Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 26, 2020

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 26, 2020

We live our lives searching for various treasures, finding occasional pearls, and knowing that our labors yield a mix of the good and the bad.  We come to the Father with our needs praying that we will recognize his presence in all our activities.

1. That bishops and all Church leaders will follow the example of Solomon and seek understanding hearts to judge the people and to distinguish right from wrong, recognizing the need for humility as they govern the vast body that is the Church. We pray to the Lord.
2. That national, state, and local officials will put aside political divisions and work in harmony in leading all people to overcome the coronavirus. We pray to the Lord.
3. That the reopening of the cathedral in Aleppo, Syria, even as churches are attacked in Nantes, France and Ocala, Florida, will be a sign of hope to all the faithful who suffer from persecution and contempt. We pray to the Lord.
4. That school boards and school administrators will work with wisdom to ensure the social, physical, and educational well-being of the children placed in their trust. We pray to the Lord.
5. That the quest for a coronavirus vaccine will be carried out in a spirit of cooperation and not competition with the primary goal of ensuring the health of all people. We pray to the Lord.
6. That the treasure of our faith, which sometimes gets buried in the distractions of our daily activities, will be discovered with joy and occupy a position of primacy in our lives. We pray to the Lord.
7. That our parish may be “a beacon that radiates the light of faith … giving meaning and hope to the lives of individuals and families”^[1]. We pray to the Lord.
8. That every parish may be “really in contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few.”^[2]. We pray to the Lord.
9. That Father Christopher and all the clergy entrusted with the good news of the Gospel will join with the disciples in declaring their understanding of the parables as they proclaim their messages in liturgy, leadership, and lives well-lived. We pray to the Lord.
10. That those who labor in the intense sun of summer and those who are unprotected from the heat in their work, their homes, in refugee camps, or on the streets may find comfort and shelter. We pray to the Lord.
11. That those who suffer from the isolation of the coronavirus – the sick, the quarantined, the imprisoned, and the hospitalized – may be comforted by those who reach out to them and in knowing that Jesus has not abandoned them. We pray to the Lord.
12. That those who have died sacrificing their lives so that others might live with health, freedom, and security will find peace and joy with the angels and saints in heaven. We pray to the Lord.

O God, during these days when our lives and minds are distracted by the coronavirus, help us always to see the blessings and treasures that you provide us, even in the midst of suffering.  We offer these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

^[1] Benedict XVI, Homily during the pastoral visit to Our Lady Star of Evangelisation Parish of Rome (December 10, 2016).

^[2] Instruction “The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church,” of the Congregation for the Clergy, July 20, 2020, No. 29.