lord.
3. That we will hear the voice of the Lord and not harden our hearts, that we may be people filled with kindness and shout our joy and gladness all our days. We pray to the Lord.
4. That the victims of shootings at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, a Walmart in Mississippi, and all who suffer from senseless violence may receive the consolation of the Lord. We pray to the Lord.
5. That we may avoid the vanity of seeing our achievements and material well-being only as personal accomplishments and know that all we do and have is through the grace of God. We pray to the Lord.
6. That we may work to pass on to our children and grandchildren the wisdom and faith we have been given as the real treasures of our lives. We pray to the Lord.
7. That refugees driven from their homes and nations by the ravages of war may be kept safe, and that all wars may end so that families will live in security and be able to rebuild their cities, towns, and villages for subsequent generations. We pray to the Lord.
8. That families through their life of prayer and love, may become ever more clearly “schools of true human growth.”^[1] We pray to the Lord.
9. That Father Christopher may continue to labor for the welfare of God’s people with ministry that is not personal vanity but is one that can be exercised without sorrow and grief. We pray to the Lord.
10. That those who are ill may be given the strength to carry on with the support and encouragement of friends and family. We pray to the Lord.
11. That those who have died may be welcomed into heaven freed from the temptations of the world to accumulate material riches, safe in the richness of the eternal love of God. We pray to the Lord.
12. For our own intentions that we recall in silence…….. We pray to the Lord.

O God, we are grateful for the many bountiful harvests that have experienced in our lives.  May we not store them away in large barns but share them with those we encounter so that all vanities may be replaced by recognition of your unwavering love and generosity toward us.   We ask for your grace to accept your will in all aspects of our lives.  We make our prayers through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

^[1] Pope Francis’ intention for the month of August, 2019.