31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 30, 2022

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 30, 2022

We offer our petitions with the determination of Zacchaeus seeking to see the Lord in our lives and to receive him with joy as he answers our prayers.     

1. That the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ may make the Church worthy of his calling and bring to fulfillment every effort of faith.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That peoples and nations may see the imperishable spirit of the Lord in all things, abandon wickedness and sin, and receive the mercy of the Lord who loves all his creation.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That we may have the humility of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, in acknowledging our sinfulness and reforming our lives.  We pray to the Lord.
4. That the question raised at the United Nations by the Vatican, “Why are weapons sold to those who inflict harm?” will be answered responsibly in ways that value peace above the accumulation of wealth.^[1]  We pray to the Lord.
5. That the horrific attacks on the innocent in hospitals, schools, churches, and homes inflicted by those who promote terror, war, injustice, and hatred will cease.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That Pope Francis and global religious leaders gathering this week at the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue” will find success in promoting the forum motto, “Peace on Earth to people of good will.”  We pray to the Lord.
7. That those who minister in the Church will offer salvation to all in modeling the mercy of Jesus who declared that he came “to seek and to save what was lost.”  We pray to the Lord.
8. That we will offer genuine, life-giving support for mothers in challenging situations as they care for their children before and after birth in recognition of the humanity of preborn and growing children and of their right to life.^[2] We pray to the Lord.
9. That all fathers will embrace their responsibilities in nurturing their children, in encouraging and working with the mothers of their children, and in living as advocates for the right to life of preborn and growing children.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That those suffering from drought, floods, heat, and hunger will find solace in their faith and in the generosity of those who offer them assistance.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That those who are sickened by poisons in the air and water may receive relief from their suffering through responsible management of all the Lord has made for us.  We pray to the Lord.
12. That those who have died in this past week fleeing poverty, weapons, and persecution will be granted the salvation that came to the house of Zacchaeus and live in the house of the Lord for all eternity.  We pray to the Lord.

God, our Father, when your Son passes through the moments of our lives, may we always find tall sycamores from which to view his will for us and hear his call to come to him in answer to our pleas. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord.  A

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^[1] Question of Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Cassia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, at the 77th Session of the United Nations general assembly, October 26, 2022. 

^[2] Based on statement of Archbishop William E. Lori in regard to the teaching of the Catholic Church on upholding the dignity of human life, October 25, 2022.