Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, A, January 22, 2023
On this day we come to the Father joined together as a united community to offer our prayers for the needs of all.
- That on this Sunday of the Word of God, “the Church [may] experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world.”[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That the people plagued by violence who walk in darkness and who dwell in the land of gloom will see a great light and receive abundant joy as the yokes that burden them are lifted and their lands are glorified. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may recognize ourselves in the words of the Bible, the book of the Lord’s people, and in listening to it, move from dispersion and division towards unity all believers.[2] We pray to the Lord.
- That this day devoted to the Bible will not be seen as a yearly event but rather as a year-long event through which we grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord who speaks his word and breaks bread in the community of believers.[3] We pray to the Lord.
- That those celebrating the Lunar New Year this weekend will be renewed in hope for peace, prosperity, and freedom of speech, thought, and religion. We pray to the Lord.
- That the Russian people and their leaders may take pride in this week’s commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp by the Soviet Union and reject senseless violence and crimes against the innocent. We pray to the Lord.
- That as Simon and Andrew dropped their nets at the invitation of Jesus to come after him, we may listen to Jesus’ call to each of us and have the courage to follow his will. We pray to the Lord.
- That as Jesus was not paralyzed by grief at the arrest of John the Baptist but was moved to urge those in his hearing, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” may we be staunch in our faith when we face the challenges of life and strive to know the kingdom of heaven on Earth. We pray to the Lord.
- That the anguish of those living in the darkness of illness and despair will take wing so that they may know the Lord as their light and salvation. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who have died due to the cold of winter and all who mourn the loss of loved ones will be united in prayer with the community of saints. We pray to the Lord.
God, our Father, we give you thanks for your answer to our prayers and for your word revealed to us through the Scriptures. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Item #2 in “Aperuit Illis” by Pope Francis instituting the Sunday of the Word of God, 30 September 2019.
[2] Based on item #4 in “Aperuit Illis” by Pope Francis instituting the Sunday of the Word of God, 30 September 2019.
[3] Based on item #8 in “Aperuit Illis” by Pope Francis instituting the Sunday of the Word of God, 30 September 2019.
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