Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 3, 2022
On this Sunday we have heard the Passion story of the unjust Crucifixion of Jesus. We come to the Father with remorse over the times that we have been instruments of injustice and ask for the grace to bring justice to all aspects of our lives.
- That those Catholics who suffer, as did Jesus, from persecution, hatred, war, and suppression of freedom will be strengthened by their faith and be able to ask the Father for His forgiveness of those who have mistreated them. We pray to the Lord.
- That the world will join with Pope Francis in crying out, “Stop this war! Let the weapons fall silent! Stop sowing death and destruction[1],” in response to atrocities against the defenseless in Bucha. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may be generous in sharing what we have with those in need, seeing Jesus in the faces of those who suffer, responding because we recognize that The Master has need. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may never renounce or suppress our faith but may be always willing to proclaim, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” We pray to the Lord.
- That in the face of betrayal, discouragement, disappointment, or embarrassment, we may know that the Lord God is our help and therefore we are not disgraced. We pray to the Lord.
- That as the pack of evildoers closes in upon the people of Ukraine, their victims may know that the Lord is not far from them, and they will cry out with the whole world confident that they have not been abandoned. We pray to the Lord.
- That we will receive the Body and Blood of Christ with reverence and with gratitude that these have been given for us now and for our salvation. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may neither betray the Lord, deny him, nor argue about who is greatest among us but be united as a community that through its service reveals Jesus to the world. We pray to the Lord.
- That Fr. Christopher may not lose heart but may continue to struggle for what is right despite betrayals, jealousy, and injustice. We pray to the Lord.
- That when we encounter the trials of life, we may join in prayer with Jesus, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still not my will but yours be done.” We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are immobilized by depression due to covid, war, job loss, or personal disappointments may be renewed in the coming week by knowledge that resurrection follows unimaginable horrors. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who have died this week — family, friends, combatants in Ukraine, and innocents — will be united with the criminal hanging next to Jesus who was assured, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” We pray to the Lord.
On this Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we recall days of evil when a triumphant entry into Jerusalem was changed into a horrific execution. We see in our own time that days of tranquility in Ukraine were suddenly changed into days of unimaginable suffering. We ask that we may be agents of change who manifest justice and love in this troubled world in accord with the teachings of our faith. We make these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Comments during audience of Pope Francis, April 6, 2022.
parishionersforjustice.com 