Third Sunday of Easter, May 1, 2022

Third Sunday of Easter, May 1, 2022

We see Jesus performing the task of preparing a simple meal for his disciples.  May we recognize him in the many simple elements of our days as we ask the Father to hear and answer our petitions.

1. That the Church will be courageous in its teaching mission despite persecutions and orders to stop speaking in the name of Jesus.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That in all parts of the world where people are suffering, the Lord will hear the prayerful cries of those who call for help and change mourning into joy.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That Pope Francis may be granted health and strength so that he may be an apostle of peace able to travel to troubled places in the world.  We pray to the Lord.
4. That the millions of people of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya who rely on Ukrainian wheat as they suffer on the verge of starvation and as their farm animals die from the drought will be blessed with rain and find relief from their shortages.  We pray to the Lord.
5. That we may be “Christians who … can create bridges in all sectors of society, illuminating thought so that it may lead to actions that … bring peace and unity … starting from our families and communities.^[1]”  We pray to the Lord.
6. That the “Holy Spirit [may] transform our hearts and make us true peacemakers … so that the great Easter passage from death to new life in Christ may become a reality for the Ukrainian people [and for all] who long for a new dawn that will end the darkness of war.^[2]”  We pray to the Lord. 
7. That despite the many times we have failed to show our love of Jesus because of sin, we may see in Peter a model for our own lives and always be able to declare with him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” We pray to the Lord.
8. That we may be blessed by the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist we share, not daring to ask, “Who are you?”, but realizing that it is he who is with us and who guides us.  We pray to the Lord.
9. That we may appreciate the efforts of all who work to provide the abundance for our society, and may they toil with justice and be protected by their patron, St. Joseph the Worker.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That the innocent children of Ukraine, of all war-torn areas, and in regions blessed with peace may find relief from the fears and horrors they endure and may grow with resolution to be instruments of peace and fraternity that will transform the world.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That Fr. Christopher may rejoice with the apostles that he too has been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name of Jesus.  We pray to the Lord.
12. That those who suffer from covid, from other illnesses, and from the physical, mental, and spiritual wounds of war will find relief and encounter Jesus standing on the shore encouraging them in their efforts to become healed.  We pray to the Lord.
13. That the bodies of the victims of the war in Ukraine discarded and disposed of in mass graves will cause a renewal for the respect of all human life, and may those who were killed rest in peace.  We pray to the Lord.

O God, on this day we encounter war attacking those desperate for peace, starvation in the midst of those who hunger for food, and parched lands among those who thirst for water. May your Son point the way to having these desires, and what we truly need, satisfied in the same way that he filled the empty nets of his apostles.  We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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^[1] Pope Francis in message to the US National Catholic Congress on Hispanic Ministry, April 26 —30, 2022.

^[2] Easter message of Pope Francis to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, April 17, 2022.