29th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 17, 2021

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 17, 2021

We offer our prayers to the Lord for those in need and so that we may better understand his will for us as his followers. 

1. That as the Church gathers for the preparatory phase of the Bishop’s Synod on Synodality, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit may inspire courageous speech, receptive listening, and a renewal of hope among the people of God.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That the leaders of the world who strive to be great among their peers will do so by being the servants of their people and the slaves of their constituents.  We pray to the Lord. 
3. That we may not be indignant at those seen to be favored by God in our eyes, but will approach the Lord with humility confident that his love is given to each of us in the situations in which we find ourselves.  We pray to the Lord.
4. That each of us may not lord it over those for whom we have responsibility seeking to make our authority felt but may strive to serve those most in need so that they may encounter the Lord through our actions.  We pray to the Lord.
5. That migrant children crossing the jungle between Colombia and Panama, refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, and Venezuela, and other countries will be provided the resources they need to build better lives in a world that respects the equal dignity of all people.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That as we observe Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Month, we may join with bereaved parents who grieve due to miscarriages or the death of an infant by striving to understand their pain and by honoring the importance of the love they shared during the very brief lives of their children.   We pray to the Lord.
7. That Earth’s resources of fuel, water, and food may be generously shared for the well-being of all people who are victims of heat, cold, drought, floods, starvation, and malnutrition.   We pray to the Lord.
8. That our faith and desire to follow Jesus may enable us to drink the cup that he drank and accept all that comes to us — both good and bad — as sharing in the life of Christ.   We pray to the Lord.
9. That we may know that the Lord sympathizes with our weaknesses so that we may approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That Fr. Christopher and others who suffer from overbearing bishops may be provided relief by members of Congregations who choose to serve the Church rather than demonstrate the power of their positions.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That those who suffer from illness of mind, body, or spirit may know that the Lord is their help and their shield so that they may experience his mercy and place all their trust in him.   We pray to the Lord.  
12. That those who have died fleeing violence, poverty, disease, or hatred that has stolen from them their right to life will sit with Jesus in his glory at his right and his left.  We pray to the Lord.

O God, as we walk along the way seeking to live lives of faith, we often share the uncertainty of James and John who asked Jesus to do whatever they asked.  May we instead find in your answer to our prayers the grace, wisdom, faith, and courage to do whatever you ask of us.  We make these prayers through Christ our Lord.   Amen.