Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, September 20, 2020
We offer our prayers to the Father, confident in his generosity in giving us more than our actions deserve and answering all our needs.
- That the Church will give witness to the generosity and mercy of God as we welcome all who enter into our midst, conducting ourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. We pray to the Lord.
- That government officials, leaders of developed nations, and people who live with abundance will be generous to those who struggle with poverty, conflicts, and disease as a reflection of God’s generous love for each individual. We pray to the Lord.
- That the raging fires in the west, hurricanes in the Atlantic, flooding in Asia, and melting of the glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica will inspire us to heed the voice of Pope Francis calling on all people to care for “our common home” during this Season of Creation. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who have lost their homes to wildfires, torrrential rains, unemployment, and other tragedies may rebuild their lives through the generous help of their communities and confidence in God’s generous love and care in their time of need.
- That on this first day of Autumn, we may be appreciative of those who have worked in the fields bearing the day’s burden and the summer heat, and be grateful to God for the fruits of their labor that they share with us. We pray to the Lord.
- That Catechists who have taken on the task of working in the vineyard to pass on knowledge of our faith may know our gratitude and be rewarded abundantly for their efforts. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may seek the Lord where he may be found — in the midst of civil unrest, a global pandemic, natural disasters, personal tragedies, and in joyful celebrations — and never hesitate to call on him for he is always near. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who “express their growing disappointment” regarding certain critical “political and social situations” will express their demands “peacefully, without succumbing to the temptation of aggression and violence.[1]” We pray to the Lord.
- That we may pray with humble gratitude to God recognizing the overwhelming, undeserved blessings he has given us, and not grumble selfishly with envy and jealousy of the good fortune of others. We pray to the Lord.
- That Fr. Christopher and all victims of injustice on this earth will be freed from dwelling on their experiences and live in ways that confirm the Lord is gracious and merciful, of great kindness, and compassionate toward all his works. We pray to the Lord.
- That those working to develop drugs and vaccines to overcome the coronavirus will be inspired by wisdom to find success and be satisfied by their work in service to humanity. We pray to the Lord.
- That those fighting every form of illness will find medical care that eases their suffering and the loving support of friends and family who encourage them during their struggles. We pray to the Lord.
- That all who have died will receive the generous mercy of God who calls each one to himself despite failings and shortcomings. We pray to the Lord.
O God, even as we ask for your generosity to infuse our lives with your love, may we reflect that love as we strive to pray and act in ways that show your generosity and mercy to our world in its time of need. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Pope Francis, Angelus comments, September 13, 2020.
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