Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 06, 2022

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 06, 2022

We come to the Father with our prayers knowing that despite our failings and shortcomings, he answers all our needs even before we ask. 

1. That Pope Francis, who was called as was Peter to follow Jesus and lead the Church, will remain resolute and joyful in his difficult efforts to encourage fraternity among all people and nations.  We pray to the Lord
2. That the citizens of our world plagued by divisions due to disease, economics, resources, jealousy, religion, and culture will hear the words of Jesus calling to them, “Do not be afraid,” and seek peace, reconciliation, and mutual well-being.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That we may observe National Marriage Week by supporting those in both difficult and fulfilling unions so that they will be able to live their marriages as vocations in which they are “called to the joy of love.^[1]”  We pray to the Lord.
4. That as Isaiah’s unworthiness to be a messenger of the Lord was purged by the mercy of God, may we know that our unworthiness for the Lord to enter under our roofs is also purged so that we may respond to the Lord’s call to each of us by saying, “Here I am, send me!”  We pray to the Lord.
5. That we may each declare, as did Paul, that “by the grace of God, I am what I am” and accept all that we are — with our virtues and vices, strengths and weaknesses — as the work of God’s hands, created in his image and likeness.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That fishermen will be blessed and astonished by great numbers of fish that fill their nets and the stomachs of the hungry as they see in their catches evidence of the Lord’s generous gifts to mankind.  We pray to the Lord.
7. That those who persecute the Church of God will not consider themselves to be unfit to be followers of Christ but may see the Lord in the people they oppress and turn their minds and hearts to him.  We pray to the Lord.
8. That Fr. Christopher will find relief from his suffering in body, mind, and spirit and be fully restored in his work as a “catcher” of men and women.  We pray to the Lord.
9. That the victims of natural disasters in Tonga and Brazil, and those who struggle from weather extremes, will find relief and will be convincing signs of the need to care for our world and all its people now and for generations to come.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That in remembering the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Derry, the Protestant and Catholic people of Northern Ireland will strive to eliminate hatred and focus on their faith in Jesus that unites them.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That the people of Myanmar who have suffered from a bloody coup for the past year will find reconciliation, that peace will reign at the border between Russia and Ukraine, and that famine spawned by warring factions in the Congo, Afghanistan, and other nations will be mitigated.  We pray to the Lord.
12. That in response to Friday’s World Day of Prayer for the Sick with the theme, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful,^[2]” we may commit ourselves to being patient with those whose illnesses disrupt our lives, supportive of health care workers, and caring for those whose lives are fragile as they enter this world and in decline as they prepare to depart for the next.  We pray to the Lord.
13. That family, friends, and victims of covid who have died recently will be with the Lord in heaven and forever sing his praises in the sight of the angels.  We pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, we come to you because you have called us as you did Isaiah, Paul, and Simon despite our unworthiness.  May our wickedness be removed, our trespasses forgiven, and our astonishment at the great things you do for us grow so that we may leave all that we have and follow your Son.   We make these prayers through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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^[1] Theme for National Marriage Week, February 7–14, 2022.

^[2] Pope Francis’ theme for 30th World Day of Prayer for the Sick, February 11, 2022