Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021

Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021

Without anxiety, by prayer and petition, and with thanksgiving, we make our requests known to God.  

1. That the Church may be true to its mission to rejoice in the Lord always.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That the world may be transformed so that nations working together may “overcome the paralysis of fear, the indifference that kills, [and] the cynical disregard that nonchalantly condemns to death those on the fringes.^[1]”  We pray to the Lord.
3. That we may “stop ignoring reality, stop shifting responsibility, stop passing off the issue of migration to others, as if it mattered to no one and was only a pointless burden to be shouldered by somebody else.^[2]” We pray to the Lord.
4. That our seas may not be transformed into desolate seas of death for those who flee oppression and poverty but may be corridors that provide respectful and compassionate interactions between differing cultures and societies.^[3]  We pray to the Lord.
5. That aid workers, children, migrants, and the innocent may not be exploited for political purposes by those who promote hatred and divisions.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That each day of our lives we may be glad and exult with all our heart that the Lord is in our midst, and we have no further misfortune to fear.  We pray to the Lord.
7. That the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  We pray to the Lord.
8. That we will respond to the urgings of John the Baptist to share our abundance with those who have none so that our kindness will be known to all for the glory of God.  We pray to the Lord.
9. That we will receive the exhortations of Jesus and the words of Scripture as good news that shows us the joy of life in Christ.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That despite the human statements to the contrary, Fr. Christopher may rejoice in the sure knowledge that the Lord has removed the judgment against him and has turned away his enemies.  We pray to the Lord. 
11. That we will be gracious, generous, and non-judgmental, thankful for our own baptism and leaving it to the Lord to separate good from evil, wheat from chaff.  We pray to the Lord.
12. That those who are ill may be confident and unafraid, with the Lord as their strength and their courage as they resist the pain and ravages of disease.  We pray to the Lord.
13. That we will remember those who have died with joy and gladness confident that in his great mercy, God will draw them to himself in heaven where they will rejoice with all the saints in his glory.  We pray to the Lord.

Almighty Father, on this Advent day of rejoicing, we are confident that you are near and that the coming of your Son into the world is manifested each day through your answer to our prayers which we offer through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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^[1] Quote from Pope Francis on his visit to the Mavouvouni Refugee Camp on Lesbos, Dec 5, 2021.

^{[2] [2]} Quote from Pope Francis on his visit to the Mavouvouni Refugee Camp on Lesbos, Dec 5, 2021.

^[3] Based on comments of Pope Francis on his visit to the Mavouvouni Refugee Camp on Lesbos in reference to the Mediterranean Sea, Dec 5, 2021.