Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 24, 2021
The word of the Lord came to Jonah, calling him to announce God’s message to the city of Nineveh and it came to James and John, calling them to be fishers of men. That word comes to us to and we offer our prayers that we might respond well and better do the Lord’s bidding.
- That the Church and its leaders will have the faith of Jonah in proclaiming the Gospel in cities and countrysides, in poverty and opulence, and to the faithful and those without faith, that all might turn from evil ways and believe in God. We pray to the Lord.
- That President Biden and all leaders of nations will work together for the well-being of the people they serve so that poverty and squalor may be overcome, that refugees may find safety and rest, and that all people may live with mutual respect. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may take to heart the message to the Corinthians that time is running out and live to establish the Kingdom of God on this Earth through the care and concern we show to our planet, our neighbors, and all who suffer from injustice, violence, and abuse. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may not use what we perceive as our personal limitations and responsibilities as excuses for not following Jesus with the zeal of the fishermen when they were called by him. We pray to the Lord.
- That we will accept whatever Jesus calls us to be with gratitude and not see our calls as higher or lower than those of others, only praying to be able to live our calls with faith and commitment. We pray to the Lord.
- That Fr. Christopher and those whose opportunity to fully respond to God’s call to them is restricted by injustice, persecution, or abuse will continue to follow the Lord in faith, demonstrating hope, and forgiving those who oppress them. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may be grateful for the rapid development of the vaccines against the coronavirus and give glory to God for the wisdom and knowledge with which he blesses this world. We pray to the Lord.
- That the victims of earthquakes, flooding, and landslides in Indonesia and those working to provide relief will be spared further suffering and follow St. Joseph’s example of allowing the Lord to steer their course amid the tempests of life[1]. We pray to the Lord.
- That we will ponder whether we ourselves are like St. Joseph in protecting Jesus and Mary who have been mysteriously entrusted to our own responsibility, care, and safekeeping.[2] We pray to the Lord.
- That during these “9 Days of Life” we may pray with fervor for the protection of the lives of the unborn, those deemed handicapped, those fighting terminal illnesses, the aging, those considering suicide, and those facing the death penalty. We pray to the Lord.
- That the sick, those threatened by covid, and the medical professionals who care for them may recover from their illness or remain healthy through a successful vaccination program. We pray to the Lord.
- That our friends and neighbors who are dealing with the death of loved ones in these times of isolation may find comfort in the promise of eternal life for all of God’s children. We pray to the Lord.
O God, we are called to be people of faith who respond to your presence in our lives. We ask that your ways will be made known to us and that you will guide us in truth along right paths so that our actions may proclaim to all the world that you are our Savior. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Based on end of Section 2 of Patris Corde of the Holy Father Francis, December 8, 2020.
[2] Based on next to the last paragraph in Section 5 of Patris Corde of the Holy Father Francis, December 8, 2020.
parishionersforjustice.com 