30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 24, 2021

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, October 24, 2021

On this World Mission Day, we come to the Father asking that the actions of our lives may make his Word present to those we encounter and draw all things to him. 

1. That the Church may recommit itself to going to the highways and byways, inviting everyone who is found there, ensuring that no one is excluded, and no one feels distant or removed from the compassionate love of God.^[1]  We pray to the Lord.
2. That those among us who suffer from injustice, fear, and poverty may be receptive to the message of the Gospel and not see missionaries as pawns to be kidnapped, exploited, abused, or killed in fruitless attempts to use hatred and evil to overcome civil failures.  We pray to the Lord. 
3. That we may follow the example of the first Christians who turned the hostility, hardship, marginalization, and imprisonment they endured into opportunities for mission in making all aware of the message of liberation found in the Gospels.^[2]  We pray to the Lord.
4. That in these days of the pandemic, when we are tempted to disguise and justify indifference and apathy in the name of healthy social distancing, may we be missionaries of hope who, anointed by the Lord, can provide a prophetic reminder that no one is saved by himself.^[3]  We pray to the Lord.
5. That the Lord will console those who have departed their homelands in tears — those who have scattered to the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child — and lead them to brooks of water on a level road so that none shall stumble.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That the bishops and high priests taken from among men will represent all people well before God, recognizing that they too are beset by weakness, and knowing that they take no honors upon themselves but serve only in response to God’s call.  We pray to the Lord.
7. That Fr. Christopher may be freed from the shackles that hinder his ministry and mission of bringing Jesus to those he serves.  We pray to the Lord.  
8. That we may not rebuke or try to silence those who recognize their shortcomings but rather may join with them in crying out to the Lord, “Have pity on me.”  We pray to the Lord.
9. That as Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, his only protection, when approaching Jesus, we may throw off defenses that we use to cover parts of our lives and approach Jesus trustingly expressing our needs.^[4]   We pray to the Lord.
10. That the blindness that prevents us from seeing the Lord acting in all aspects of our lives may be wiped away by faith that saves us.   We pray to the Lord.
11. That those who are ill may be inspired by Bartimaeus to turn to Jesus and ask him for relief and be granted the wisdom to see clearly his will for them.   We pray to the Lord.  
12. That we may recall with gratitude those ancestors and dearly departed who by their testimony of life and faith help us to renew our baptismal commitment to be generous and joyful missionary disciples of the Gospel.^[5]  We pray to the Lord.

O God, we ask for the grace to accept the mission to which you call each one of us and the strength and courage to declare your love for all people by the example of our lives.  We make these prayers through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

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^[1] Based on first paragraph of Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day, 2021.

^[2] Based on fourth paragraph of Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day, 2021

^[3] Based on seventh paragraph of Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day, 2021

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

^[5] Based on last two full paragraphs of Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day, 2021