Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, A, February 12, 2023
We offer our prayers to the Father seeking the wisdom and grace to keep the commandments, to choose good over evil, and to teach the commandments through the way we live.
- That the Church will be blessed by clergy who are “docile to the Holy Spirit, allowing themselves to be molded by him, to be compassionate and meek, detached from [personal] interests, and able to strive … for the good of the people entrusted to them.”[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That the leaders of the world will say “Enough!” to activities that exploit and destroy nations while seeking to work together with dignity and mutual respect in the name of Christ, our hope, to build a world of peace and prosperity.[2] We pray to the Lord.
- That people who live in fear and insecurity as their homes and towns are torn apart by conflict between armed groups maneuvered by economic and political interests will be strong in their hope for reconciliation and peace.[3] We pray to the Lord.
- That we will choose to keep the commandments and be saved, trust in God that we may live, act with justice in all our dealings, and seek the grace to avoid sin. We pray to the Lord.
- That parishes may truly be communities: places of listening and welcoming whose doors are always open to all, no one excluded.[4] We pray to the Lord.
- That we will rid our lives of anger, hatred, and a desire for revenge seeking reconciliation so that we may approach the altar of the Lord with peaceful hearts and clear consciences. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are suffering from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, from war in Ukraine, from drought in the western U.S. and in Africa, and from natural disasters and violence will find assistance through recognition that people of all ages and cultures have a right to life. We pray to the Lord.
- That international efforts to bring relief to Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake will inspire all nations to work cooperatively for the welfare of humanity in good times as well as during disasters. We pray to the Lord.
- That the continuing plight of those whose lives remain in peril due to long-standing drought, insurrections, poverty, or patterns of disease will not be neglected when catastrophic events highlight particular human suffering. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are sick may find healing of mind, body, and spirit through knowledge of God’s will as expressed in his commandments and his love. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who have died buried in the rubble of Turkey and Syria will rise with Jesus to the everlasting life of heaven. We pray to the Lord.
God, our Father, we desire to do your will. May we seek you in all the elements of our lives and avoid those things that distract us from following your laws. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Remarks of Pope Francis at this audience of February 8, 2023 recalling remarks made to the clergy of South Sudan during his ecumenical visit.
[2] Based on remarks of Pope Francis during his visit to the DR of Congo.
[3] Based on statement of Pope Francis during his visit to the DR of Congo.
[4] See article and video on Pope Francis’ February prayer intention: For parishes to be open communities
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-february-prayer-intention-for-parishes.html
parishionersforjustice.com 