26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, September 26, 2021

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, September 26, 2021

We ask the Father to hear our prayers of petition that we might live prophetic lives that reveal him to all those we encounter. 

1. That the spirit of the Lord might be bestowed on Pope Francis, on all bishops who have been chosen to prophesy, and on all who are jealous of those who speak difficult truths.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That leaders of nations who spoke at the United Nations this past week will put aside personal agendas, pride, long-standing enmity, jealousy, and hatred so that they may be prophets able to lead the world to a new era of harmony and peace.  We pray to the Lord. 
3. That the celebration of the Eucharist may always reveal “the path of humble and selfless love, of generous and respectful love towards all, of faith that purifies from worldliness and to essentiality.”^[1]  We pray to the Lord.
4. That on this World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we may hear the voices of prophets who echo the truth in Scripture that all are created in God’s image, that he dwells among all mortals, that all are his people, and that God himself is with all of us.^[2]  We pray to the Lord.
5. That we may embrace the fact that Christ died so that all may be one and not consider foreigners, migrants, refugees, and those who live on the margins to be “others” excluded from our prayers, compassion, assistance, and communities.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That “the Holy Spirit [who] enables us to embrace everyone, to build communion in diversity, [and] to unify differences without imposing a depersonalized uniformity” will inspire each of us “to grow as a Church and to enrich one another.”^[3]  We pray to the Lord.
7. That we may be generous in offering cups of water to drink to those who are thirsty because we know that they belong to Christ.  We pray to the Lord.
8. That following Christ may not be embraced as a personal privilege to be guarded with jealousy so that we may be open to seeing in the good acts of those who do not follow our faith glimpses into the likeness of God.^[4]  We pray to the Lord.
9. That we may clear from our lives unknown faults and those things that are stumbling blocks to growth in faith and replace them with stepping stones that allow us, and others, to avoid sin and walk with the Lord.   We pray to the Lord.
10. That Fr. Christopher may be supported in his ministry by those bishops who claim to follow Jesus but whose positions of power and influence are deceptive riches that will lead them to impending miseries.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That those who suffer from covid and their caretakers, families, and friends — indeed all of humanity — may recover from this blight and give praise to the Lord with hearts full of joy.  We pray to the Lord.
12. That our deceased friends and acquaintances may be remembered for their prophetic encouragements and be welcomed with joy among all the angels and saints in heaven.  We pray to the Lord.

O God, on this day we ask that we be determined in migrating from all that is evil and take refuge in your loving arms as we pray for unity among all people.  We make these prayers through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

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^[1] From the General Audience of Pope Francis, September 22, 2021.

^[2] Based on the message of Pope Francis for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees

^[3] Based on the message of Pope Francis for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees

^[4] Adapted from the Irish Jesuits, Sacred Space, The Prayer Book 2021.