Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, 2020
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, as our season of waiting comes to an end, we prepare to welcome the Lord at Christmas and we present our needs to the Father.
- That even as we are distanced from one another in darkness, the Church may provide opportunities for all to live and grow in the light of faith in welcoming our incarnate Savior into our communities. We pray to the Lord.
- That politicians and leaders of nations may be blessed with wisdom and concern for all humanity ensuring that the covid vaccines and appropriate medical care are made available to the most vulnerable. We pray to the Lord.
- That as we wait in expectation seeing that a vaccine is near that will free us from the threat of covid, may we also wait with joyful hope during these waning days of Advent as Jesus draws near knowing that he frees us from all darkness, sin, and tribulations. We pray to the Lord.
- That all pregnancies will be welcomed with love for the child to be born, with awe at the creation of new life, and with acceptance of a most holy role in God’s creative plan. We pray to the Lord.
- That in the times of our lives when we see or experience the unforeseen and cry out, “How can this be?”, may we look to Mary as our model of faith and respond with her, “I am a servant of the Lord.” We pray to the Lord.
- That as Mary found favor with God and was told by an angel that she should not fear, may we too live without fear and respond in faith to God’s presence in our lives. We pray to the Lord.
- That the children kidnapped in Nigeria may be kept safe from further harm, be freed by their captors, be reunited with their families, and find the support of local and global communities. We pray to the Lord.
- That the abusive use of children as pawns in all activities from family disputes to terrorist incursions may cease and be condemned by people of good will even as we prepare to celebrate the entry of a helpless infant into our midst to save us. We pray to the Lord.
- That this Advent season may enable Fr. Christopher and all who are anxious about their future to prepare more fully for the coming of the Lord to walk with them in their trials. We pray to the Lord.
- That during this Year of St. Joseph, we may learn to be like him in accepting what life brings, “welcoming others as they are, without exception, and to show special concern for the weak, for God chooses what is weak.”[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are burdened with sickness, sorrow, and despair will be freed from their suffering and consoled by family, friends, and faith that Jesus comes to heal them. We pray to the Lord.
- That those whose time has come to rest with their ancestors will be at peace with the communion of saints in heaven. We pray to the Lord.
God our Father, we come to you with all our uncertainties asking for confidence to be responsive to your love for us, a love made manifest in the gift of your Son to this world. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Apostolic Letter Patris Corde of the Holy Father Francis on the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, December 8, 2020, Section 4.
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