Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 03, 2020
After Jesus healed the man born blind, the Pharisees asked if they too were blind. In response, Jesus tells them that he is the Good Shepherd. We offer these petitions knowing that we often approach Jesus as strangers in need of the grace to more fully recognize him.
- That the church may hear the voice of Pope Francis, its shepherd on earth, who calls his sheep and leads us to a deeper faith that exhibits hope and charity to all. We pray to the Lord.
- That national and local leaders will put aside differences rooted in insults, suffering, and tradition, following Jesus’ example of returning no insult and not responding to suffering with threats as they seek abundant life for the people they serve. We pray to the Lord.
- That those suffering from hunger and malnutrition in South Africa, in war torn parts of the world, and in communities plagued by the coronavirus may be nourished with food, hope, courage, and love. We pray to the Lord.
- That on this World Day of Vocations we pray that our hearts may be touched so that we may discover with gratitude God’s call in our lives to be a song of praise for God, for our brothers and sisters, and for the whole world.[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That all who walk in the dark valley of isolation in their homes, in nursing homes, in prisons, and in care facilities will fear no evil, knowing that the Lord is at their side with his rod and staff that give them courage. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who serve to sustain lives in this difficult time — in hospitals, collecting garbage, working on farms, stocking grocery stores, in law enforcement and fire prevention — will be protected from harm and be seen as evidence of the goodness and kindness of the Lord. We pray to the Lord.
- That as our country is reconsecrated to Mary, Mother of the Church, we may look to her as our mother to intercede with her Son for all those affected in any way by the coronavirus pandemic. We pray to the Lord.
- That those whose lives are in turmoil because of loss of employment may be hopeful as they search and find good jobs that use their abilities well and give them peace. We pray to the Lord.
- That Fr. Christopher and all the dedicated priests who daily devote their lives to the service of God’s people will be patient when they suffer for doing what is good knowing that their vocation is a grace before God for which they have been called. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are ill may obtain the medical care they need and be sustained by loving friends and family and a renewed understanding that the Lord is their shepherd who gives them courage. We pray to the Lord.
- That those in our parishes and communities who have died will enter the sheepfold through Jesus and be saved so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. We pray to the Lord.
O God, in this period of particular danger may we be sheep who do not follow the voice of strangers and those who come only to slaughter and destroy, but a flock that recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd calling us to our vocations and to an abundant life even in the midst of all that troubles us. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
[1] Based on “Words of Vocation,” a message of Pope Francis for the 2020 World Day of Vocations, http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/vocations/documents/papa-francesco_20200308_57-messaggio-giornata-mondiale-vocazioni.html
parishionersforjustice.com 
thank you again for reminding us of all the needs of so many good people! I think it is a good idea to turn our prayers over to Mary’s intercession with the Lord for all our needs! For all people to listen to those who have studied virus’ and infections for years and years and listen to them as they offer us advice on how bet to keep people from getting it or from us spreading it to others—- by using masks, washing hand, distancing from others—-etc etc……… it is our obligation fellow Christians to do what is right to help others not get it……….and to avoid getting it ourselves! We may not like wearing a mask but it just seems smart that we might not get or give it if everyone kept that rule? I DONT LIKE IT EITHER BUT I DON’T WANT ANYONE TO GET IT IF I HAVE IT…AND PERHAPS DONT EVEN KNOW IT———….. AND I WANT OTHERS TO RESPECT ME AND MY LOVED ONES AND FELLOW AMERICANS –FOLLOW CAREFULLY THE RULES—AND NOT GIVE IT TO ANYONE BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T WANT TO KEEP THE RULES SUGGESTED BY OTHERS MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE SCIENTIFICALLY THAN WE ARE!OR GIVE IT TO ANYONE ACCIDENTALLY EITHER! ONE DAY THIS WILL BE OVER—– BUT MEAWHILE LET’S ALL KEEP THE ‘RULES’! IT IS TOO MANY WHO HAVE ALREADY DIED—-WORLD WIDE—235,000 HAVE DIED! FOR ALL WHO MOURN THIER LOSS OF LOVED ONES OR JOBS ——–WE CAN ALL SACRIFICE A LITTLE MORE BY DOING WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO!— AND WE CAN ALL REALLY PRAY! ALL RACES ALL RELIGIONS ——— WE HAVE TO CARE!!!!! SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE ARE DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS FROM HAPPENING TO MANY MORE PEOPLE—! WE CAN HONOR THEM – NURSES DOCTORE AND ALL HOSPITAL RESPONDERS —BY DOING OUR SHARE OF THE WORK OF SACRIFICING AND KEEPING THE RULES ! JUST A WHILE LONGER!
THIS ‘TRIBULATION’ WE PRESESNTLY FACE AND SUFFER FROM OR ENDURE NOW — WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE US ALL A BETTER WORLD——STRONGER AND SMARTER AND MORE CARING! THIS IS A ‘CHANCE’ TO SHOW WE ARE CHRISTAIANS BY OUR EXAMPLE AND OUR LOVE! GOD BLESS US AND STOP THIS VIRUS!PRAY FOR OUR SON WHO HAS MAJOR SURGERY ON MAY 5TH———- HIS NAME IS MATTHEW AND HE IS JUST 51! HE HAS A YIUNG FAMILY AND THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM ALL BUT WE PRAY AND ASK FOR WHAT WE WANT.MATT’S GOOD HEALTH! IF ANYONE GOES TO VISIT HIM PLASE WEAR A MASK! HIS IMMUNE SYSTEM WILL BE WEAKENED DUE TO SUCH SURGERY!I ASK YOU TO WEAR A MASK WHEN NEAR HIM! THANKS TO NURSES AND DOCTORS AND MINISTERS OF THE SICK — THEY GO TO ALL WHO ARE SICK—– EVEN IN THIS AMAZING AND AWFUL TIME IN OUR HISTORY! HELP US ALL, LORD– SEND DOWN YOUR PEACE AND LOVE ! SEND DOWN YOUR SPIRIT ! RENEW THE FACE OF OUR EARTH! AMEN. MARY JO -AKA MATT’S MOM
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