Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, A, January 29, 2023
As we have heard the teaching of Jesus in the Beatitudes, we come to the Father asking for the grace to live what he has taught us.
- That the Church will seek the Lord, seek justice, and seek humility determined to observe his law, to do no wrong, and to speak no lies while taking refuge in his name. We pray to the Lord.
- That the violence plaguing the world which includes nation against nation, culture against culture, religion against religion, and neighbor against neighbor will be overcome so that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. We pray to the Lord.
- That Pope Francis’ visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to South Sudan may revive peace efforts in those nations and energize peacemakers who will be called children of God. We pray to the Lord.
- That on this World Leprosy Day, when we encourage efforts to provide those suffering from Hansen’s disease with spiritual support and medical care, we will “renew our commitment to building an inclusive society that leaves no one on the margins.”[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That the gifts of health, wisdom, or power that we have received may not cause us to boast before God but will enable us to gratefully boast of understanding and knowing that the Lord does all that is good on the Earth. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may be blessed with the courage and compassion to be merciful to those who have offended us so that we will be shown mercy for our own offenses. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness in thirsting for life, freedom, and education and in fighting poverty, hunger, and discrimination will be blessed with the kingdom of heaven. We pray to the Lord.
- That all who are insulted and have every kind of evil uttered falsely against them because of their faith in Jesus may rejoice and be glad, confident of their great reward in heaven. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who mourn the loss of loved ones, homes, livelihood, health, or community may be comforted by the care of neighbors and confidence in God’s love. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may live promoting peace among all peoples so that we might be worthy to be known as children of God. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are terminally ill may be meek, patiently waiting on the Lord amid their afflictions and not responding in anger against their situation but looking to their time when they will see God in heaven. We pray to the Lord.
- That our friends, family, and neighbors who have died may rejoice and be glad as they receive the great rewards of heaven. We pray to the Lord.
God, our Father, we ask that in answering our prayers you strengthen us to be among the blessed who live the Beatitudes each day. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Pope Francis’ message to participants in a seminar on Hansen’s disease and other neglected tropical diseases, January 23, 2023.
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